Damaraland; an exciting land apart, between the deserts

Damaraland is an exciting and different safari destination. Considering the proximity of the Damaraland concession to the Skeleton Coast Park and true Namib Desert, this area is home to a surprisingly high variety and density of wildlife.

The 450.000 hectare desert reserve has a number of fresh water springs that support healthy populations of animals. Heading south across the Huab river, the landscape rises in an enormous massif of flat-topped mountains and high altitude grasslands. This wild area is one of the best parts of the country for game-viewing and is the best place in the world to see free ranging black rhino, as well as a healthy number of desert adapted Elephants.

Safaris in Damaraland

Safaris here are varied forms of wildlife viewing, by 4x4, walking and even on mountain bikes in some areas. The landscape is dramatically changing, supporting diverse animal and birdlife by region. This really is a wonderful desert environment which, although it cannot not support large concentrations of wildlife, does provide colourful and rewarding safaris in an ancient and natural unfenced environment in which the local herdsmen still live alongside the endemic wildlife in some areas.

Damaraland Wildlife

As well as the excitement of seeing the desert adapted black rhino and elephant, the predator population is said to be the largest outside Etosha National Park, with over one hundred lions, cheetah, leopard, spotted and brown hyena. There are good populations of Hartman’s Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Oryx, Springbok, and Kudu and ostrich and other species adapted to arid conditions, Bird life is diverse and prolific with most of Namibia’s endemics present.

Southern Damarland

Southern Damaraland is half wild and half tame. The touristed areas around the rock art sites of Twyfulfontein are the more accessible, whilst the western areas bordering the Skeleton Coast are wild. Looking at a map, it is difficult to tell just how extreme these two areas are, which is probably why many self drivers end up getting into difficulties around here.