Damaraland

It extends south of the Kaokoveld to the skeleton coast to the west. This also includes the Grootberg and the Brandberg Massif as well as the northern foothills of the Große Randstufe. Driving through the area you will experience again and again stunning landscapes with bizarre mountains and wide stony plains. You rarely come across people and settlements. For this, there are still wild rhinos and desert elephants, mainly in the western part.

About 100 kilometers west of the city of Khorixas, you will find the main attractions declared by UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, prehistoric rock engravings. The engravings are located on smooth slabs of reddish sandstone and represent mainly animals or animal tracks. Also worth seeing is the Damara Living Museum near Twyfelfontein, an open-air museum that reflects the culture and traditional way of life of the Damara people.

The basalt columns, known as “organ pipes”, are up to 5 meters high and were created 120 million years ago. Lava penetrated the shale rock under high pressure and was later exposed by persistent erosion. The columns are located below the road along a ravine. The razor-sharp edges of the columns are unique. These should be handled with caution.

The “Petrified Forest” is located 40 kilometers west of Khorixas. Here you can find the fossilized remains of 280 million-year-old tree trunks. In 1950, the place was declared a national monument.

Further north you will find Fort Sesfontein. During the German colonial period, this was a base for protection against the predatory Swartbooi Namas. The First World War led to the abandonment of the station. The old fort was restored a few years ago and turned into a lodge. It is considered a gateway to the Kaokoveld.

Another highlight in Damaraland are the Ugab terraces and the 35 meter high Vingerklip rock dome.