Doro Nawas (Wilderness Safaris) Damaraland Desert Accommodation

Doro Nawas Camp is situated in the ruggedly beautiful Damaraland area, on a small, rocky outcrop within the floodplain of a small tributary of the Huab River. This exciting new destination is a joint venture between Namibian investors, the local Doro Nawas community and Wilderness Safaris.

The camp is located in the valley of the dry Aba-Huab River with spectacular views of the Etendeka Mountains to the north and the red sandstone cliffs of Twyfelfontein (famous for its San rock engravings) to the south.

The unique lodge design allows for an unspoilt panoramic view of this diverse and dramatic landscape, which varies from tabletop outcrops, small canyons, dry riverbeds to savannah and grassland vistas. The magnificent terrain holds all the possibility for a sighting of the rare desert-adapted elephant while enjoying a nature drive or relaxing, viewing the stars from the rooftop of the main area or from your private unit veranda.

Guests are housed in 16 units which combine natural stone and canvas walls with wood and glass doors, shaded by a thatch roof. The design and décor blends into the surrounding scenery, with attention to comfort and luxury in these sometimes-abrasive semi-arid desert conditions. Each unit consists of a bedroom that leads out to a veranda and outdoor shower. En-suite facilities include a shower, ‘his and her’ basins and a flush toilet.

The main area is made up of indoor and outdoor rooftop dining areas, residential pool area, bar, curio and small gallery and leads to a picturesque courtyard and staircase to the roof that allows for relaxing sundowners and stargazing.

Enjoy wholesome meals in the dining room and in the evenings absorb the dazzling African skies from your rooftop terrace before settling down for the night.

Activities include nature drives appreciating the spectacular views and desert scenery. Wildlife viewing concentrates on the game found in the riverbed and along the valleys that sometimes fill with floodwater in the rainy season. A highlight is the fascinating expedition to Twyfelfontein with its renowned San art engravings, and the largest collection of petroglyphs – prehistoric rock art – in Africa.

Doro Nawas provides a memorable quality of service and an excellent base for self-drive and fly-in guests exploring the local area in game drive vehicles and creates a wonderful opportunity to contribute to economic empowerment of the local community while enjoying a luxury safari experience. The combination of Africa past and present makes for a fascinating visit.

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DAMARALAND:
Namibia is a land of great contrasts and Damaraland demonstrates this with stark plains, petrified forests and ancient valleys leading to rocky outcrops and the soaring peaks of the Brandberg Massive Mountains.

BRANDBERG NATURE RESERVE
The brooding Erongo mountain range of the Brandberg (Burnt Mountain) massif, emerges mysteriously from the surrounding flat arid scrubland. These mountains are magnificent when viewed from any direction and the Konigstein peak at 8,362 feet (2,573m) is the highest in Namibia and forms just part of this range.

In the ravines and caves of these mountains many prehistoric rock paintings have been found and none more famous than the ‘White Lady’ of the Brandberg. She was named by the surveyor who discovered her in 1917, but remained in obscurity until 1948, when the painting was replicated and brought to light. More recent investigations into her stature suggest that she is no lady after all!

TORRA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY:
This dry rocky conservancy is about 60 miles (96km) north of the Brandeberg Mountains, on the north bank of the Huab River. It is a conservation partnership formed between the local community and Wilderness Safaris, who operate a lodge in the area. It is an area of endless vistas across stark plains broken suddenly by ancient valleys and soaring peaks, with the Brandberg Mountains rising like a mirage on the far horizon. Mists roll in from the Skeleton Coast some 56 miles (90km) to the west, and drift along the river valley to provide sustenance to a variety of life that depend on this daily moisture. The Huab River only flows once or twice during the short rainy season and seldom breaks through the dunes to reach the ocean.

ANIMALS & BIRDS:
The natural law concerning food and water supply dictates the movement and cycles of life in this arid area. As such there is no guarantee of seeing any of the animals that inhabit Damaraland and whatever you may see is to be a treasured moment. The rare and endangered desert elephant have adapted like all the other animals here to exist on limited fodder and scant water. These rare pachyderms roam around the more vegetated areas by dry riverbeds and stand on their back feet and stretch their trunks skywards trying to reach the very last leaf on each tree. Desert-adapted black rhino range in and out of communal farming areas across a large area and are one of the few populations to survive on land that has no formal conservation status.

Classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, the black rhinos of north-west Namibia have more than doubled in number since 1985. Even lion and cheetah move in and out of the area when antelopes such as oryx, kudu and springbok are around.

SEASONS:
May to December are the best months to visit this region.
Summer: November to April are hot with an average mid-summer daytime temperature around 95°F (35°C) especially in the river valleys.
Winter: The cooler months of May to September are pleasant with an average temperature during the day of 79°F (26°C). Nights can be very cold averaging 43°F (6°C) with frost not uncommon in June, July and August.
Rainy Season: The variable annual rainfall is between 1.18inches (30mm) and 4 inches (100mm) per year starting in January and reaching a peak in March. Rain usually comes as heavy late-afternoon thunderstorms.

DAMARALAND SPECIALITIES:
· Star-gazing par excellence
· Desert elephants might be seen
· Rare free-ranging black rhino
· Exceptional comfort in desert lodges
· Meeting the roaming Damara goat and cattle herders

FACTS:
· This is a remote area and many visitors fly in to their camp or lodge although overland travel is possible.
· This is a low-risk malarial area.