NAMIBIA - Damaraland Camp, Torra Conservancy
Situated a short distance inland from the Skeleton Coast and just north of the true Namib Desert, Damaraland Camp in the Torra Conservancy exists within one of the driest, most desolate regions in all of Africa. In this arid environment, survival and desert adaptation are the miracles of the surprisingly rich diversity of the fauna & flora.
The principle source of water in the Torra Conservancy comes from the early morning mists generated by the cold Atlantic Ocean colliding with the hot desert air of the Skeleton Coast. This daily cycle of airborne moisture rolls inland along the depressions and canyons formed by ancient rivers and as the dew settles, plants, animals and insects take full advantage of its life-giving moisture.
Damaraland Camp is located on the north face of the Haub River Valley approximately 55 miles from Torra Bay. The river flows only once or twice during the short rainy season, seldom breaking through the dunes to the ocean. It is nevertheless a vital secondary cycle of water in the region. Damaraland Camp is built to take advantage of superb views of the surrounding desert plains and the valleys and soaring peaks of the Brandberg Mountains.
ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation consists of 10 adobe-styled, thatched units each raised on individual wooden decks, providing excellent views of the surrounding vistas. Each tent has en-suite facilities (shower only), a walk-in dressing area and built-in fan. There is a swimming pool in the main area.
A welcoming restaurant and bar, with a fireplace for cold winter evenings, comprise the main living areas - all built under thatch. Evening meals at Damaraland Camp are often prepared over an open fire lit by an assortment of lanterns. Stargazing in the crystal-clear night skies is superb here.
ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE:
Large game is not concentrated year-round here, with the natural cycle of rainfall dictating the seasonal movement of wildlife along the Huab River. The Torra Conservancy supports healthy populations of rare desert elephants and black rhino. Oryx, kudu, springbok, Hartman's mountain zebra, southern giraffe, gemsbok and springbok are seen here. Lion, cheetah, spotted and brown hyaena are also seen on occasion.
Activities at Damaraland Camp focus on the Haub River system and feature guided nature drives, walks and mountain biking. Morning and afternoon drives in search of desert-adapted elephant are a big attraction. Interesting flora such as euphorbias and shepherd's trees can be viewed on the way to some of Africa's best known rock engravings, including the famous Twyfelfontein etchings.
Twyfelfontein is a rocky site containing around 2,000 ancient rock carvings. In 2007 UNESCO declared Twyfelfontein a World Heritage Site. The objects excavated from two sections date from the Late Stone Age. The site forms an extensive and high-quality record of ritual practices relating to hunter-gatherer communities. All the rock engravings and rock paintings within the core area are the authentic work of San hunter-gatherers who lived in the region long before the influx of Damara herders and European colonists.
Birding is excellent at Damaraland Camp, with over 240 species in the Torra Conservancy. Raptors include the Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture and Pale Chanting Goshawk. The endemic Benguela Long-billed Lark is common on the rocky slopes here and common visitors are Pale-winged Starling, Mountain Wheatear, Rüppell's Korhaan and Cape Bunting.
OTHER:
This camp was the winner of the 2005 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award due to its eco-friendly construction, merging new technology with ancient methodology. Another unique feature of this sustainable ecotourism venture is that it is owned and largely run by the local community - who have injected their own distinctive optimism and cheerful nature into the Damaraland Camp experience. This unusual flavour comes from the mixed heritage of the local people, which include Nama-Damara, Herero, Owambo, and the displaced Riemvasmakers of South Africa.