Damaraland is Namibia's rugged northwest — a landscape of flat-topped mountains, dry riverbeds and open gravel plains that is one of the few places on earth where elephant, black rhino and other large mammals have adapted to survive on minimal water and rainfall. Community conservancies across the region partner with lodges on conservation and anti-poaching work, and many camps here combine wildlife tracking with cultural encounters in Damara and Himba communities.
The region's best-known cultural site is Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site holding one of Africa's largest concentrations of rock engravings, some estimated at over 2,000 years old. Grootberg Plateau, on the conservancy's southern edge, offers dramatic views over the Klip River Valley, while further north and west the landscape opens into Kaokoland and the approach to the Skeleton Coast.
Most itineraries explore Damaraland by light aircraft or 4x4 between camps, combining a stay here with Sossusvlei to the south and Etosha to the east.
Camps & lodges in Damaraland and the Northwest
Damaraland Camp
Torra Conservancy, Huab River ValleyOne of Namibia's classic community-conservation safari camps, in the remote Huab River Valley.
Doro Nawas Camp
Huab River Valley, DamaralandA long-established luxury camp on a rocky outcrop overlooking the dry Huab River and desert plains.
Mowani Mountain Camp
Twyfelfontein ConservancyOne of the most visually spectacular properties in Damaraland, built among enormous ochre-coloured granite boulders.
Camp Kipwe
Aba-Huab Valley, TwyfelfonteinA characterful, intimate luxury camp built into a rocky hillside overlooking the Aba-Huab Valley.
Grootberg Lodge
Grootberg PlateauOne of the most dramatic positions in Damaraland, perched on the edge of the Grootberg Plateau overlooking the Klip River Valley.
Desert Rhino Camp
Palmwag ConcessionA wildlife and conservation camp whose principal draw is tracking desert-adapted black rhino on foot with Save the Rhino Trust.
Six landscapes, one extraordinary desert country.
See the full Namibia overview, ready-to-quote itineraries, and the rest of the region index.
Namibia overview