Damaraland & Twyfelfontein Safari Vacations

An extraordinary land, dominated by towering kopjes and flat desert plains, Damaraland boasts some of the most dramatic landscapes in all of Namibia, but it is the wildlife that roams these plains that draws visitors here from all over the world. Desert-adapted elephants and rhinos are common sights on a Damaraland safari holiday and an enticing reason to visit the northern parts of the region.

The southern reaches are known for their imposing granitic domes and caves, many of which have walls decorated with Bushman rock art, said to date from 1,000 - 6,000 years ago. The most well-known of these is the Twyfelfontein rock art, which is also home to some breathtaking dolerite columns known as the Organ Pipes. They simply need to be seen to be believed.

Well-known geological formations include the Spitzkoppe, the highest of which rises about 600m above the plains. Namibia's highest point, Brandberg (2,753m), is here too, where you can admire the famous ‘White Lady of Brandberg’, the best-known of all the rock art in the area. To visit Brandberg and the remote Messum and Doros craters, being accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide is a must. Other attractions in this geological wonderland include Vingerlip (meaning 'finger rock'), an amazing rock pinnacle near Khorixas, and the Petrified Forest, which is said to date back 260 million years.

Privately protected areas in the northern parts of Damaraland aim to conserve the desert-adapted wildlife found there. Around Damaraland Camp, Palmwag Lodge and Etendeka Mountain Camp, visitors can seek antelope including kudu, springbok, gemsbok (oryx) and klipspringer, as well as endemic birds such as Monteiro’s hornbill. There are also desert-adapted giraffes, which have been studied by Dr Julian Fennessy of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Resident predators include lion, leopard and cheetah. However, the star of the show is always the desert-adapted population of black rhino.