Damaraland Camp, Northern Namibia

Damaraland Camp is situated on the north face of the Huab River valley in central Damaraland, within Namibia's 352,200-hectare (870,274-acre) Torra Conservancy.

An intimate luxury desert camp

Damaraland Camp is a luxurious and intimate eco-friendly desert camp. There are only 10 elevated, thatched units which can accommodate 20 guests and two children plus guide/pilot/tour leaders sharing, subject to concession numbers. Seven units have twin beds, two units have king-size beds and one unit is ideal for families with two en-suite bedrooms. The units are mosquito-proof with mesh-clad windows and doors. Each offers wonderful views of the distant mountains from the privacy of a shaded veranda. All units have ceiling fans, and extra blankets and hot water bottles are provided in the chilly winter months.

Well-equipped main camp

There's a large open-plan living area complete with a dining area, bar and swimming pool. An open fireplace makes for sociable evenings beneath the starry skies. In addition to a small curio stall, there's a well-equipped library and a traditional boma. Heaters and blankets are provided to keep you warm on wintry nights.

Game viewing

The Torra Conservancy is said to be one of the driest, most desolate regions in all of Africa. Within this arid area, every living creature has to survive by adapting and using scarce water resources in the most efficient, economical way possible.

While you obviously won't find vast herds of wildlife in this stark landscape, there is a surprising number and diversity of wildlife. Species specially adapted to these harsh conditions include rare desert elephants, a few black rhinos, gemsbok (oryx), kudu, springbok, Hartmann's mountain zebra, southern giraffe, lion, cheetah, spotted hyena and brown hyena, along with 240 bird species.

A fascinating aspect of this area is that there are no fences – local herdsmen and their livestock live alongside the wildlife.

Local activities

• Day and night game drives, including sundowner drives in open safari vehicles
• Guided nature and scorpion walks (seasonal and subject to availability of qualified walking guide)
• Incredible stargazing with a laser pointer
• Private activities on request if available (may involve an extra cost)
• Full-day excursions with picnic lunch to search for elusive desert rhino (no guarantee)
• Cultural visits to communities on local farms
• Back-of-house tours and camp chats about desert-adapted elephants, the Torra Conservancy, ecological and environmental info on Damaraland and adjacent areas

Community involvement

As part of Wilderness Safaris, Damaraland Camp is very involved in conservation. They've formed a successful partnership with the local Torra community to proclaim the conservancy and, once again, wildlife is flourishing and poaching has dramatically reduced. Combining ancient techniques and modern technology, the camp has been ecologically built using sustainable, biodegradable materials, and green systems have been implemented wherever possible. There are many community development projects on the go where you may contribute funding, time or supplies if you choose to.

Getting there

By road - Guests may self-drive in 4WD vehicles directly to the camp or to nearby Fonteine Pos in 2WD vehicles. No self-drives are permitted within the conservancy. It's a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Windhoek via Solitaire.

By air - Charter flights are available to the local Damaraland Airstrip, followed by a 25-minute road transfer to camp, depending on stops for wildlife, scenery and photo-ops along the way.

Our take on Damaraland Camp

Not surprisingly, Damaraland Camp consistently gets rave reviews for its friendly, welcoming staff, excellent food and the most incredible views. The calibre of staff is superb and they really will go out of their way to make sure you have the most incredible desert safari experience.