- The name “Damaraland” comes from the Damara people — though early on the area was also home to other groups such as the Herero people and Khoekhoe-speaking peoples.
- Thousands of years ago, Stone‑Age hunter‑gatherers and later Khoikhoi people carved rock art in sandstone cliffs. Some of those engravings and paintings survive today at Twyfelfontein.
- Over prehistoric times, volcanic activity shaped the land — leaving ancient geological features: hills, cliffs, craters, and vast plains.
- In more recent colonial and 20th‑century history, Damaraland was redefined administratively under colonial powers (and later under apartheid rule).
- After Namibian independence, many of the old boundaries changed. But the name “Damaraland” persisted as a cultural‑geographic term — linked to the heritage of its people and its landscape.
- Damaraland lies in western‑central Namibia. It extends roughly between the Namib Desert in the west, the Kalahari‑influenced regions in the east, and stretches north toward Ovamboland.
- The region includes rocky hills, arid plains, ancient river valleys, and a mix of sandstone and granite formations.
- Key landmarks are the rock‑art site Twyfelfontein in the southwest portion of Damaraland; the Brandberg massif; the petrified forest near Khorixas; and scattered dramatic geology including arches, crags and fossilised wood.
- Many parts are remote — few villages, little infrastructure, wide open land. The remoteness gives Damaraland a sense of solitude and wildness.
- The drier months — roughly May through October — are often the best. The weather tends to be more stable. Wildlife tends to gather near limited water sources, making sightings more likely.
- During hotter months (summer), it can get very hot — daytime temperatures climb. Some roads or riverbeds may also become tricky if there’s rain.
- For rock‑art viewing, landscape photography, quiet solitude, and desert‑adapted wildlife — dry season visits feel especially rewarding. The deserts and hills show their character best under clear skies and strong light.
- Visit ancient rock art at Twyfelfontein. There you find thousands of engravings — some believed to be 6,000 to 10,000 years old — showing animals, human figures and symbols.
- Explore geology and ancient landscapes: walk among fossilised tree remains in the Petrified Forest (Damaraland), see striking rock formations like basalt “Organ Pipes”, and dramatic hills and valleys shaped by ancient volcanic activity.
- Trek or 4×4 through valleys, dry riverbeds and rocky terrain. The ruggedness and solitude give a sense of being truly off the main paths.
- Combine culture and heritage: in some areas you may learn about local traditions of the Damara or other groups, their crafts, stories, ways of living with the land.
- Wildlife viewing — not the predictable kind like in big national parks, but raw, wild sightings: elephants, black rhinos, mountain zebras, springbok, oryx, antelope. Best chance where landscapes merge with waterholes or desert‑savanna transition zones.
- Damaraland supports desert‑adapted creatures: desert‑adapted elephant, black rhinoceros, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, oryx, springbok, kudu, other antelope species.
- Predator species occur — including lions and hyenas — though sightings are rare because animals roam free across unfenced wilderness.
- Birdlife is rich for such an arid zone: species like Monteiro’s hornbill, Rüppel’s parrot, and other desert‑specialist birds make it interesting for bird watchers.
- Plant life is sparse but unique. Among survivors: Welwitschia mirabilis — a remarkable desert plant — and various succulents or hardy shrubs adapted to dry conditions.
Eco-friendly campsites, reliable 4x4s, 24/7 support
Budget-friendly Self-drive Camping Tours
