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You are at:Home»Namibia»Mowani Mountain Camp: Namibian sunsets at their best
Namibia

Mowani Mountain Camp: Namibian sunsets at their best

Katja BirrerBy Katja BirrerNovember 21, 202106 Mins Read
White tree in Damaraland sunset
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Mowani Mountain Camp is located amidst fascinating rock formations in Namibia’s southern Damaraland. With a bit of luck, you can find the rare desert elephants here – or you can get stuck in a bog! A unique experience of a different kind…

As part of our Namibia tour, Walter and I stayed two nights in the Mowani Mountain Camp (link to their website).

The pictures of this special lodge styled like an African village, harmoniously inserted into the rugged rocky landscape immediately captivated me when I was scouting our trip!

Mowani Mountain Camp restaurant cupolas
Loungers and parasol
Pool and restaurant cupola
Parasols by the pool
Lounge and smoker's lounge in the background
Lounge and the outdoor smoker’s sanctuary
Camp lounge with open front
Lounge with a view

Mowani Mountain Camp in Damaraland

Mowani Mountain Camp is located a little off the gravel road west of Khorixas, well hidden between large round boulders.

Mowani is derived from “M’wane“, which means “the place of God“. A big claim, but absolutely justified! I find it paradisical here from the first moment we set foot in the place.

The central area with the tastefully furnished lounge and the restaurant consists of thatched huts.

Just below it is the small pool with a deck, from where we regularly enjoyed the stunning view of Damaraland’s breathtaking rugged landscape,

The 15 rooms – each a kind of thatched-roof chalet – sit inconspicuously scattered among the impressive rock formations.

Mowani Mountain Camp restaurant terrasse panorama
Restaurant terrace amid the rocks
Rocks and pool
A glimpse of the little pool framed by boulders
Camel thorn tree and restaurant
Restaurant veranda with camel thorn tree decor
Table cover in the Mowani Mountain Camp
Table settings in the open-air restaurant
Restaurant cupola with light incidence
Lounge lamps and decoration
Camp chalet at twilight
Camp lighting in the twilight
Chalet room in Mowani Mountain Camp
Our chalet’s interior under its ventilated thatch roof
Camp room cupola at night
Our chalet’s cathedral ceiling at night

“Sundowner” magic, Mowani Mountain Camp style

One of the highlights in the camp is the sunset: here it’s celebrated with a “sundowner” at a bar specially designed for just this experience!

Chairs are set up on a huge rock slab every evening and seat cushions are piled up. Thick tree trunks serve as backrests.

The traditional drink – a gin and tonic – comes with delicious homemade canapés.

The views of the rugged Aba Huab Valley landscape are magnificent, the sunsets spectacular!

“Pinch me, please,” I tell Walter as I watch the fiery red ball sink slowly behind the distant mountainous horizon.

Loungers and safari chairs at the sunset viewpoint
Katja all settled in for the sundowner
Gin Tonic in the sunset
Nothing like diving into a tall iced gin and tonic!
Walter and Katja at Mowani Mountain Camp's sunset outlook
Walter and Katja are at ease enjoying the perfect Mowani sundowner
Sunset snacks
Snacks in the sunset – well served!
Drinks at sunset
Sunset over Damaraland rock desert
Sunset over Damaraland rock formations
Damaraland sunset
Twyfelfontein sunset at Mowani Mountain Camp with white tree
Sun-bleached trees among the rocks
Katja and Walter at Mowani Mountain Camp's sunset outlook
Katja and Walter communing at sunset

Safari: tracking the desert elephant

Another Mowani Camp highlight is the nature and game viewing drive into surrounding Damaraland.

Our guide Rosie is keen on showing us the rare desert elephants. They often trek for miles along the riverbed of the Up River Valley in search of water.

So, at the crack of dawn and in rather nippy temperatures, we set off with Rosie in search of elephants.

Luckily she has packed ponchos for us because despite our fleece and down jackets (!) we were shivering: The wind chill made the temperature feel just above zero!

