Damaraland covers more than 160 000ha and lies close to the south-western border of Etosha National Park and is best known for its spectacular desert scenery. Khorixas forms the centre of Damaraland, which stretches between the Erongo and the Etosha Pan in the north-west of Namibia. It is still predominantly populated by the Damara, who are, together with the San (Bushmen), the oldest inhabitants of Namibia. Some 90 kilometres west of Khorixas lies Twyfelfontein ("Doubtful Spring"), with one of the most extensive galleries of rock engravings in the world. More than 2000 petroglyphes have been counted here, and in 1952, the valley of Twyfelfontein was proclaimed a National Monument. The rock engravings are found on a number of smooth rock surfaces and most of them depict animals and their tracks. Scientists have estimated their ages to vary between 1000 and 10000 years: The majority agrees on an age of about 6000 years. A few kilometres away from Twyfelfontein, there are more attractions to be found: the basalt columns called "Organ Pipes" and "Petrified Forest" with about 300 million year-old tree trunks. Some 150 kilometres south of Khorixas lies Namibia's highest mountain; the Brandberg massif, with the 2573m high Königstein as its highest peak.
Damaraland is not an area to visit if you expect to see teeming game herds but you have a chance of seeing the much publicized desert dwelling elephants and black rhinoceros, as well as Hartmann’s Zebra, gemsbok, springbok, and ostrich. The winter nights can be very cold in this area. Damaraland is one of the most scenic areas in Namibia, prehistoric water courses with open plains and grassland, massive granite koppies and distant mountains create the landscape.
The area has a wide variety of accommodation ranging from campsites to up market lodges, a few of the highlights include one of Namibia's best camp sites which can be found near Twyfelfontein. |
