Damaraland

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Anthony is the author of the 'Botswana & Namibia' Lonely Planet guide.

Damaraland is not a classic wildlife destination. Wildlife is sparse and the main attraction is the arid desert environment. However, the prospect of seeing desert elephant, black rhino and even lion makes a wildlife excursion here worthwhile. Other species include gemsbok, greater kudu, eland and springbok. Giraffe and Hartmann’s mountain zebra are nomadic visitors to the area.

ElephantOccasional

GiraffeOccasional

HippoNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraRare

WildebeestNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoRare

LionRare

LeopardVery Rare

CheetahVery Rare

HyenaVery Rare

Wild DogNone

Wildlife Highlights

The Save the Rhino Trust, in cooperation with Desert Rhino Camp and other lodges in the area, has set up a program that includes rhino tracking. This allows visitors to see one of the few remaining free-roaming black rhino populations left in the world outside of national parks and reserves. Rare desert elephants are the other prime species, while a small pride of desert-adapted lions is quite a treat if you see them. The endemic black-faced impala and Damara dik-dik can also be found in the area.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Damaraland can be visited at any time of the year, although the Dry season (May to October) is best for wildlife viewing. At this time, animals tend to seek out limited water sources and can be more easily spotted, athough seeing anything still remains a challenge. During the Wet season (November to April), animals tend to scatter and become harder to locate.