A Complete Guide to Damaraland North

Damaraland North can easily be described as one of the last truly wild places on earth. With vast uninhabited areas, ancient rock art and unique creatures adapted to this desert ecosystem, a visit to Damaraland North is the perfect opportunity to go for hikes, game drives, camping and explore prehistoric rock paintings. Keep reading for our complete guide to Damaraland North.

Location

Damaraland North is bound by 2 non-perennial rivers to the north and south, the Hoanib and Ugab respectively. Along its western boundary lies the famous Skeleton Coast, while on its eastern flank is Etosha National Park. At its centre is its unofficial capital, the sleepy settlement of Palmwag. Today significant parts of the area are made up of conservancies, including the Torra Conservancy, where small communities co-exist with wild animals. Another feature of Damaraland North is Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first World Heritage Site, home to a massive collection of prehistoric rock paintings and engravings.

How to get there

By car

A drive from Windhoek to Palmwag can easily take more than 6 hours, especially as you might want to stop for a snack or to fill up with fuel on the way. A good rule of thumb when driving in Namibia is that it always takes longer than expected, so hit the road early. When doing self-drives, we recommend doing your trip in a convoy of at least 2 cars, as a breakdown in an area with help far away is never fun. If you happen to come across elephants, try to give them a wide berth and if you see that you are parked in their path, calmly move as they have right of way. With black rhinos, we recommend enjoying their presence from a distance as these guys are known for having a short fuse and charging unsuspecting vehicles with no provocation. 

By plane

Access to Damaraland North is also possible with fly-in safaris and many lodges have private airstrips that make travelling to your destination quick and easy. Not to mention that seeing this area from the sky is a fantastic way to explore it.

Best time to go

As with most of Namibia, the best time to visit is during the autumn or winter, after the rainy season has ended, when days are warm— rather than hot — and nights are cool. Damaraland North is desert, so expect chilly temperatures at night no matter which time of year you visit. In the summertime, water sources are more plentiful, meaning wildlife can be harder to find. In the dry winter months, animals may stay closer to rivers, offering better opportunities to spot them during game drives.

What to do

Main attractions 

Damaraland North is known for its epic unspoilt natural landscapes, free-roaming wildlife and ancient rock art. Visit Twyfelfontein, a prehistoric site and the location of more than a thousand rock paintings and engravings, about two hours’ drive south of Palmwag. These were created by pre-historic hunter-gatherers that lived in the area.

More recently, Damaraland was named after the Damara people during South Africa’s mandate of Namibia, and was designated their “homeland”. These days, you can learn more about these fascinating people by visiting what is called a Living Museum, which showcases their culture through an interactive tour of a village. 

Then there are the animals, such as Damaraland’s desert-adapted elephants, wild lions, its sturdy population of endangered black rhinos, as well as numerous endemic and near-endemic birds, reptiles and mammals.

One of the best activities in the area is to hike the mountains and koppies (rocky hills), sleeping under the stars and exploring the wilderness. Many lodges have directions for simple same-day hikes around the area as well. 

Lastly, we have to mention the living fossil that calls the area home, the Welwitschia mirabilis, a plant endemic to Namibia and southern Angola that can (and does) live for thousands of years.

Nearby

The famous Skeleton Coast, the site of many ships’ eventual demise, stretches up alongside Damaraland North up to the Kaokoland. You can easily take day trips to and from the Skeleton Coast. Inland from Damaraland North is the world-famous Etosha National Park, known for its large numbers of animals congregated on its white-dusted plains. 

Further south is Namibia’s highest mountain, the Brandberg, where you can also visit its most-famous rock painting, the White Lady (who is apparently neither white nor a lady).

Wildlife 

The best way to see the area is through a game drive, either guided or by yourself. Damaraland’s desert-adapted elephants are the area’s giants, slow-moving yet majestic and are well worth searching to spot them. Other treats are black-faced impalas, black rhinos and, of course, the desert-adapted lions, although they may be most active at night. Remember to keep your distance from the animals when you are self-driving, especially if you come across a lone elephant bull or black rhino. These guys have no problem when it comes to charging a vehicle.

Accommodation

How to include Damaraland North in your Namibia adventure

With its combination of wilderness and ancient art, Damaraland North is a must-visit on any Namibian itinerary. Try any one of these tours around Namibia to see Damaraland North and other Namibian highlights.

Insider Tips

• Cellphone signal is unreliable, and population density in the area is very low, with only a few settlements here and there, so make sure not to drive solo, as help might be difficult to come by.

• As is the rule when it comes to the desert: always take extra water.

• A spare tyre and GPS are musts, while a satellite phone is never a bad idea in an area as remote as Damaraland North.

It’s one of the last truly wild places on earth, so what are you waiting for? Damaraland North is ready to be explored. Book your trip to Namibia here and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.