Wilderness Namibia Newsletters – July/August 2024

Late winter-early summer Damaraland weather and landscapes

 

As unpredictable as the weather can be in Damaraland, August seems to be the very beginning of summer. Our temperatures are already touching 37° Celsius from a fresh 13° start. A cold breeze started and ended the days, and the moon was bright in the clear skies.

 

Still no rain, but at least the desert-adapted vegetation along the river beds is looking good due to the exceptional root systems that allow them to absorb water from the underground sources.

 

 

 

 

Damaraland moments

 

The Damarana Trail, our superb bush breakfast and scenic nature drives are regularly mentioned as highlights. Our spectacular viewing point creates magical moments of the sun rising over the mountains – unforgettable for guests. The dramatic colours experienced during the early mornings and late afternoons are also most commented on during their excursions. 

 

Scenic drives showcase the stark beauty of the dry river beds and the wildlife and plants, with desert-adapted elephants seen daily, resting and feeding. 

 

Damaraland Camp embraces many cultures and activities

 

Damaraland camp is proud of its diversity; our motto of making everyone feel at home motivates us, and we receive support and love from our guests, thanks to offering unforgettable experiences for them. 

 

We have a fantastic river lunch as well as gin stops on the hill and around the fire, which ignite our guests’ imaginations and they always feel special. 

 

 

 

 

Our welcome singing leaves our guests very emotional, with one noting, “You sing from the heart, your melodies are naturally connected”. This only encourages our team to strive harder to be the best. 

 

As our Heritage Week approaches, we can feel the excitement building, and the surrounding community and staff members are getting ready to celebrate our cultural diversity, and share their traditional backgrounds. 

 

Guest comments

 

• “In the middle of nowhere” first impression gives a different view. It seems like beauty is in secret places where we feel isolated and totally free of the cities. Damaraland Au! (Guest Glance)
• The safari with Frankie, our best guide, throughout the trip, he explains to us a lot of things about landscapes and animals; the friendly team led by the ladies; the food was nice. (Guest Chappel)
• “Really everything” … the lodge was perfect, but mostly the team’s passion. Think it’s difficult to do better, thank you for all, we’ll never forget you. (Guest Verge)
• “Au Damaraland” you’ve outdone yourselves! The Boma experience was lovely, the guide well friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you for making this visit a cultural experience of a life time. (Guest Zwick)

 

 

 

 

Damaraland managers, guides & staff 

 

The Damaraland Camp team is on track! GM Collin Ananias Netope and Assistant Manager Monika Edward – strong and courageous. Monika! “I have adapted so fast to the culture, norms and background of this camp, it’s my great privilege to finally say I find my home in wilderness, almost 5 months now, which makes me feel like an ou kat”. 

 

Sem Alweendo our committed mechanic seems magically made for our game-viewer vehicles; he is indeed the mechanic Collin dreams of; Kitchen with Mr Pinehas, Pauline, Ashley, Josephine and Emilia – strong chefs and good communicators. Housekeeping supervised by Hansina-Anna Swartbooi, with the assistance of Riana and Elizabeth Simon – a most hardworking team. Our guiding team of Enos, Joas Nicky and Frankie – passionate indeed. 

 

Beyond that, we are happily looking forward to Heritage Day, preparing ourselves for cultural dances and harmonic singing.

 

Compiled by Monika Edward
Pictures by Frankie, Enos & Monika

Late winter on the Palmwag Concession

 

Sunrise is between 07h15 and 07h25 with sunset around 18h50, and at the beginning of the month it was still extremely cold with some fog in the early mornings. However, the daytime temperatures are already getting up to 28°-30° Celsius.

 

There is a lot of movement of the wildlife looking for water, and they come and go off the concession. We saw a few giraffes, springbok, and Cape foxes, but quite a variety of birds were spotted during rhino tracking excursions. 

 

 

 

 

Camp news and guest comments

 

We were delighted to host former Miss Namibia (2023), Jameela Uiras, for three nights and she joined us for a photoshoot for our camp marketing.

Having only re-opened very recently, we are delighted to already be the No. 1 performing Wilderness camp in Namibia and No. 6 in Africa. This is really great, considering we are still finding our feet and getting to know the ins and outs of this brand-new camp’s operations. Well done to all the staff!

 

“The delicious food and service level and friendliness of the staff as well as the beauty of the camp and its impressive new design”. – Guest comment (August 2024)

 

Staff news

 

We’re very much looking forward to celebrating our Wilderness Heritage Day on the 30th August with our guests. 

Doro Nawas weather

 

We are feeling the first nibbles of summer, as the temperatures soared to 30° Celsius from a rather fresh 12° in the mornings. Cloudless, though dusty, skies are the result of a strong westerly wind coming up in the afternoons. 

