Damaraland is a vast, rugged region of north-west Namibia, a landscape of ancient mountains, dry riverbeds and red granite hills that look unchanged for millions of years. It is a land of wide horizons, rock art, desert-adapted elephants and a quiet that settles over you at once.
The area has two world-class attractions. Twyfelfontein is a World Heritage Site with some of the finest rock engravings in Africa, made by San hunter-gatherers up to 6,000 years ago. The Palmwag concession and the Huab and Hoanib river valleys hold desert-adapted elephants, giraffes, lions and one of the largest free-roaming black rhino populations in the world, which you can track on foot with experts.
The small, community-linked lodges offer a sense of wilderness, and Damaraland sits well between Etosha and the Skeleton Coast.
Desert-adapted elephants walk the dry riverbeds in small family herds, giraffes browse on acacia, and black rhino roam the Palmwag concession. Gemsbok, springbok, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, kudu and ostrich are common. Desert lions and leopards live here but sightings are rare.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
Red granite mountains rise from stony plains, dry rivers cut through the desert, and welwitschia plants, some more than a thousand years old, grow in the gravel. The light at dawn and dusk turns the rocks orange and purple.
Activities here
Damaraland is hot and dry, with summer days of 30°C to 38°C and winter days of 24°C to 28°C. The nights are cold from May to August. The rains fall from January to March.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 | 19 | 80 |
| Feb | 32 | 19 | 90 |
| Mar | 31 | 18 | 90 |
| Apr | 29 | 15 | 25 |
| May | 27 | 10 | 5 |
| Jun | 24 | 7 | 0 |
| Jul | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| Aug | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Sep | 29 | 12 | 0 |
| Oct | 32 | 15 | 10 |
| Nov | 33 | 17 | 20 |
| Dec | 33 | 18 | 50 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
April to October is dry and clear. The elephants and other animals are easier to find in the riverbeds, and the weather is pleasant for walking.
November to March is hot, with thunderstorms. The rivers may flow briefly, the landscape greens and rock art tours are best in the cooler mornings.
April to October is the best time. The dry season is best for wildlife, and the winter months are excellent for walks. The summer months are very hot, but dramatic and quiet.
Best time to visit Jun to Oct
Damaraland is about 450 kilometres from Windhoek, a drive of six to seven hours, and about three hours from Etosha. Light aircraft fly to the airstrips at Palmwag and Doro Nawas. The road between Etosha and the coast crosses the region.
Concession and conservancy fees are included in our safaris. Visitors from many countries, including the UK and US, need a Namibian visa, which can be applied for online or on arrival (about N$1,600 at the time of writing). Please check the rules for your passport.
Damaraland is hot, dry and remote. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. Medical help is far away, so we plan with air evacuation cover. The region has a low malaria risk.
Scenic AreaSossusvlei and the NamibThe world's tallest red dunes
National ParkEtosha National ParkWaterholes that draw everything in
National ParkSkeleton CoastFog, shipwrecks and roaring seal colonies
City & TownSwakopmundSeaside town between dunes and ocean
City & TownWindhoekNamibia's small, friendly capitalOur take
“Our take”
Stay two nights, and let the guides decide the route. The elephants are following the water, and so should you.
Safaris from
US$4,888 per person
Plan your time in Damaraland
Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.
Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
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