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DamaralandWest of Etosha lie sandy plains and rugged mountains – the ancestral home of the Himba people. As the landscape becomes more dominated by gravel and salt pans the main attractions become the unrivalled solitude and a glimpse of the uniquely adapted desert elephants. Things to do
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Desert Elephants: Damaraland is also home to a herd of uniquely rare animals – the desert elephants. Today only 300 animals survive amongst the river beds of the region but are commonly seen during a day’s game drive. You will notice straight away their adaptations to the arid environment – they are smaller than other elephants with large feet which support their weight on the shifting sands. The elephants bore into the ground with their tusks in search of water drawing in other wildlife such as baboons, jackals and antelope making a game drive here a very rewarding experience. |
| The Himba : One of the main attractions of this region is the presence of the Himba – one of Africa’s remaining semi-nomadic tribes. Tribal life for the 8,000 population is based around the constant quest for water and pastureland for cattle. To protect themselves from the heat of the burning sun the Himba cover their bodies with otizje – an iron based substance from the local soil. This gives their skin a deep rich colour leading that visually distinguishes them form the rest of the Namibian people. A number of lodges in the region have developed sensitive village visits for guests which have allowed an exchange of cultures between western visitors and the tribal peoples which has brought economic and spiritual benefits to both. |  |