 

 

 

 

July in Damaraland 

 

The late winter landscape is wearing its yellow mantle with dry grasses covering most of the terrain, and the mopane trees also shedding their dry leaves now. It’s the season for the devil’s thorn to flower, and their yellow blooms are a welcome food source. 

 

The elephants’ water source at Rendezvous Well has dried up and we are now using the tanker truck to fill their reservoir. 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife 

 

Desert-adapted red hartebeest, springbok, giraffes, and ostriches were seen from nature drives, while sweet little steenbok antelopes are seen sometimes around the camp itself. 

 

We hear jackals calling in the late evening, though sometimes they are seen from drives too. 

 

This year we were blessed with two babies born to the elephant herd – Mimi is now six months old and Livia is four months old, and both are doing well. However, following the herd for a whole day is still a challenge for the little ones, especially in the heat of the day.

 

Damara community, culture and conservation

 

At the Damara Living Museum, the new boys on their team try their best to make fire with sticks. They are re-enacting a tradition from the olden days, when, for a boy to find a young lady to marry, he had to successfully make a fire for the family before they would consider him eligible. 

 

Guest comments

 

Dinner on the roof was amazing.

 

Friendly staff, comfortable, clean, lovely accommodation. Excellent guides (Stephanus). The warmth of hospitality and friendliness was very special. We also really liked the food presentation and variety.

 

Thanks for a very impressive stay, Doro Nawas. Singing when arriving /departing – all the candles + fireplace – a very nice atmosphere.

 

The preparation of the room at night. The activities organised with Fanuel.

Food was of a very high standard – hot water bottles + blankets at bedtime were wonderful!

 

Compiled by the Doro Nawas guiding team currently in camp – Stephanus, Brian, Ronaldo & Veondjavi
Photos by Stephanus, Brian, Ronaldo & Veondjavi

Skeleton Coast weather in late July

 

We have experienced very cold weather lately, with dense fog and temperatures of between 10° and 14° Celsius. It’s still very dry but we have had minimal wind compared to other months.

 

Landscape around Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp 

 

Did you know? The Hoanib is of 12 ephemeral (seasonal) rivers in north-western Namibia. The predominant tree along the dry river’s edge is the ana tree Faidherbia albida.

 

Wildlife of the Hoanib

 

Our usual “locals” were spotted, including desert-adapted elephants, lions, giraffes, oryx, springbok and ostriches.

 

The Cape foxes serenaded us with their nocturnal howling. Magic in the desert! 

 

Camp news 

 

As usual, all our guests loved their Skeleton Coast excursion, which includes a drive to an oasis close to the shore to see if the flamingos are there, and lunch on the beach against the backdrop of the crashing waves. Very special indeed. 

August at Sossusvlei 

 

Summer is here, and the temperatures now rise to 35° C in the afternoons, though the mornings start off nicely cooler at around 15° C.

 

A strong easterly wind has kept the housekeepers busy at the guest rooms. 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife around Little Kulala

 

The usual oryx and springboks were spotted around the waterhole in front of Wilderness Little Kulala. We still see the little black-backed jackals running around the lodge from time to time. 

 

Community, Culture and Conservation 

 

The team is excited, and greatly looking forward to our Wilderness Heritage Day where they showcase their culture and traditions to our guests.

 

Guest comments 

 

The service has been 10/10, the level of professionalism is unbeatable and the charisma of the staff is unique. The whole experience makes this such a great place. 

 

We had a very a memorable stay, the staff is amazing. Thank you for making us feel at home. Special. 

 

Staff news 

 

We have a great teambuilding initiative in camp where the staff have been showcasing their dancing moves. Great fun and excellent for the positive energy it has created. 

 

Newsletter by James Muzamai  

Photos by James Muzamai and Penny Paulus

Late winter on Namibia’s Kunene River

 

It’s been mostly very cold in the mornings and evenings. After a foggy start to the days, a cool midday breeze would come up from the west, becoming stronger in the afternoons.

 

Water levels on the Kunene River are still good for boating excursions.  

Wildlife and birds 

 

Nile crocodiles and goliath herons, while common here, are always a thrilling sight. We also spotted weavers and woodland kingfishers with their beautiful, vivid plumage. 

 

 

 

 

Camp news

 

Guests loved the sunrise breakfast set-up along the river, while the bush lunch up at the spot overlooking the river is always a hit. Our evening boma set-up is a perennial favourite too, with guests dining outdoors around a roaring central fire.

 

The visit to a Himba community near camp always deeply affects guests who marvel at their quite ancient, nomadic way of life. 

 

We installed a solar plant at the staff village, and our guest rooms received a fresh coat of paint. 

 

Guest comments

 

“Homely and friendly atmosphere, great massages, the camp activities, and guides’ experience and competence”.

 

Staff News 

 

Internal staff training was conducted by Daniel Botha and Anna Andreas