Untouched Damaraland lies in the north of Namibia and is a place of flat-topped mountains, dramatic boulders and prehistoric lava flows that shelter an incredible array of wildlife, like African wildcats, aardwolves, Hartmann’s mountain zebras and even the Big 5. Amidst this raw natural splendour, which is laced with semi-precious minerals and crystals, lies Etendeka Mountain Camp. Small but perfectly suited to the unforgiving environment – when temperatures soar during the day and plummet at night – is a favourite with travellers and adventurers who understand the true meaning of ‘off the beaten track’.
Spend the days exploring this remarkable area on foot, looking for smaller animals like elephant shrews or black mongooses, or via 4x4 to seek out black rhino, desert-adapted elephant, eland, herds of sword-horned oryx and cheetahs. Birders will want to keep their binoculars at hand to spot the rare long-billed lark or perhaps a snake-eagle snatching up a scorpion. In the evenings, gather round the telescope and take advantage of the utter darkness to gaze upon faraway stars, the rings of Saturn and other cosmological wonders.
Etendeka Mountain Camp is shrouded in majestic solitude; from your comfortably-furnished Meru tent you will be able to gaze out across an unchanging landscape that few have had the privilege to experience.