Damaraland Highlights

The Brandberg

The ‘fire mountain’ is the highest peak in Namibia at 2,573 metres or 8,440 feet. It is named after the effect that the setting sun creates on its western face, causing it to resemble a burning slag heap. The Brandberg harbours one of the world’s richest collections of ancient rock paintings (including the famous ‘White Lady’) and is considered Africa’s biggest open-air art gallery. The area also has a number of archaeological sites and a fascinating variety of rare plant species.

Twyfelfontein

Twyfelfontein (‘doubtful fountain’) is a World Heritage Site of about 2,000 ancient rock engravings and paintings, one of the biggest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. A visit to this alluring valley will reveal artwork produced by San hunters of the early Stone Age. The San people are members of different indigenous hunter-gatherer groups that are the first nations of Southern Africa and were likely drawn to the area’s only perennial spring during this prehistoric period.

The Petrified Forest

This prehistoric relic is located in the southern part of Damaraland, an area that was subjected to immense volcanic action. About 200,000 years ago, huge tree trunks were washed down ancient rivers and deposited in rich alluvial soils. These tree trunks became fossilised through a process called silicification that transforms wood into stone. Erosion has exposed many of the giant logs that can be seen in the area today.

The Organ Pipes

The Organ Pipes are a distinctive series of dolerite pillars and another well-known geological feature in Damaraland. Located near Twyfelfontein, The Organ Pipes were formed about 150 million years ago by the intrusion of liquid lava into a slate rock formation.