Bartek Poland - Namibia Highlights Camping Safari

Join one of our local Himba guides to visit a Himba village and learn how one of Africa’s remaining semi-nomadic people, live, work and worship. Through the guide’s interpretation you will be able to exchange information and be allowed to take photographs and film the Himba family as they go about their daily lives.

The activity is offered on a daily basis and normally departs after breakfast in one of our safari vehicles. Depending on your interests, you will be taken to a traditional Himba graveyard and the local primary school. Guests are back at about 11:30 in time to freshen up for lunch.

The Epupa Falls, a series of cascades that drop a total of 40 m over a distance of about 1,5 km, is just 800 m west of Epupa Camp, an easy walk. Originating from the Herero word for the spume created by falling water, Epupa is a fitting name for this fascinating sight.

To quote the Bradt Travel Guide, "Epupa Falls don't compare to Victoria Falls in scale, they are all the more beautiful for occurring in such an arid region." Nowhere else in the world do you find a waterfall contrasted with such wild arid desert landscape. Watching the Epupa Falls and its white mists of water against the red colours of the surrounding desert and mountains during sunset, with a sundowner drink in one hand and your camera or binoculars in the other, is likely to make up one of the most beautiful and memorable experiences during your trip to Namibia.

Every evening approximately one hour before sunset, we take you in our safari-style vehicle to the Epupa Falls and then to the top of one of the hills overlooking the waterfalls for a sundowner. Enjoy a gin and tonic or one of Namibia’s excellent beers while watching as the surrounding desert landscape explodes in colours and fascinating shadows. We return to the lodge in time to freshen up for dinner.

For those of our guests who want more than just to gaze at the Kunene River, we offer seasonal rafting trips twice daily, namely after breakfast and lunch between May and November. After taking you upriver in our open safari vehicle, our qualified guide will provide you with the equipment needed and brief you on the day's expedition. He will then lead you on a gentle cruise down the river with ample time to stop and enjoy the scenery, watch the birds and the crocodiles sunbathing on the banks, and take photographs. En route we will stop at one of the islands for refreshments.

For those who do not want to paddle or are a bit wary of the water, we have 8-seater rafts where our guides do the paddling and manoeuvring for you The greatest fun, however, is the 2-seater crocs, where you and your partner do the paddling. No advance rafting experience is required. Our guide will instruct you and also give you a safety briefing. Helmets, safety jackets and dry bags for cameras and other personal belongings are provided.

For bird lovers, we offer river birding trips where our expert guide will point out some of the 238 recorded species that inhabit the Kunene region, including Rufous-tailed Palm-Thrush (a permanent resident at our camp), Monteiro’s Hornbill, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Goliath Heron, African Fish-Eagle, various bee-eaters, kingfishers ranging from the Giant to the tiny Malachite Kingfisher, bulbuls, rollers (Purple, Lilac-breasted and European), Rosy Faced Lovebird, Golden, Spectacled and Lesser Masked-Weaver, and sunbirds, to name just a few. This is as close to nature as you will get, and truly a soothing way to spend your morning or afternoon.

Exclusive birding trips need to be booked well in advance.

Our guides can take you along the river or into the surrounding hills to explore the flora and fauna of Kaokoland and enjoy stunning views of the Kunene snaking its way through the dry desert landscape. During your hike you are likely to come across Bushman’s poison bushes with their beautiful but deadly pink flowers and large Euphorbia bushes, of which the poisonous milky-white latex has been used by the San and Himba for hunting for centuries. Also easily recognisable are the makalani palms, mopane scrub and the flat-topped umbrella thorn with the almost Mexican name: Acacia tortilis.

Depending on your interests, we offer guided walks to one of the following:

To and around the Epupa Falls down to a white beach below the Epupa Falls. The walk will take you through the village to the main fall where the Himba people often come to wash their clothes, bathe, or play in the shallow pools.

Into the surrounding hills to explore the fauna and flora of this riverine area and beyond.

The crocodile trail, a 3 km walk meandering eastwards along the Kunene River bank.

Birding walks at Epupa Falls and the surrounding area.

These walks can take up to three hours. In summer these are best undertaken in the early morning hours. The starting time depends on the guests and their interests.

Our guides can take you along the river or into the surrounding hills to explore the flora and fauna of the Kaokoland and enjoy stunning views of the Kunene snaking its way through the dry desert landscape.

During your hike you are likely to come across large Euphorbia bushes (whose poisonous milky-white latex has been used by the Himba for hunting for centuries), rose quartz crystals, mopane scrub, and the flat-topped umbrella thorn with the almost Mexican name: Acacia tortilis.

Epupa Camp joined the Straw Wars and now invites all Kunene Region lodges to join us in this plastic straw combat.

Bar staff and waiters agreed, although a plastic straw seems like a small piece of plastic, one does not really need it.

More important is to focus on our rivers and oceans to eliminate plastic as far as possible.
Even if this is just a drop in the ocean, our aim is to create awareness for the sake of our children’s planet.

Although we are a small remote tented camp, we meet many international travellers who can help us spread the message.

Our guests, once we have explained why we do not serve a rock shandy with a straw, appreciate our efforts.

So do not wait to draw the last straw!

From the Epupa Camp Team - in peace

Join one of our knowledgeable rangers on a morning or afternoon game drive to explore the concession area, learn more about the plant and bird life, admire the amazing termite mound structures among big mopane trees. If you are lucky, you might even spot a herd of elephants or our local pride of lions, while birding enthusiasts will appreciate the large variety of species. Ask our guides about the Namibian Lion Trust and their involvement with the Hobatere lions. 



Departure from the lodge: Morning drive at 07:00 in summer, at 08:00 in winter | Duration 2-3 hours | Afternoon drive at 16:30 in summer and at 15:00 in winter after coffee, tea and cake | Night drive after dinner at 20:30 in summer and at 20:00 in winter | Minimum 2 guests per excursion – maximum 9 per vehicle | Half-price for children under 12.

With the help of a non-intrusive spotlight our experienced guides will try to find some of those secretive nocturnal animals for you. Since it might become a bit chilly at times on an open game viewer, hot drinks will be served during the night drive.

Departure after dinner at 20:30 in summer and at 20:00 in winter | Minimum 2 guests per excursion – maximum 9 per vehicle | 50% discount for children under 12.

An approximate 4-hour long morning or afternoon drive into the Palmwag Concession area. Refreshments and light snacks are included.

Explore the beauty and wildlife of Damaraland on this varied full day excursion (min. 4 persons). Refreshments and light snacks included.

Join one of our guided morning walks and explore Damaraland on foot (approximately 1.5 hours).

Rely on your experienced guide and follow the tracks of the black rhino. An open game drive vehicle brings you into the Palmwag Concession area. The rhino tracking is done on foot.

An adventurous outing for min. 2 and max. 8 persons. A guided scenic drive takes you to a tented camp in the Palmwag Concession area, where you spend the night. Sit at the camp fire, gaze at the stars and enjoy your dinner.