Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the 'Botswana & Namibia' guide.
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the 'Botswana & Namibia' Lonely Planet guide.
Anthony is the author of the 'Botswana & Namibia' Lonely Planet guide.
This huge wilderness is one of Africa’s last remaining unofficial wildlife areas. The area is thinly populated and animals still roam around freely. The main attraction is the stunning desert environment. Wildlife is sparse and desert elephants and black rhinos are what most people come to see. The region also harbors several important rock art sites.
Damaraland has some of the most spectacular desert landscapes in Africa. Wild desert mountains rise up from the Skeleton coast. Deep ravines, cliffs and outcrops create a perfect environment for well-preserved ancient rock-art. The Spitzkoppe, the remnant of an ancient volcano, is one of Namibia's most recognizable landmarks and is a popular climbing destination.
Weather & Climate
Damaraland’s climate can vary from very hot temperatures in summer (November to April) to sub-zero nighttime temperatures in winter (May to October). This is mainly due to significant changes in altitude across the region, the mercury falling as you clamber up the coastal mountains. Generally, winter is very dry, while summer is subject to only occasional rainfall.
The scarcity of water during Damaraland’s Dry season (May to October) means that animals vie for any remaining sources. Wildlife-watching excursions to local waterholes are most rewarding around this time. If you’re more into landscapes, you might appreciate the verdant environment and clear skies that are hallmarks of the Wet season (November to April).
Mike is an award winning wildlife writer, editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.
On the rocks
4/5
On a map, the region known as ‘Damaraland’ encompasses a vast chunk of northwestern Namibia. In tourist terms, however, it is generally held to be the area south of Kaokoland and north of the Namib-Naukluft. Here, the semi-desert...