The typical Namibian basalt desert appears at first to be a tough place for flora and fauna. It is all the more surprising to discover that there is a significant number of animal and plant species to be found in this barren environment. Etendeka Mountain Camp’s guides share their in-depth knowledge with guests on extended walks and game drives in the concession.

Etendeka River Camp can be reached from Palmwag Lodge in about 1.5h. From there, a hiking trail leads across the plains and up an impressive hill, where Etendeka Hill Camp offers fantastic views into a valley (5-hour walk).

Etendeka Hill Camp is situated on an imposing hill with impressive views of the valley. A small terrace serves as outdoor restaurant where your guide will prepare the meals using the open fire. Enjoy your freshly served meal under a truly impressive starry sky.

The rooms are clinging to the hillside and offer an unobstructed view into the distance. You sleep on comfortable camp beds with duvets and pillows. All rooms have their own bathroom, which is either below the bedroom or a short walk away.

At Etendeka Mountain Camp everything revolves around the fantastic environment and its preservation. Nature is the main focus; the camp is kept simple and functional without sacrificing atmosphere and comfort. The food is delightfully fresh and is partly prepared on the open fire - nowhere in the world does it taste better than beneath the starry African sky.

Ten guest tents with outdoor bathrooms, bucket showers (hot and cold) and great mountain views serve as accommodation. Owner Dennis and his guides pass on their passion to their guests in a relaxed and honest way. The entire camp is solar powered; if you are looking for an eco-lodge worthy of the name, it is Etendeka Mountain Camp.

The two simple but charming walking camps (Etendeka River Camp and Etendeka Hill Camp) can be visited as a stopover on a longer hike. Camp beds with duvets and pillows are placed on covered platforms and offer some basic comfort. A private bush shower and toilet are part of your «room» under the stars. The roof can be removed for an unobstructed view of the starry sky.

Etendeka Mountain Camp sits on the foothills of the Grootberg massif in a private 55,000 hectare concession. You will be the only visitors to this area for miles around, because only guests of Etendeka are allowed here.

Self-drivers park their rental vehicle at Palmwag Lodge and are picked up at 4pm for the 18km trip to camp. The transfer takes about 1.5 hours.

The Palmwag Concession is an area that extends between the Torra Conservancy and the Hoanib River.

The area near Palmwag itself is rather hilly and mountainous and you can often see zebra and springbok. The western and northern part, however, is rocky, hot and offers little shade. Alongside with the Torra Conservancy, this is one of the most important retreats for the endangered black rhino and it hosts the largest population of rhinos outside any National Park.

Of course we would love to show you one of the endangered rhinos in its natural environment. There are various natural water sources along the route, which the rhinos frequent in the evening. If you are lucky, you may observe a rhino how it cautiously approaches the water and feeds on some leaves on the green bushes.

The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) looks after all these rhinos. If you want to know more about their work or if you want to support the Trust, you can find more information on our SwissAfrican Foundation website.

Where we set up camp site will be decided on the way by the team. This always depends on the weather and the course of the day.

The catchment area of the Hoanib River is situated to the west of the Etosha National Park. From here, the river winds its way via Sesfontein towards the Atlantic Ocean. However, like most rivers in Namibia, the Hoanib only carries water after rains.

We visit the Hoanib area between the Obias, Mudorib and Amspoort. At Amspoort we leave the river valley and drive up onto the plains, where the road continues towards Hoarusib. The area west of Amspoort belongs to the private concession of Wilderness and may only be used when visiting the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp.

The Hoanib area is incredibly beautiful and driving in this area does not stop to impress. The river is the only water source far and wide and attracts various animals. Desert adapted elephants, giraffe and oryx are quite common. With a little luck you may also spot brown hyena, jackal, cheetah or even the famous desert lions.

Where we set up camp site will be decided on the way by the team. This always depends on the weather and the course of the day.

The next overnight stop is near Orupembe, north of Purros. Our tracks follow the dry Hoarusib River for a while in a northerly direction. We then cross into Khumib Valley at Himba Spinx Mountain and follow the valley towards Orupembe.

The Khumib River is the northernmost and smallest of the dry rivers in the Kaokoveld. The river does not carry water during the dry season, but it can swell considerably after rainfall.

Where we set up camp site will be decided on the way by the team. This always depends on the weather and the course of the day.

Eight elegantly furnished, thatched Meru-style villas sit nestled in the green belt along the banks of the Kunene River. The main building houses a dining area with large outdoor terrace, a river bar, gift shop, lounge/library and a swimming pool.

The camp is stylishly and luxuriously furnished and each of the en-suite rooms is equipped with a lounge, outdoor shower and fantastic terrace, where guests can relax and read on the sofa or in the hammock. The views over the lush green vegetation along the riverbanks and the sweeping desert landscape are breathtaking.

