About this hotel
General information
Desert Rhino Camp grew out of a field station set up to protect Namibia’s last wild black rhino, and today it runs in partnership with three community conservancies and Save the Rhino Trust. Guests come above all to track black rhino on foot — one of the few free-roaming populations left on Earth, and one that has grown over the years of this collaboration.
Six contemporary canvas-and-stone suites, one of them a family unit, take their palette from the earth around them and look out over wide plains scattered with welwitschia, Namibia’s national plant. The camp is powered entirely by the sun and has Wi-Fi. Evenings centre on the campfire and a shared table, and stays include accommodation, all meals, two activities a day, laundry and local drinks, except premium imported brands and champagne.
Location
The camp sits in a wide valley in the Palmwag Concession in Damaraland, a basalt landscape of some 583,000 hectares shaped by eruptions 125 million years ago, with flat-topped mountains, wind-carved sandstone cliffs and dry riverbeds. Wilderness Air Namibia flies circuits linking Windhoek’s international airport with Damaraland, and transfers between Wilderness camps are made by light aircraft.
Sports & leisure
The concession is home to black rhino, desert-adapted elephant, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, giraffe, springbok and cheetah, as well as rare endemic birds. Activities at the camp:
- black rhino tracking on foot with Save the Rhino Trust trackers, the rhino monitors who keep watch over the animals — guests take part in that monitoring;
- nature drives through the desert landscapes in search of drought-adapted wildlife;
- guided nature trails focused on the desert’s smaller creatures and plants;
- birding with a Wilderness guide;
- night outings with UV torches to find scorpions glowing in the dark;
- campfire evenings with song and dance by the camp team, and stargazing under southern skies;
- excursions to the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Part of every stay supports the Save the Rhino Trust tracker programme and the communities involved in protecting the wildlife.
Restaurants & bars
After a day in the desert, life in camp gathers around the campfire, where stories are told and local traditions shared, and dinner is often laid out in the bush beneath the stars. Meals are taken at a large communal table, with all food and local drinks included.
Swimming
The camp has a swimming pool, a natural place to gather with a drink as the sun goes down.
Rooms
Six canvas-and-stone suites, one of them a family unit, are spread across the valley and open onto the Damaraland views.
En-suite bathroom with outdoor shower, a private outdoor sala and a stargazing deck with a star bed.
Suite
A contemporary canvas-and-stone suite facing the Damaraland plains, with an outdoor shower, a private sala and a stargazing deck with a bed for sleeping out under the sky.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.