Visit Damaraland

The highland desert of Damaraland and Kaokoveld, in Namibia's extreme north, are among Southern Africa's last true wilderness areas.

From the Kunene River in the north down to Twyfelfontein in the south, the area is rugged and beautiful, yet arid and unforgiving.

The clicking-tongued Damara and ochre-skinned Himba live in simple villages, subsisting as goat and cattle herders.

Damaraland is home to Namibia's best rock art, while desert elephant and black rhino roam the harsh environment.

Best of Namibia Self-Drive

16-day tailor-made self-drive from £4,165 pp incl. flights

Explore Namibia's many and varied highlights, from the plains of the Namib Desert and the apricot dunes of Sossusvlei to wild Damaraland and the world-renowned Etosha National Park.

Wings over Namibia

10-day luxury air safari from £6,790 pp incl. flights

A luxury air safari across Namibia, travelling from Windhoek to Etosha National Park via Soussusvlei, the Skeleton Coast and Damaraland. Spot iconic wildlife, explore spectacular landscapes and stay in some of the country's finest accommodation.

Top places to stay in Damaraland

Camp Kipwe, Namibia

Small & intimate lodge

Nestled in rocks with sweeping valley views, Camp Kipwe effortlessly combines bucolic charm with boutique luxury. With strong eco-friendly credentials, its dome-shaped chalets and bungalows seem as much part of the landscape as the river running through it.

Desert Rhino Camp, Damaraland

Small & intimate tented camp

This exclusive wilderness camp is set amid 450,000 acres in the arid Palmwag Concession, home to the largest free-roaming black rhino population in Africa

Damaraland Camp

Contemporary safari lodge

Arguably the most pristine wilderness area in Namibia, this wilderness safari lodge is community-run and sustainable, with an eco-friendly construction that has merged new technology with ancient methodology.

Mowani Mountain Camp, Namibia

Contemporary lodge

Set amid a landscape of huge ochre boulders, this eco-friendly camp blends seamlessly into the prehistoric surroundings of Damaraland: a region of rare desert wildlife and ancient San rock art that dates back 10,000 years.

Where to go in Damaraland

Kunene

The Kunene River forms the border between Namibia and Angola before it snakes south through the Ehomba and Zebra Mountains toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Twyfelfontein

Twyfelfontein is an important site of ancient rock engravings in the Kunene region. Local Damara named it ‘jumping fountain', although it was renamed ‘doubtful fountain' by the first white farmer to acquire the land after he considered it too weak to support life.