Serra Cafema is remotely situated in the extreme northwest of Namibia. The only inhabitants of this region are the Himba nomads, who are considered to be one of Africa's last surviving tribal populations. The camp is located on the banks of the Kunene River, which marks the border with Angola and constitutes the only permanent source of water in this grandiose landscape.

Running a large distance parallel to the coast, Hartmann Valley acts as the gateway to Serra Cafema. The airfield where guests arrive was built on a plateau, from where the road leads steeply (and full of surprises) down to the river. The surrounding area is a spectacular combination of sand dunes, rugged rocky outcrops and the broad grass plains of Hartmann Valley, lined with rolling hills and sprinkled with so-called ‘fairy circles'.

Engo Valley is a mysterious place on the route between Purros and Serra Cafema. The track hits the border of Skeleton Coast Park and leads north right between the vast sand dunes and the foothills of the Hartmann mountains. The road is partially blocked by sand dunes, but this does not pose any problem for our vehicles.

The endless, yellow-colored dunes of the desert stretch from Swakopmund along the Skeleton Coast all the way up to Angola. Once the temperatures drop during the night, the fog drifts from the ocean across the sand dunes and covers the land with a heavy, gray veil. However the first rays of the sun in the morning dissolve the fog and push it back to the ocean, a beautiful spectacle. Get up early and climb a rock for the views!

Where we set up camp site will be decided on the way by the team. This always depends on the weather and the course of the day.

The Skeleton Coast is a special place. Rough, sometimes inhospitable, secluded and majestic, and for that very reason attractive. Shipwreck Lodge is the only lodge within the Skeleton Coast National Park. It is located a few hundred meters inland on the first sand dunes, but the sea is clearly visible and can be reached on foot in about 30 minutes.

Each of the 10 rooms have been constructed to resemble the shipwrecks that line the beach, slightly inclined in the sand and bracing itself against the stiff sea breeze. Large windows allow a clear view of the sand dunes and the sea. The cozy bedroom has wooden ceilings and a warming stove for the cold days. A dressing room with tea/coffee station connects to the bathroom, which is equipped with a double sink, shower, toilet and portholes. All rooms have a sofa, which can be used as an extra bed for a triple, or even as a double bed for families with two children.

Shipwreck Lodge is located 68km north of Moewe Bay on the Skeleton Coast.

The first part of the Skeleton Coast from Swakopmund to the north is open to the public. The Skeleton Coast National Park itself, a 16,845 km² large nature reserve, was founded in 1973 and later linked to the Namib-Naukluft Park via the Dorob National Park.

The southern entrance of the park is located after mile 108 near the mouth of the Ugab River. If you want to enter the park from Damaraland, you have to go through Springbokwater Gate. You have to register in any case, but the permit is free of charge.

Access to the lodge is by light aircraft (charter) to Möwe Bay, followed by a road transfer to the lodge that takes about two hours. This is usually combined with a visit to the seal colony and various shipwrecks as part of a first afternoon activity.

If you are self-driving, please park your vehicle at Möwe Bay where a guide from the lodge will pick you up at 3pm. Only Self-Drivers who continue to Hoanib Valley Camp are allowed to bring their vehicle to to lodge in convoy with the camp's guide at 3pm. There are some deep sandy passages to master and confidence in driving is essential.

Damaraland is one of Namibia’s most fascinating and beautiful regions. It is situated north of the Swakopmund – Windhoek line (Erongo), and south of Kaokoland (Kunene). Its interior is characterised by table mountains, hills and canyons.

This is the kingdom of the desert adapted elephants. The elephants like to remain close to the Ugab and the Huab Rivers, which will be our areas to explore and set up camp for the night. Both rivers are seasonal that only carry water after rains.

Where we set up camp site will be decided on the way by the team. This always depends on the weather and the course of the day.

The new Strand Hotel has set a new standard in Swakopmund. Uniquely located on the iconic and historic Swakopmund Mole and surrounded on three sides by the Southern Atlantic Ocean its 125 rooms and suites make this hotel one of the larger ones in town, but of those certainly the one with the best seaside location. All rooms have tea & coffee stations, mini-bars, hair-dryers, TV’s, free Wi-Fi Internet access, telephones and air-conditioning.

The Strand Hotel offers its residential guests and all casual visitors three exciting restaurants. The Farmhouse Deli is good for coffee, cake, sandwiches and fresh salads. The Brewer & Butcher welcomes beer and meat lovers. The Ocean Cellar caters for guests who prefer seafood, sushi, oyster and a glass of fine white wine.

The Strand Hotel is destined to become the social epicenter of Swakopmund for locals and tourists alike.

The Strand Hotel is centrally located directly at the beach and close to the light house. If you want to swim in the ocean be warned, the water is very refreshing due to the cold Benguela current. However you may see some brave local on his surfboard and of course the kids who play in the shallow water during the warmer summer months.