Hoanib Elephant Camp

Hoanib Elephant Camp is positioned beside an elephant highway in a remote and very peaceful part of the valley of the ephemeral Hoanib River. Calling it ephemeral perhaps suggests that it flows regularly, which is misleading, as most years it stays dry, but it’s nonetheless a crucial waterway and a lifeline for the desert-adapted wildlife living here. The camp is part of the community-owned Sesfontein Conservancy in the Kaokoland region of northwest Namibia.

Accommodation & Facilities
Hoanib Elephant Camp has been imaginatively designed and built with a mix of rammed earth for solid walls and insulated canvas for roofs and softer sides, giving the 10 safari tents and the main lodge natural climate control to cope with the harsh extremes of Namibia’s climate. The tents are built on low decks, two with two bedrooms for a family, and all have en-suite bathrooms, inside and outside showers, air-conditioning, and large shaded verandahs with plunge pools. The main lodge has a large dining room, lounge, and bar, a small spa, and a large deck with a pool and a fire pit for drinks under the stars.

Wildlife & Activities
The Hoanib Valley is a well-known wildlife migration route between Damaraland and the amazing Skeleton Coast, and desert-adapted species such as elephant, black rhino, giraffe, zebra, oryx, springbok, and kudu regularly traverse it. Lion and brown hyena are also sometimes seen, and the birdlife is also surprisingly good despite the arid conditions and sparse vegetation. Much of the wildlife visits the camp’s waterhole from time to time, and sitting with a pair of binoculars is often rewarding. The activities on offer here include wildlife drives in open vehicles, walking safaris, visits to local nomadic Himba people, and tracking black rhino. Sundowners and stargazing are fun ways to finish a day in this ruggedly beautiful place.