Etendeka Trails Camp

Canyons & Ghost Towns

Off-the-beaten-track Adventure + 1 more + 2 more

A road trip through Southern Namibia’s lesser-visited highlights.

13 days

from £5,145 pp

Namibia Fly-In Safari

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

Scenic flights and safaris across Namibia’s iconic landscapes.

11 days

from £7,125 pp

Namibia Northern Explorer

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

Wildlife, conservation and Namibia's dramatic northern landscapes.

13 days

from £5,135 pp

Namibia's Desert & Coast

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Self-drive highlights of Southern Namibia.

12 days

from £4,975 pp

Namibia on a Shoestring

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

A simple, self-drive introduction to Namibia.

9 days

from £4,525 pp

Classic Namibia Self Drive

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Our classic self-drive adventure through deserts, dunes & wildlife.

13 days

from £4,875 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Namibia

Rhino Tracking

The 450,000 hectare Palmwag Concession is a remote and very special place, home to Africa's largest remaining population of endangered black rhino. Guests at Desert Rhino Camp have the privileged opportunity to track these fabulous animals with a skilled guide, often accompanied by a researcher for the Save The Rhino Trust, a pioneering conservation body in Palmwag for close to 20 years. The excursion begins with a leisurely nature drive, while trackers work in the background to locate rhinos. They will then radio your driver who takes you to within a short distance of the animal without causing disturbance through engine noise. Then comes the really exciting bit, as you leave the vehicle and walk as close to the rhino as possible, without startling it or causing any danger to human life and limb! This is a thrilling activity and a real treat, genuinely one of the most unique and exciting things you can do in Southern Africa. For those that don't have the budget to stay at Desert Rhino, or for whom availability is an issue, there is also a worthwhile rhino tracking activity offered at Grootberg Lodge.

Village Visits

There are not a great many people in Damaraland given the vast area covered, but some of the villages close to camps have become involved in joint projects, whereby the community benefits from responsible tourism activities and guests are privy to a taster of local life. Perhaps the best example is at Damaraland Camp, jointly run by Wilderness Safaris and the local community within the Torra Conservancy, which represents an eclectic mixture of some of Namibia's indigenous peoples. Members of the community account for a large proportion of the camp staff and the village is often visited as part of a longer nature drive. Stops are made at the school and a local farm homestead, which helps to feed the camp each day! A similar project is in operation at Doro Nawas, where the local Damara/Nama people are intimately involved with operations. Here, educational activities are on offer that detail the unique language, culture and history of the community.

Meet the Himba

Although Namibia's Himba people are nomadic, for much of the year a community spends time in the Palmfontein area of Damaraland, close enough to Grootberg Lodge to make cultural visits viable. This is a unique opportunity to meet the Himba in a relatively accessible area and from a comfortable base, as many Himba excursions further north-west involve flying into very remote destinations or participating in rustic camping itineraries. The nature of the visit is not set in stone, but you are most likely to interact with the women and children of the settlement, learning how they achieve their distinct, decorative appearance and perhaps taking the opportunity to purchase some unique trinkets. You'll also see their simple homes, at least from the outside, constructed largely from natural materials such as dung, grass and leaves. Whatever the nature of the experience, the chance to sample such a different way of life is usually instructive and enriching.

Desert Elephant Tracking

Damaraland 's desert adapted elephant have become prominent over recent years in nature documentaries focusing on their endless struggle to find water during the driest months in this arid environment. There is a visceral thrill to locating families of desert elephant on a game drive, their very elusiveness lending elephant encounters an extra excitement compared to areas where they are abundant and sightings guaranteed. Elephant tracking drives tend to set out early, either as morning or full day activities. The elephants cover large swathes of territory, following their trunk to where they perceive water is most likely, so viewings are possible in all areas of Damaraland and it is difficult to identify a specific place where you are most likely to see them. Having said that, southern Damaraland close to Mowani, Kipwe and Doro Nawas camps sees regular elephant activity, and Grootberg Lodge offer an excellent, lengthened excursion. Even if you don't find the privacy loving pachyderms, your drive will take in various other animals and some outstanding scenery.

Damaraland Nature Walks

Damaraland's rugged mountains and wide valleys are prime walking territory, with exceptional scenic trails at all of the best camps. Possibly our favourite walking area is the Etendeka Mountains, where Etendeka Mountain Camp focuses strongly on exploration on foot with some of Namibia's best walking guides. There are varied routes amidst the imposing basalt mountains, Mopani woodland and dry river beds, with soaring vistas from the highest peaks and fascinating flora and fauna to discover with your guide. Namibia's specially adapted plants and vegetation are genuinely unique, evolved to survive the harshest drought conditions for much of the year, but at times subjected to torrential rains and flooding. The Etendeka Mountains have their own distinct micro-climate and ecosystem that the guides know intimately and will bring to vivid life on your walks. Other superb walks are offered from Grootberg Lodge and Damaraland Camp, while in Palmwag you may even get friendly on foot with black rhino.