The landscape is magnificent! Here and there we spot a giraffe. But of elephants, nothing is to be seen far and wide. Rosie shows no signs of giving up – she swore to having seen three elephants along the road just a day earlier!

Katja and Walter hooded in safari ponchos
Katja and Walter in ponchos to ward off the chill morning wind
Rosie with her safari jeep by a gravel road
Katja and Rosie on the lookout for the elusive desert elephants
Safari jeep in the Damaraland desert
Giraffe in the Damaraland desert

As a native Bushwoman, she knows the area like the back of her hand. Nimbly she drives the 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser through the thickets.

Repeatedly she cautions us to hold on tight. The drive gradually turns into a road rally – until we suddenly find ourselves stuck!

Unfazed, Rosie takes off her shoes and rolls up her pants to climb out of the jeep and step into the mud.

She set off in search of stouter tree branches. With them, she wants to make sure we can dismount from the jeep without stepping into the mud. Well, if that’s not looking after us!

Stuck safari jeep
Stuck for real…
Mowani's stuck safari jeep
Guide Rosie with the branch that kept us out of the mud

Right away, Rosie learns over the radio that two other Land Cruisers within a radius of 100 meters are also stuck.

Way to go!

Three guides and ten tourists now join forces trying to extricate the off-road vehicles from the muck.

After several attempts – and thanks to the aid rendered by another guide who brings the necessary tools in his car – we finally succeed!

Safari jeeps stuck in Up River Valley
The other two stuck safari jeeps nearby
Tourists pushing Kipwe Camp's stuck safari jeep
Walter hands-on supervising the freeing of Kipwe Camp’s jeep

Thankfully, the guides only tell us later that lions had already been spotted in the area…

On the way back to Mowani Mountain Camp we see… the elephants after all. We enjoy the sight of the pachyderms all the more as a kind of reward for our travails earlier, but we were already looking forward to the well-earned sunset relaxation at the camp.

I’d had enough adrenaline for one day!

Desert elephants in Up River Valley
Finally! Desert elephants in Up River Valley

The rock paintings at Twyfelfontein

With guide Rosie showing us the way, we also visit the Twyfelfontein rock paintings, 20 km distant from the camp.

As one of the most important sites of African rock engravings, Twyfelfontein has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007.

Rosie shares with us the handed-down knowledge about the ancient Bushmen rock paintings. However, she has her own thesis about some of them, which she offers with a secretive mien ;-)

Katja and Carrie on the Twyfelfontein rock engravings visitor platform
Katja and guest Carrie on the visitor platform
Twyfelfontein rock engravings area
Twyfelfontein rock engravings site
Twyfelfontein rock engravings visitor platform
Twyfelfontein viewing platform

Fascinating Damaraland

Damaraland is located in northwest Namibia and stretches between the Ugab and Huab rivers.

This landscape of mostly steppe desert and craggy rock formations is one of Namibia’s most fascinating regions. At times, it also brought to mind a Martian landscape.

Getting there

The camp is well worth a two-night stay on a Namibia circular self-driving tour. It is easily reached on well-maintained gravel roads.

(Click here for Walter’s write-up on Namibia’s roads).

View from the sunset viewpoint with a white tree
Rugged Damaraland

More images from Mowani Mountain Camp

Large-leaved Sterculia against blue sky
Trees near the camp
Camp chalet at twilight
Katja on her way to the sunset viewpoint
Smoker's lounge in the sunrise
Room's mosquito net in the sunrise
Lounger and safari chairs at the viewpoint
Cushions by the lookout point
Cushions in the sunset
The ultimate sunset!
Lodge Nature Safari
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Katja Birrer
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Katja is travelmemo.com’s destination research and booking expert. She always has the upper hand on itineraries and travel details. When not on the road, Katja is a corporate communications manager.

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Welcome to our travel blog! Katja & Walter are passionate about one-of-a-kind travel experiences.



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