DAMARALAND “Africa’s Monument Valley”

TWYFELFONTEIN

Twyfelfontein is a UNESCO World Heritage site and boasts over 2500 Bushman rock paintings dating between 1000 and 10,000 years old. It is one of the largest concentrations of rock petroglyphs in Africa. The name Twyfelfontein means “Doubtful Fountain” or “Fountain of Doubt” due to its unreliable water source, which eventually led to its abandonment by farmers in 1964. Visitors to Twyfelfontein can learn about the hunting practices and shamanistic rituals of the tribes who lived in the valley 10,000 years ago through their detailed engravings and paintings.

DAMARA TRIBE LIVING MUSEUM

The Living Museum of the Damara, located close to Twyfelfontein, is the first traditional Damara project in Namibia and the only one of its kind. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the traditional Damara culture, which is not available anywhere else in Namibia or the world. The museum aims to preserve the culture of the Damara people and provides a regular income for the Damara community that built it. Visitors can learn about and engage with the fascinating traditional culture of the Damara people, contributing to the preservation of their heritage.

BRANDBERG MOUNTAIN

A notable landmark for early Namibian explorers was a soaring mass of granite, known as The Brandberg. The ‘fire mountain’, is so called because of the effect created by the setting sun on its western face, which causes the granite massif to resemble a burning slag heap glowing red. The Damara name for the mountain is Dâures, which means ‘burning mountain’, whilst the Herero name, ‘Omukuruvaro’ means ‘mountain of the Gods’. The summit is called ‘Königstein’ and is Namibia’s highest peak at 2,573m. Situated only 50km from the coast, the Brandberg offers visitors a unique selection of plants and animals, quite different to those on the surrounding plains.

The area has host of rock paintings, including the world famous ‘White Lady’ rock painting as well as a number of archaeological sites.

PETRIFIED FOREST

The name is a bit misleading as it is not exactly a forest, which turned to stone, but rather an accumulation of enormous fossilized tree trunks about 280 million years old. Scientist found out that these trunks haven’t grown in today’s Namibia but were washed down a river in ancient times when one of the many Ice Ages ended on the Gondwana continent. There must have been a huge flood that carried along the trunks to where they lie today.

Additionally to the petrified tree trunks some beautiful specimen of the Welwitschia Mirabilis can be seen here.

ORGAN PIPES

The Organ Pipes are a fascinating geological formation located near Twyfelfontein. Strikingly rich rusty color and portrayed in long columns resembling those of church organ, some rising up to 5m high. Thought to be a result of the Gondwanaland breakup, fractures and cracks were formed as the dolomite columns cooled through the process of columnar jointing approximately 120 million years ago.

SPITZKOPPE

Spitzkoppe means ‘pointed dome’ in German, and this is a clear description of this bald granite inselberg .The tallest peak, known colloquially as the Matterhorn of Namibia, towers above this range, rising 1 784m above sea level.
The Spitzkoppe was formed about 130 million years ago, when the great continent of Gondwanaland split into the continents of Africa and South America.

There are about 100 climbing and bouldering routes to try out during a visit to this challenging destination. Rock climbing at Spitzkoppe is very varied with steep inclines interspersed among gentle slopes.

The Spitzkoppe is one of the most photographed places in Namibia, attracting the focus of photographers since the camera was invented.

When evening falls, the skies light up with billions of stars clearly visible in the low light conditions of the campsite.

The panoramas of the Spitzkoppe are surreal and stunningly beautiful. Two movies were filmed against these barren scenes, namely 10,000 BC and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 Space Odyssey.

DESERT ADAPTED ELEPHANT

When you think of African elephants, you would imagine them wandering among open grasslands or making their homes in forests. But in northwest Namibia, amidst an arid landscape of rocky mountains, sand, and gravel plains, herds of elephants have become adapted to life in the desert.
They are one of only two populations of desert-adapted elephants in the world and to survive in this harsh environment, they have developed unique traits. Their larger feet enable them to move more easily across soft sandy terrain. Their feet also serve as a useful tool, along with their trunks, to find water deep beneath the ground. They can go for several days without drinking and have been observed to store water in a pharyngeal.
Hard work that has gone into the preservation and conservation of these majestic and intelligent animals, as a tourist, your visit will help contribute to the preservation of these desert giants, for future generations to enjoy.

DESERT LIONS

Namibia supports a unique population of lions that lives in the Northern Namib Desert. This small population of desert-adapted lions survives in extreme desert conditions, they exhibit unique adaptation to their environment and live in a harsh habitat of sand dunes, gravel plains and barren mountains, and occasionally hunt along the beaches of the Skeleton Coast. Nowhere else in the world can free ranging lions be seen amongst sand dunes or on a beach. As a result, the iconic “Desert” lion has become a prominent feature in Namibia and is highly valued, both aesthetically and financially, by conservationists and the growing tourism industry alike. These lions are viewed as a national asset to Namibia and we need to conserve and manage them wisely for the benefit of the Namibian people, as well as the broader international community.

DESERT RHINO

Namibia has the largest population of free roaming black rhino in Africa, the only Rhino worldwide living on communally and traditionally owned land without formal conservation status. Namibia created a culture of good human wildlife interactions by involving communities, employing locals in anti poaching patrols and generating income from Rhino related tourism.
You can take the opportunity to track one of the most endangered African mammal species, get involved with the conservation efforts and witness the country’s innovative conservation measures first hand.
Damaraland offers a unique and enriching experience for visitors, with its stunning landscapes, ancient rock art, and the opportunity to learn about and engage with the traditional culture of the Damara people. It is often referred to as “Africa’s Monument Valley” due to its striking geological formations.