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AfriCat, Brandberg Mountain, Damaraland, Erindi Reserve, Mundulea Reserve, Northern Damaraland, Southern Damaraland, Spitzkoppe, Twyfelfontein, Waterberg Plateau, Okonjima

Damaraland

The Damaraland region lies directly inland from the Skeleton Coast and Dorob National Park and south of Kaokoland in northern Namibia. The region is defined by rugged, rock-strewn landscapes, interspersed with mountains and inselbergs, lava fields, red rock formations, ancient rock art, and several rivers, which are almost always dry above ground.

Damaraland is best defined as two distinct sub-regions: Northern Damaraland, which is less accessible (4WD or fly-in) and offers the best wildlife viewing; and Southern Damaraland, which is known for its accessibility (self-drive and 2WD), rock art sites, and geological points of interest.

Northern Damaraland

Northern Damaraland is a dry place, with extremely low rainfall and where only specially adapted plants and animals are able to survive. This is a desert region - not one of sand, but rather a harsh and rugged landscape with massive lava fields, gravelly sediment-covered hills and valleys strewn with granitic rocks and boulders, and brilliant red rock formations. Geologic movement over millions of years have created the countless stones and sediments upon which only sparse grasses, desert scrub, and desert-adapted trees can grow.

The shepherd's tree and the spiky Damara milk bush (Euphorbia damarana) are abundant here. The milk bush is poisonous to all except for the black rhino and greater kudu, which can eat them. Another notable plant found across the region is the Welwitschia mirabilis, a species that lives upwards of a thousand years!

The rivers, especially the Huab, are the best places to search for wildlife. The usually dry Huab riverbed provides an oasis of life, with underground water that supports a fertile vein of life in this desert land. Elephants can often be seen feeding on the seed pods of the Ana trees (Faidherbia albida) that grow along the river. The elephants also dig in the dry river for underground water, creating large drinking 'wells' that provides a drink for numerous other animals and birds that visit after the elephants move on.

The northern part of Damaraland has several land concessions that have been set aside for use by the tourism industry, which typically includes agreements with the local communities to partake in the operations.

The Torra Conservancy has Damaraland's best wildlife viewing. Various safari camps here offer superb experiences for their guests. The local people are allowed to live and keep their livestock within the tourism areas, but development is very limited. Tourism concessions here include Palmwag, Etendeka, Damaraland/Desert Rhino, Hobatere (adjacent to western Etosha), and Huab Lodge.

Besides for the desert-adapted elephants, the region also supports the endangered black rhino, which can be tracked at Desert Rhino Camp. Leopards live in the hills and along the rivers, and lion and cheetah are occasionally seen. Other species living in the region include giraffe, Hartmann's mountain zebra, oryx, springbok, greater kudu, chacma baboon, steenbok, warthog, and klipspringer.

As one moves further to the east from Torra towards Huab and north towards Hobatere, there is more vegetation and thus more wildlife, including the black-faced impala, eland, and the endemic Damara dik-dik, a tiny little antelope. Elephants are more common as well.

Birdlife is mainly comprised of drylands species, including Rüppell's bustard, Monteiro's hornbill, and Herero chat. Raptors such as Verreaux's eagle can be seen soaring over the hillsides.

Southern Damaraland

Southern Damaraland is a place defined more by its scenery than wildlife and is best known for its mountains, dramatic rock formations, and Bushman rock art sites.

Spitzkoppe is a group of bare granitic inselbergs that date back 120 million years are the site is sometimes referred to as Namibia's Matterhorn. Its highest outcrop rises 5 800 feet (1 765 meters) above the desert floor. Numerous dramatic rock formations, including the Golden Snake and the Bridge are found at Spitzkoppe. Over thirty examples of Bushman cave paintings have been discovered around Spitzkoppe, many of them at Bushman's Paradise.

