Palmwag Lodge

Destination

Namibia

Palmwag Lodge is nestled amongst the tall, swaying palms of a desert oasis on the banks of the dry Uniab River in Damaraland in the Kunene Region of north-western Namibia. Palmwag Lodge is one of Namibia's oldest and most popular tourist destinations, recognized internationally for its spectacular scenery, the host of incredible desert-adapted wildlife in close proximity, and the exciting possibility of encountering the endangered black rhino. Accommodation at Palmwag Lodge consists of tasteful thatched bungalows (2 bed & 4 bed) and luxury canvas tents (2 bed & one double-bed honeymoon suite), all with en-suite facilities and furnished with insect repellant. Intrepid explorers can take advantage of the 9 camp sites located nearby. Palmwag Lodge boasts an 'a la carte', licensed restaurant under thatch as well as a quaint bar and lapa at the swimming pool. Activites at Palmwag Lodge revolve around daily game drives in open 4x4s into the vast 450,000 hectare Palmwag Concession and its surprising array of arid-adapted wildlife. A trip to the nearby Ovahimba village is an option where guests can experience first hand the daily life of these desert nomads - who still live by their ancient cultural traditions and rituals. A series of guided nature walks for the intrepid is also on offer. Large populations of Hartman's Mountain Zebra, giraffe, oryx, springbok and kudu exist within the Palmwag Concession. A healthy population of elephants and desert adapted black rhino, under the management of the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT), move freely around the concession. The predator population is the largest outside of the Etosha National Park, with over 100 lions, cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena.

Directions To Palmwag Lodge

Palmwag Lodge is located in Damaraland in the Kunene Region of north-western Namibia.

Area Attractions

The Palmwag Concession is a 450,000 hectare conservancy in Damaraland in the Kunene Region of north-west Namibia. Considering the proximity of the concession to the Skeleton Coast Park and true Namib Desert, this area is home to a rich diversity of wildlife. Early morning fog generated by the icy Benguela Current in the Atlantic Ocean meeting the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast drifts inland over the Namib Desert - providing precious water to the flora and fauna in this incredibly harsh environment. Adaptation to the desert environment is the miracle of all that survives here in the Palmwag Concession. The Etendeka Mountains dominate the scenery - impressive flat-topped outcrops coloured ochre-brown. Dry river-courses like the Uniab River cut through the landscape and occasionally fill with water. The terrain is rocky but often covered with fine golden grasses and interspersed with large Euphorbia damarana bushes, which are endemic to the area. Other fascinating plants in the Palmwag Concession include the odd-shaped bottle tree, shepherd's trees, ancient leadwoods, salvadora bushes and unique welwitschias. The Palmwag Concession's freshwater springs support healthy populations of arid-adapted wildlife. Good numbers of Hartmann's mountain zebra, southern giraffe, gemsbok (oryx), springbok, kudu, dwarf antelope (such as steenbok and klipspringer), scrub hare, comical meerkats (suricates), inquisitive ground squirrels, black-backed jackal and small spotted genet can be seen. A major drawcard to the region is that the Palmwag Concession supports the largest free-roaming population of desert-adapted black rhino in Africa, as well as a healthy number of desert-adapted elephants. The Palmwag Concession also holds the core of the rarely seen desert-adapted lion population of north-west Namibia. Cheetah and leopard also sometimes seen in this area. Birding enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the diverse avifauna found in the Palmwag Concession. Raptors include Greater Kestrel, Lanner Falcon and Booted Eagles, spotted in the sky or perching on a lonely shepherd's tree. Out on drives, it is possible to see Namaqua Sandgrouse, Burchell's Courser, the colourful Bokmakierie, Grey-backed Sparrowlark, Monteiro's Hornbill and White-backed Mousebird. Other regular endemics include Rüppell's Korhaan, Benguela Long-billed Lark and possibly Herero Chat with some focused searching. Verreauxs' Eagle is often sighted around rocky hillsides.