Damaraland Holidays

Twyfelfontein’s sand rock art is an undisputed highlight of Damaraland, and self-driving in search of nature is an amazing way to feel the freedom of the wilderness, but there are plenty more activities on offer. Join a safari to find rare desert elephants, black rhinos, zebras, lions, hyenas, cheetahs and more. Get up close with the desert flora on a guided hike.

Discover geological formations such as Spitzkoppe, the Organ Pipes, Messum Crater, and the Petrified Forest. Take a sundowner drive and settle at a hand-picked lookout to sip a refreshing drink as the day becomes dusk. Pick the right lodge and keep cool in its outdoor swimming pool, watch wildlife from the viewing terrace or enjoy a Boma meal as stars fill the sky.

When you visit Damaraland, you’ll be asked to leave no more than footprints. 6,000 years ago, people in the rocky region made much more permanent marks on the landscape. Discover Twyfelfontein, a National Monument since 1952, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, and a natural canvas for more than 2,500 petroglyphs carved into the rock by San Bushmen who made Damaraland their home for millennia.

See the Stone Age engravings first-hand on a guided walk to learn about the lives, culture and myths of Namibia’s indigenous people. After the rock art, dig deeper into the world of the people who created it at the Living Museum of the Damara close by.

Damaraland is vast, stretching from Swakopmund to Sesfontein and the Skeleton Coast to Etosha Pan. So choosing the right place to stay is key. Twyfelfontein sits in the region’s heart, and some of the best accommodations are found nearby. Sleep in rustic rooms on rocky slopes at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge. Further north, Palmwag Lodge is the perfect base for Damaraland safari drives, while Grootberg Lodge offers incredible views across the Etendeka Plateau.

Camp in tranquil and welcoming surroundings at Brandberg White Lady Lodge. Or enjoy a little luxury among the rocks at Mowani Mountain Camp. To the east, Vingerklip Lodge sits proudly in a private reserve with the incredible Eagle’s Nest restaurant perched on the Ugab plateau for a dining experience like no other.

Damaraland is a year-round destination with low rainfall and high temperatures at all times. The dry season runs from May to October and offers average temperatures of 25°C to 30°C with little to no rainfall. Wildlife viewing is best during these months as animals gather around waterholes for refreshment. Wet season, from November to April, experiences showers and the occasional storm but lingering downpours are rare.

This is an excellent time for birding with migratory species arriving and sightings of new-born animals more common while new colour bursts onto the landscape. Temperatures rise during the wet season with some days reaching between 30°C and 35°C. Early morning and late afternoons are the best times for activities with relaxing at your lodge encouraged during the peak of the heat.