Damaraland Travel Guide

Due to the remote setting of the camps and lodges in Damaraland, you’ll enjoy all of your meals in the comfort and hospitality of your chosen safari lodge. 

Meals here revolve around the day’s activities, but lodge chefs are adept at ensuring you’ll never go hungry. Whether it’s freshly baked muffins for a picnic breakfast out on safari, or a light lunch as you trade tales and sightings from the morning, creating memorable culinary moments is their specialty. A highlight of any stay is a ‘boma’ dinner, a barbecue-inspired African feast enjoyed by the fireside in a dedicated outdoor dining area.

You’ll be spending much of your day outdoors under the bright Namibian sun, so a wide-brimmed sunhat and plenty of sunscreen are essential. Hopping in and out of Land Cruisers, or perhaps taking a bush walk with your guide, means that comfortable walking shoes will also serve you well. Despite the desert location most of the lodges here boast a swimming pool, so throw in a swimsuit for cooling off at the end of the day. 

There is no dress code at any of our chosen Damaraland lodges, so pack primarily for comfort. Layers of neutral-coloured cotton clothing are best, with a thermal fleece to ward off morning chills. 

Lodges in the region typically offer a small on-site boutique stocking personal hygiene basics, branded clothing and souvenirs, but be sure to take along your camera, binoculars, spare memory cards and specific charging cables. 

Due to the extremely remote location of these lodges, ensure you have sufficient supplies of any required medication before arrival.

Damaraland is a year-round destination, but with summer (November to April) temperatures soaring above 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit) the best months to visit are in winter and spring (roughly May to October) when you’re all but guaranteed of clear skies, no rain and mild daytime temperatures. The trade-off is that the early mornings and evenings can be cold.

Damaraland is not a malaria area, and no anti-malarial medication is required. 

Kaokoveld to the north, coastal deserts to the west, safaris to the east: get a handle on where Damaraland fits into Namibia’s geography with these useful travel maps…

While parts of Damaraland are accessible by road, the best way to reach the region is by private air charter. With its central location Damaraland is also ideally positioned for a flying safari taking in Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, the Skeleton Coast and Etosha.