The Camp

Location: Damaraland, Namibia
Number of Tents: 10

Winner of the 2005 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award, the eco-friendly construction of Damaraland Camp is an inventive marriage of modern and ancient building techniques. Accommodation at Damaraland Camp consists of 10 adobe-style, thatched units raised on individual wooden decks that extend out to form a large viewing platform offering magnificent views of the surrounding desert. Recently refurbished, each tent has en suite facilities (with showers), a walk-in dressing area and built-in fan. The spacious, thatched main area features a restaurant and bar, complete with fireplace. Evening meals at Damaraland Camp are often prepared over an open fire and served out in the open in an area near the camp, lit by an assortment of small lanterns. The swimming pool is conveniently situated next to the bar. An open campfire and outdoor 'boma' can be enjoyed during calm evenings, with superb stargazing of the crystal-clear night skies.

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Facilities & Amenities

• En suite bathroom with shower
• Family Accommodation: 1 family unit with 2 en suite bedrooms each with private entrances connected by shared deck
• Shampoo, soap, and insect repellent
• Room fan
• 220v charging outlets in main area
• In-room safe
• Central swimming pool
• Laundry included
• Local drinks included (house alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks)
• Credit cards accepted (Visa and MasterCard)
• No air conditioning, hair dryer, telephone, Internet or cellular coverage

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Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Activities at Damaraland Camp revolve around exploring the Haub River system on guided wildlife drives and nature walks. Though this scrub landscape cannot support vast, concentrated herds of wildlife, it nevertheless boasts a varied and breathtaking assortment of desert-adapted species. Enjoy morning and afternoon drives in search of desert-adapted elephant as well as gemsbok, oryx, greater kudu, springbok and occasionally black rhino. Lion, cheetah, and spotted and brown hyena are also seen here. The area boasts excellent birdwatching, with over 240 species in the surrounding conservancy, including raptors such as martial eagle, lappet-faced vulture and pale chanting goshawk. Along the dry Huab River you may see common scimitarbill, acacia pied barbet and perhaps a roosting spotted eagle-owl. Interesting flora such as euphorbia and shepherd's trees are visible en route to some of Africa's best known rock engravings, including the famous Twyfelfontein etchings, recently proclaimed a World Heritage Site.

Damaraland has varying concentrations and species of wildlife, and the below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the area. Unique and common sightings in addition to the desert-adapted elephant and rhino may include ostrich, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, springbok, and occasionally predators. Over 240 species of bird thrive here. Exact sightings will depend on water availability and wildlife movements.

Climate

Conservation

Damaraland Camp, winner of the 2005 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award, is the successful result of a partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the Torra Conservancy. This partnership has resulted in the creation of a 352,000-hectare conservancy that protects what was once barren and denuded land. The rare desert-adapted elephant and plains wildlife are flourishing again, and poaching, once widespread, has stopped. Wildlife numbers are climbing and many of the animal populations have doubled. The local community also benefits greatly in many ways: camp staff are hired from the surrounding community; thus the very existence of the camp has been instrumental in alleviating poverty in the region. In addition, revenues flow from Damaraland Camp to the community through significant bed-night levies, the provision of services, secondary businesses and salaries. The community earns a percentage of the camp's bed-night accommodation revenue and its community trust is one of the most successful of its kind in Africa.

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