Damaraland, Mowani Moutain Camp

On leaving Erindi shortly after breakfast we started to make our way north on a journey to ultimately reach the Skeleton Coast in the far north west of the country. This required an overnight stop 166 miles north of Erindi (four-and-a-half-hour journey), at a place called Mowani Mountain Camp. Located in an area called Damaraland, part of the Kunene Region inhabited by the Damara people, it is an area of beautiful desert landscapes. It is a harsh climate, experiencing high temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall is low, sometimes non-existent. The wildlife here and further to the north have adapted to high heat and persisting droughts. It is the gateway for exploring the environment of desert-adapted elephants and giraffe. The elephants here have elongated limbs and broader soles able to handle the extreme rock and sand better and can travel for miles along dry river beds in search of water.