Located in the Palmwag Reserve between Etosha and Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, as the camp’s name suggests, this is one of the best places to see endangered desert-adapted black rhino. Guests staying here also report plentiful sightings of lions, cheetah, hyena and the rare Hartmanns mountain zebra. Please note that the camp doesn’t allow children under 12 years, and guests wanting to track rhino on foot must be 16 years or older.
Overview
The harsh desert environment means the comfort of the camp is even more welcome. It has been running for twenty years and is managed by a reliable and experienced team jointly put together by Namibia’s Save the Rhino Trust and Wilderness Safaris.
Food & service
Buffet breakfasts offer a wide range of nourishment to set you up for day’s animal tracking. Lunches are mostly bush picnics and in the evenings guests enjoy sociable three course meals shared with others around one large table.
Rooms
There are 8 large walk-in Meru style tents, raised on wooden decks with verandas for reading and animal spotting. Each tent has en-suite facilities with flush toilets and flasks of hot and cold water. Hot water for bucket showers is brought to your tent on request. Since it can get chilly at night, extra duvets are provided.
There is a central tented area housing a dining room and lounge with fire pit, leather sofas, internet access and sweeping views across the plain.
Activities
Activities are focused on rhino tracking – in 4×4 vehicles and once rhino have been spotted, approaching at a safe distance on foot. The uneven terrain means sturdy footwear is recommended. Other activities include bird watching and wildlife drives. As well as exciting animal encounters, guests praise the warm spirit of this camp and the spectacular scenery.
Impact
Conservation
In the Palmwag Concession, Wilderness Safaris liaises closely with Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRTN), a highly respected NGO which has helped to rescue the region’s black rhino population from the brink of extinction. Numbers – thankfully – have quintupled over the past 30 years due to SRTN’s stellar work.
The camp itself is powered by a hybrid system (which means the generator only needs to operate for eight hours a day) and each tent has its own small solar panel and inverter as well as a solar-powered geyser to provide hot water. Reverse osmosis filtration is done on site to provide guests with high-quality drinking water and to reduce plastic bottle usage.
Commerce
A portion of every guest fee goes to the Save the Rhino Trust.
Community
The camp is a proud member of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that encourages guests to bring school supplies with them when visiting.