Mowani Mountain Camp
Mowani Mountain Camp Is Perched Along On A Rocky Ridge Near Twyfelfontein In The Heart Of Damaraland.
Mowani Mountain Camp is a long-established property that offers very comfortable accommodation, great food and friendly service. The location is stunning, set amongst the boulders of a mountain ridge with wonderful views over the surrounding rocky landscape. With easy access to the rock engravings of Twyfelfontein and the desert elephants of the Aba Huab Valley, Mowani is a favourite stop with self-drive guests. Their sunset drinks bar at the top of the ridge deserves special mention – one of the best sunset spots in Africa!
Rooms
Mowani caters for around 32 guests in eight standard View Rooms, four Superior View Rooms, one Luxury Room, and two suites. All rooms have en suite bathrooms, air conditioning, a fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, a fan, hairdryer and in room safe. Children can be accommodated in additional dome tents or on camping beds. Each of the rooms has a private deck to the fore. The View Rooms all face either north or north east over a valley, while the Superior View Rooms are elevated and have panoramic west-facing views. The Luxury Room, which is tucked behind large boulders, consists of a thatch roof, partly canvas walls, with a king-size bed, en suite facilities and its own private deck with a splash pool overlooking the valley below.
The Rock Suite offers complete privacy as it is cocooned with the rocks. A separate lounge with satellite TV leads into the bedroom with king-size bed and an en suite open air bathroom. The private deck, where private dining can be arranged, has a splash pool. The Mountain Suite includes a separate lounge with satellite TV which is adjacent to a king-size bedroom with a separate bathroom and an outdoor deck featuring a splash pool, sala, bath and shower and superb, uninterrupted views. Private dining is also available in both suites.
Central Areas
The main lodge area is set at the head of a valley offering views over the surrounding desert and rocky mountains. There is a spacious main dining and lounge area, built under a huge thatch roof, a campfire area, viewing terrace with sunbeds next to a natural rock swimming pool, and a sunset bar at the top of the hill. Limited Wi-Fi is available throughout the camp.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
Damaraland is one of Namibia’s most compelling wilderness regions, characterized by ancient geology and dramatic landscapes. Located in the north-west of the country, the region offers a mix of rugged mountain ranges, wide gravel plains and ephemeral river systems such as the Ugab, Huab and Hoanib, which only flow after rare seasonal rains. Basalt outcrops, flat-topped mesas, deep gorges, and broad sandy river valleys create a strikingly varied terrain, with colours shifting from pale desert sands to red ochres and dark volcanic stone.
Despite its arid conditions, the Aba Huab region supports an impressive range of desert-adapted wildlife. Desert elephants are one of the region’s most iconic species, uniquely adapted to survive in extreme heat with scarce water. They travel long distances along the dry Ugab, Huab and Aba Huab riverbeds, feeding on riverine vegetation and relying on an intimate knowledge of seasonal water sources. Other wildlife includes Hartmann’s mountain zebra, giraffe, oryx, springbok, klipspringer and a rich variety of birdlife.
Activities
Excursions available at the property include visits to Twyfelfontein and the other sites of the region – Burnt Mountain and the ‘Organ Pipes’ (these are usually undertaken in the afternoon), guided nature drives looking for desert elephants (usually a longer morning activity); and a visit to the Living Damara Museum where you can learn about the customs and traditional lifestyle of the Damara people. Excursions can be booked locally at the lodge or in advance of travel. Self-guided nature walks are also offered.
Seasons
Mowani is open all year. The best times to visit are late April to early November.
Mowani Camp welcomes families. Children under the age of 12 can be accommodated on camp beds in their parent’s room. Early meals can be arranged as well as any special food requests. Children under the age of 6 years are not permitted on scheduled game drive activities unless a private vehicle is booked.
Mowani Mountain Camp has enlarged the waterhole in front of the lodge on their conservancy to ensure that visiting elephants have enough to drink. They have also planted indigenous plants around the lodge.
In addition to conservation efforts on their own conservancy, Mowani Mountain Camp supports the Desert Lion Project. This is a small non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of desert – adapted lions in the Northern Namib and at the Skeleton Coast. Their main focus is to collect important base-line ecological data on the lion population and to study their behaviour, biology and adaptation to survive in the harsh environment. They then use this information to collaborate with other conservation bodies in the quest to find a solution to human-lion conflict, to elevate the tourism value of lions, and to contribute to the conservation of the species.
