Hoanib Valley Camp Namibia

Hoanib Valley Camp Namibia

With The Life Adventure

Namibia receives barely 500,000 visitors a year. And the good news is, that whilst more camps are now emerging, many are linked to conservations projects. Noanib Valley Camp is just one of those.

In a country jam-packed with vast, spectacularly beautiful landscapes, Kaokoland may just be the most incredible of them all. Deep in north-western Namibia, the area is a melee of towering mountains, sand dunes, and huge expanses of desert, scattered with unique wildlife and nomadic Himba settlements. It’s also one of Namibia’s most remote and wild environments, and one that not many will get the chance to discover in a lifetime.

Hoanib Valley Camp is a joint venture between the local communities and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the world’s only Africa-wide giraffe conservation organisation. The camp is an elegant, intimate affair that immerses you into the wilds of the desert. The six rooms blend seamlessly with the environment, offering a simple aesthetic that matches the rugged landscape down to a tee. Days are spent tracking endangered rhino, desert-adapted elephant, and of course desert-adapted giraffe, before retiring to a private veranda to marvel at the magnitude of the surroundings.

In the midst of the empty landscapes of Northern Namibia, the rivers in this arid terrain, with few roads and almost no towns, is dry for 50 weeks of the year. Created in a spectacular setting, the camp overlooks one of these sand rivers and is a new venture which is working here to monitor desert-dwelling giraffes.  The camp is sophisticated yet leaves virtually no footprint in this fragile eco-system. It also makes a considerable contribution to the Himba people, one of the most traditional of African tribes.

Visits to villages and encampments almost untouched by the modern world are the highlight of any stay at Hoanib. You’ll stay in one of six canvas tents, all with vast beds and local art. The setting is dramatic.

Why go?

• Discover the true magnitude and magic of Namibia and visit a place that not many will ever have the chance to explore…
• This area is one of the best places to see desert adapted elephant, giraffe, lion, rhino, mountain zebra, and oryx.
• Sit on your private veranda and contemplate the stark beauty of the landscape spread out all around you.
• Learn more about the ground-breaking giraffe research that is being conducted in this remote corner of Namibia.
• Spend time with local Herero people and learn a little of their fascinating way of life in such a harsh climate.
• Embark on a guided nature walk and uncover the smaller flora and fauna of the desert.

Accommodation

Hoanib Valley’s six guest tents blend perfectly into the rugged environment. The colours, textures and patterns are inspired by the experience of the Hoanib; the rich ochre of the dunes, the geometric patterns of the Himba people and, of course, the giraffe that inspired this project. True to the camp’s ethos they’ve sourced materials local and you’ll find furniture shaped by the local Rundu carpenters and Himba carvers, as well as baskets weaved by the people of the Omba Project in Windhoek. The whole camp is clean and green, leaving virtually no footprint on this fragile eco-system. It’s entirely solar powered to ensure carbon emissions are kept to a minimum, and the tents sit on decks made of a wood, bamboo and 70% recycled-material composite.

At-a-glance

Accommodation & Amenities

• 6 tents: 5 twins, 1 family
• Ensuite bathrooms with indoor showers
• Wifi available: Yes
• Hairdryers: No
• Battery charging facilities: In the mess tent & in room
• Complimentary laundry service
• Child policy: We welcome children of all ages.
• Disabled access: Please enquire with reservations

What’s included?

All meals and local drinks; activities

What’s not included?

Premium brand beverages; tips & gratuities; travel insurance

Camp dates

Hoanib Valley Camp is open all year round

Green season: 10th January to 31st March

Shoulder season: 1st April to 14th June; 1st November 9th January

High season: 15th June to 31st July; 1st September to 31st October

Peak season: 1st – 31st August

Prices

From £465 per person per night based on two sharing. Flights from London to Windhoek £995 per person. Transfers to the camp are either by road or Cessna plane which we can quote on request. Other conservation camps in Namibia are available as part of an 8-night itinerary including 2 nights at each (8 in total). Ask us for more details.

More about the conservation efforts of Noanib Valley Camp and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation

The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) are the foremost experts on giraffe in the world. They are based in Namibia but their work extends beyond Namibia into Zambia, Niger, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, with their pioneering focus being on desert giraffe in northwest Namibia. Through their extensive work on the ground and partnerships with zoos and universities, GCF have identified four distinct species of giraffe, whereas before there was thought to be only one. This finding has elevated the conservation importance of the different populations. Concurrently, the hunting pressure on giraffe in northwest Namibia has increased while rainfall has decreased, putting Namibia’s iconic desert giraffe under threat. Hence, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, together Hoanib Valley Camp are creating a strong consistent presence in northwest Namibia to monitor desert giraffe and further understand population dynamics of the most arid reach of this southern giraffe sub-species.

 

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