Brandberg Mountain is a dome-shaped, granitic massif and Namibia's tallest peak, towering 8 442 feet (2 573 meters) over the surrounding plain and covering an area of 250 square miles (650 sq kms). The mountain was apparently a place of great spiritual significance to the ancient people who lived here, as there are spectacular rock paintings here, including the famous "White Lady" painting at Tsisab Gorge. Thousands of rock paintings have been discovered on Brandberg Mountain and it is one of the world's richest galleries of prehistoric rock paintings.

Twyfelfontein is Namibia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site and the region's most popular tourist attraction. It is the world's largest outdoor rock art site, with thousands of rock engravings on boulders scattered around the site. It is thought that ancient hunter-gatherers lived in the area starting around 6 000 years ago and that the site was used as a place of worship and where shamans conducted rituals. A guided full-day tour is the best way to experience the site.

Other sites of interest include Messum Crater, the remains of an ancient volcano spanning 13 miles (22 kms) across, the Petrified Forest, where trees thought to have died 250 million years ago lie forever in a bed of sandstone, and Vingerklip (rock finger), a dramatic rock obelisk protruding from the flat desert floor.

Southern Damaraland contains some beautiful and alien-looking native flora, especially euphorbias and aloes.

Waterberg Plateau

The Waterberg Plateau National Park offers excellent hiking and a good variety of wildlife, though it is not a game-viewing destination on a par with Etosha. The sandstone plateau and national park are 30 miles (50 kms) long and 10 miles (16 kms) wide and rises 820 feet (250 meters) above the surrounding plains.

The park was established in 1972 when numerous endangered species were introduced, including roan and sable antelopes, eland, buffalo, both black and white rhinos, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, giraffes, and more. Besides the rare and endangered wildlife protected here, over 200 species of birds have been recorded here.

There are several lodges that focus their activities, including game drives and walking safaris, in and around the national park.

The Waterberg is also a great destination for hiking. There are two organized, multi-day hiking options in the park. The well-marked Waterberg Unguided Trail covers 26 miles (42 kms), with one departure per week from the Waterberg Rest Camp. The Waterberg Wilderness Trail is a 3-day hike with guides and no set route. There are also various short hikes that can be done in less than a day.

Okonjima & AfriCat

The Okonjima Nature Reserve is home to one of Namibia's best known conservation organization, the AfriCat Foundation. The Hanssen family originally farmed cattle here but changed their life focus from farming to wildlife and nature conservation. In 1991, they started the AfriCat Foundation to protect Namibia's native carnivores, including cheetahs, leopards, and brown hyenas. Okonjima offers guest accommodations and a variety of activities concentrating on education and conservation.

Erindi Reserve

Located just south of Okonjima, Erindi Private Game Reserve covers 273 sq miles (707 sq kms) of savanna grassland and mountains. The reserve contains diverse and abundant wildlife including elephant, giraffe, black rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, eland, Hartmann's mountain zebra, springbok, greater kudu, oryx, impala, hippo, crocodile, and more. Many of the predators are collared as there are numerous research projects underway in the reserve.

Accommodation includes a lodge, self-catering chalets, and luxury campsites. Activities offered include game drives, walks, rock art excursions, and visits to a San village.

Mundulea Reserve

The Mundulea Nature Reserve is located in the Otavi Mountains, covering 46 sq miles (120 sq kms) of montane bushland. The reserve has reestablished viable populations of indigenous species that had been hunted to very small numbers.

Species at Mundulea include greater kudu, springbok, roan antelope, red hartebeest, oryx, blue wildebeest, steenbok, warthog, giraffe, black-faced impala, tsessebe, and Hartmann's mountain zebra. Predators include cheetah, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, serval, caracal, honey badger, and other small carnivores. The birding is very good.

A small bush camp offers tented accommodation, game drives and walking safaris.

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AfriCat, Brandberg Mountain, Damaraland, Erindi Reserve, Mundulea Reserve, Northern Damaraland, Southern Damaraland, Spitzkoppe, Twyfelfontein, Waterberg Plateau, Okonjima