Desert Elephant Safari
Namibia’s Desert Elephants
One of Africa’s most unusual elephant populations lives in the dry riverbed of the Huab and the surrounding, barren landscapes of Damaraland. Over generations, desert elephants have adapted to life in a region where water and food are scarce.
They follow the dry river courses, dig for water beneath the surface with their trunks, and cover vast distances between the few available resources. Their behavior is designed to get by with minimal means and to hold their own in a seemingly hostile environment.
Encountering these animals is special for more than just their rarity. In truth, this region offers almost no basis for large mammals to survive—and yet, the elephants have adapted to these exact conditions and have thrived here for hundreds of years.
The perspective on elephants has also changed for the people of the region. What was once often perceived as competition is now considered a valuable part of the habitat in many places. With growing tourism, there is an increasing realization that living animals have more long-term significance than their short-term utility—and that their protection is closely linked to one’s own future.
Desert Elephant Safari – In the Footsteps of the Desert Elephants
Desert Elephant Safari –
In the Footsteps of the Desert Elephants
The safari begins directly at the lodge and leads into the dry riverbeds of the Huab. Together with experienced guides, you follow the tracks in the sand—fresh footprints, churned-up earth, or snapped branches provide clues as to where the elephants were last seen.
The route runs through the rugged landscape of Damaraland. We stop time and again to read tracks, assess directions, and determine the next steps.
Not every drive leads to the goal immediately. Sometimes it takes patience, sometimes the trail comes together more quickly. It is precisely this searching and understanding that defines the safari—and makes the encounter all the more impressive.
Prices and Info
Duration: approx. 4 hours
Registration: at reception
Price*: N$ 1,200
Information Material
Information on all Ondili activities at Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp can be found in the following PDF document.
Twyfelfontein Adventure Camp Activities – Flyer 2026
* Note: Staying at one of our Ondili lodges or guesthouses is a prerequisite for booking Ondili activities. The minimum age for participation in activities is 12 years.
Ondili Lodges, Regions, and Experiences
Each Ondili Lodge is inextricably linked to its surroundings – and that’s precisely where the local experiences originate. What guests can do here doesn’t come from a fixed program, but from the landscape itself.
In each region, different facets of Namibia emerge: sometimes the wildlife is in the foreground, sometimes the vastness of the landscape, or exploring on foot. The lodges embrace these unique features and make them accessible – calmly, close to nature, and always in direct relation to the environment.
This creates an interplay of location, accommodation, and activity that makes each region uniquely experienceable – and invites you to discover Namibia from different perspectives.
Oberland
Oberland
Red Dunes
Red dunes, camel thorn tree savanna, open vast grasslands. Where the typical Kalahari landscape begins in the west, the lodge lies nestled in dunes by a dry lake.
Red Dunes
Teufelskralle
Teufelskralle
Desert Homestead
A place to arrive and feel at home. Not far from the world-famous Sossusvlei, Desert Homestead Lodge is situated in the open desert landscape of the Namib.
Desert Homestead
Namib Outpost
Located in the Namib Tsaris Nature Reserve, which directly borders the UNESCO Natural Heritage Namib Sand Sea with Sossusvlei and Deadvlei – twelve small estates amidst the vastness of the desert landscape.
Namib Outpost
Hohenstein
With panoramic views of the highest mountain in the Erongo Massif, Hohenstein Lodge is perfectly suited for exploring the sights of Namibia's central north.
Hohenstein
Twyfelfontein
Tented camp in the area of the desert elephants – near the famous rock engravings of Twyfelfontein.
Twyfelfontein
Brigadoon
Built in 1906 as a captain's house, Brigadoon is now a boutique guesthouse in the heart of Swakopmund.
Brigadoon
Ti Melen
Located on the outskirts of Windhoek, set in a large garden. A guesthouse with African and European influences.
Ti Melen