Namibia - Damaraland - Etendela Mountain Lodge

After finding the desert elephants we moved on to Palmwag which is a small community just past the border agriculture check point. The agriculture check point is control the import of specific products. This is meant to keep the animals in Namibia safe from dieses.

Stopping at a lodge along the road we saw to see two elephants bathing. 

The rest of the drive into the remote area where Etendeka Mountain Lodge was along a track through their property. Most people leave their transportation at the lodge and have someone from Etendeka pick them up as the road is not very navigable for most vehicles. Charl had been here several time and was able to drive to the lodge. For the next two nights we had the first opportunity in Namibia to feel like you were truly in the wild. 

Mountain Area

Bucket Shower

Our accommodation was a tent with a separate bathroom area. There was running water to the bathroom but the outdoor shower was a bucket that needed to be filled with water from the sink. The shower was very pleasant when the sun was shinning.

Bottle Tree

Before dinner we took a short walk up the hill behind the main lodge to have a sunset view.

View from the top of the hill.

This area has been extremely dry for the last seven years and is one of the driest countries south of the Sahara Desert. Because of the drought, most of the animals have left this area. We did see a herd of zebra and heard a lion roaring at night. The only evidence of the lion was the paw prints in the dry dirt in the morning not far from camp.

You can do an overnight walk at this lodge. You and a guide can walk to different camps where you can sleep on an open raised platform and view the stars all night. They have a variety of trips from one night to several nights. This would be an excellent experience to feel like you are in the wilderness.

Elephant mud bathing at Palmway lodge.