Flintstones meets Priscilla Queen of the Desert - surreal landscapes and a lovely little camp.
Kipwe is something along the lines of Maasai meets Fred Flintstone. Ingeniously designed around the smooth granite boulders of a kopje, the camp is fun, attractive and rather makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into a clever movie-set. The round thatch roofs of each building blend into the rocks and inside, the rustic them is continued, with earthy colours, furniture that is deliberately rather wonky and oozes character. It is clear that the designers took one look at the craggy surroundings and decided that no embellishment was needed here.
The camp has ten rooms, scattered around the boulders and making the most of their unusual shapes to create unique spaces. Each round room has a private verandah and a bathroom partially open to the starry sky. A comfy lounge and small pool provide a quiet space during the heat of the day.
The camp is located in Damaraland – an area of geological splendour and ancient history. Red basalt mountains lie alongside black volcanic structures and petrified sand dunes...around each corner is a constantly changing view of utterly unusual landscape. Twyfelfontein, one of the best examples of rock engravings in Namibia, is nearby and makes for an absorbing morning. Also in this area are the desert elephant – a small remnant population of desert-adapted pachyderms which migrated along the linear oasis that carve threw the desert. They are not easy to spot and going in search of them requires patience, but it is always exciting and worthwhile if you do manage to catch a glimpse.
Camp Kipwe is a fun and rustic camp with bucket-loads of charm. It’s great for people who are not particularly fussed about gold taps but appreciate the splendour of the natural environment.
10 unique rondavel-like rooms built around the rocks
Flintstones meets Priscilla Queen of the Desert - surreal landscapes and a lovely little camp.
Damaraland is a stark, perpetually surprising landscape of red rock mountains interspersed with some pretty tenacious vegetation and the odd misplaced sand-dune or grassy meadow. Harsh lunar vistas, deep silence, unbelievable starry skies and a geological Disneyland are the order of the day here. This is where desert-adapted elephant, rhino and lion roam (though they are not a dime a dozen so you should plan for some exciting hours “on the case" if you expect to have a chance of seeing one). You can actually join researchers at Desert Rhino Camp where you can specifically head out to track rhino. Surprising as it may sound, there are people here too, though not many. Now referred to as the Damara, these unsuspective folk were relocated from South Africa in the 1960s under the Odendaal Plan and somehow scratch a living from land that is neither well-suited for crops nor livestock. They are charming, bubbly people and you will no doubt spot the odd tumble-down homestead looking like something from the Midwest while you travel through this area. Read more?
If you are considering travelling to Namibia, chances are you are looking for something out of the ordinary. A journey through Namibia is all about daily surprises; the impossible number of stars, the expanse of views over desert mountains, the improbable salmon-pink of sand-dunes at sunrise, the ingenuity of small creatures adapted to the harsh environment, the ochre and leather dress of the Himba and petticoated dresses of the Herero, the first taste of ostrich biltong and the excellent seafood. Jump straight to some of our favourite Namibian experiences. Read more?
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Catherine's long experience of, and enthusiasm for Africa, makes her a mine of travel information. Add to the mix her vivacious character and inscrutable attention to detail and there are few people you'd rather have plan your holiday.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
