Twyfelfontein Country Lodge Damaraland

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Etendeka Mountain Camp: Edenteka offers a unique, pristine wilderness experience which will appeal to photographer, naturalist, astronomer and geologist alike, as well as lovers of peace, quite and open space. All plants and animals found around the camp are indigenous to the area. To get the most of your experience you will need to spend at least two nights here. Each of the 8 walk-in, shaded tents is provided with a flush toilet and hot bush shower

... 30 pitches (by the numbered signs), about half a dozen in use when we were there, all are large pitches with a tap and braii facilities. Ablution blocks are dotted around the camp, each comprises of 2 WCs and 2 showers with chains to put across the doorway, and all open topped. The Lodge has a restaurant/bar and 2 pools that campers can use. They also run trips to see game ...

... area called Damaraland where the locals speak a language that involves no less than 4 different 'clicking' sounds - very entertaining to listen to. We noticed that the clicks seem to become more prominent when the conversation gets agitated. In the morning we took a guided hike through the bush (and some extremely vicious thistles that had spikes like fish hooks so once they were in your socks, or skin, they were very tricky ...

... the kids wouldn't be satisfied by just one. The women are beautiful - more about their style of dress and hair later. Although we were encouraged to take as many pictures as we liked, I felt uncomfortable. I always feel uncomfortable taking pictures of people I do not know. It feels too much like they're an exhibit on display, and I feel like I'm taking advantage by taking their photos. Perhaps if they spoke enough English (or I spoke enough Himba!) to converse, I ...

"We drive inland through the Damaraland region with its vast and rugged terrain. Its mountain ranges are intercepted by wide gravel plains, which run into sandy, vegetated riverbeds and hot, dry valleys. We visit the Twyfelfontein area for walks to the bushmen paintings/ rock engravings as well as the Organ Pipes." 468 km/290 miles driving

... along it, however, it seems to be for a second, more sinister reason. The whole beach was covered in bones, including complete skulls, and spines and pretty much everything in between. They were apparently from the seal colony up the coast that we went to visit. We all got very giddy on arrival into Swakopmund. The thought of sleeping in beds and not having to put the tents up and down was too much to take. I have never been so happy about the thought of sleeping in a bed in my life.

... to put into words ... It is unbelievably hot .. so for Eur25 I upgrade to a chalet ... a very nice one at that ... ensuite and complete with tiger bedspreads ... strange for Africa? Later we go for a hike into a valley at the foot of the Brandbergs ... our guide is Godhirdine Garoes ... her inital comment to me was a joke asking me when the baby is due ... so I have to admit I am a little miffed but I bite my tongue ... The white lady is one of the most ...

... Cowboy" in town and asked if they would sing some of their songs that night at the local bar. He agreed and we were fortunate enough to hear "Rocks and Stones" live and record them forever on video. We climbed to the "White Lady" rock paintings that are estimated to have been painted 5000 yrs. ago by the San "bushmen". Beth's old friend Terry was working at the visitors center. The ...

... night camping as there were some pretty dramatic campsites dotted around the place and it would be something different at least. We had our camp set up in a little rocky valley known as the Swakop River campsite, fire going as the sun set, the rocks glowing bright red, eating our staple camping food, pre-roasted chicken & pasta salad and playing some music whilst it got dark... until along came a freaky white spider, about the size of my hand, scuttling around the place. Naturally ...

... purring sound was just like a small car engine! When not chasing each other around the yard the would often chase the poor Jack Russell dog, picking him up with their teeth. Back in the truck and our first stop was in the town of Kamanjab for a little shopping. This seemed more like how the real Namibia should be, dusty and run down. The Herero women here still wore these huge, often colourful, Victorian ...