Damaraland

Named after the local Damara tribe, the name means 'black people in the Khoekhoe language. Very little is known about their origins, but it is thought that they are a remnant population of hunter-gatherers. Oral tradition has it that they came from the equatorial rainforest. Occupying the area for thousands of years alongside the San, the Damara had a similar lifestyle but also cultivated crops and were even able to work iron into knives, ornaments, and spearheads.

Thousands of Bushman paintings and engravings can shed some light onto the lifestyle of the San hunter-gatherers that occupied the area. At Brandberg, one can find one of the most famous Bushman paintings in Namibia – "the White Lady" – which is most likely a man because he is carrying a bow and arrow. Twyfelfontein in Damaraland is Namibia's – and possibly the world's – best preserved Bushman rock engraving site, featuring more than 2 000 engravings and a multitude of rock paintings. Twyfelfontein became a World Heritage Site in 1952 to preserve this gem of anthropological history. Here you can look back on your history and imagine how people lived thousands of years ago.

Even though it is one of the driest places on the African continent, it contains a remarkable variety of wildlife. Oddly enough, the world's largest land mammal, the elephant, has adapted to survive here, and the region boasts a healthy population of these desert-adapted giants. There is even some highly endangered black rhino that has also adapted to this harsh desert environment. The area has sub-surface water – which allows trees to grow – providing kudu and giraffes with good browsing. The dazzling Hartmann's mountain zebra also occur. Herds of desert 'experts' like the gemsbok (oryx) and springbok are plentiful.

Gemsbok has no water dependence, meaning that they are not dependent on surface water but rather obtain the water they need from the plants they eat. All these herbivores attract a surprising amount of carnivores that move in and around the area. These include lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and brown hyenas. Many smaller creatures like bat-eared foxes, Damara ground squirrels, and kaokoveld rock hyrax are present alongside many reptiles, particularly lizards. Birders could spot more than 240 species.

Set in one of the prehistoric river valleys of Namibia, Damaraland is a massive, untamed region that encompasses granite mountains and koppies, open plains, grasslands, ancient forests, and endless sandy wastelands. The vastness and inimitability of the terrain make it one of the most scenic areas in the country. It is best known for its distinctive geological attractions. The Brandberg Mountain, which translates roughly to "Burning" or "Fire" Mountain, is the highest in Namibia and towers dramatically over the region. It is not to be confused with Burnt Mountain in the Twyfelfontein area.

The area is one of the driest on the African continent, and surface waters are virtually non-existent. Yet, the area sustains a diverse range of lifeforms, including people, and has done so for thousands of years. It is made possible by remarkable desert vegetation, as sub-surface waters allow plants and trees to grow. Their roots are incredibly nutrient-rich, and animals kick the dusty ground to reveal them. Evidence of historical flooding, however, can be seen in the Petrified Forest, a collection of enormous fossilized tree trunks.