Where to StayĬonsidered one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Southern Africa, Kaokoveld is an otherworldly and mountainous landscape of rugged beauty. Located near Twyfelfontein, The Organ Pipes were formed about 150 million years ago by the intrusion of liquid lava into a slate rock formation.
#Namibia africa series
The Organ Pipes are a distinctive series of dolerite pillars and another well-known geological feature in Damaraland. Erosion has exposed many of the giant logs that can be seen in the area today. These tree trunks became fossilised through a process called silicification that transforms wood into stone. About 200 000 years ago, huge tree trunks were washed down ancient rivers and deposited in rich alluvial soils. This prehistoric relic is located in the southern part of Damaraland, an area that was subjected to immense volcanic action. The San people are members of different indigenous hunter-gatherer groups that are the first nations of Southern Africa and were likely drawn to the area’s only perennial spring during this prehistoric period. A visit to this alluring valley will reveal artwork produced by San hunters of the early Stone Age. Twyfelfontein (‘doubtful fountain’) is a World Heritage Site of about 2 000 ancient rock engravings and paintings, one of the biggest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The area also has a number of archaeological sites and a fascinating variety of rare plant species. The Brandberg harbours one of the world’s richest collections of ancient rock paintings (including the famous ‘White Lady’) and is considered Africa’s biggest open-air art gallery. It’s named after the effect that the setting sun creates on its western face, causing it to resemble a burning slag heap. The ‘fire mountain’ is the highest peak in Namibia at 2 573 metres or 8 440 feet. Desert-adapted elephants can travel up to 70 kilometres (40 miles) a day through the desert in search for food and water – and unlike their savannah cousins, they don’t destroy any trees in their quest for nourishment. Small populations of desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, giraffe, ostrich, oryx and springbok (gazelle) can be seen here.
The geography changes dramatically to the west: endless sandy wastelands eventually meet the turbulent Atlantic Ocean at the Skeleton Coast.ĭamaraland is home to very unique animals that have adapted their lifestyles to survive in one of our planet’s harshest environments.
Prehistoric water streams with wide-open plains and grassland, granite hills and deep gorges are par for the course with Damaraland. If you’re the intrepid kind, this incredible hinterland offers an adventure beyond compare. Tracking rhino on foot with Desert Rhino Camp.Īrguably one of the most scenic parts of Namibia, Damaraland is a massive, untamed and ruggedly beautiful region.