Ugab Wüstenelefanten

 

a good day trip from Swakopmund, along the beautiful shore line passing by Hentjies Bay and Cape Cross you eventually turn left towards Damara Land. This area of Namibia is well reknown for its stunning light around the Brandberg massive. Surrounding this solid peace of a rock, forming Namibia´s highest mountain, you will reach the Brandberg „White Lady Campsite“, a nice campground and a little lodge aside, offering basic accomodation on convenient campsites (just the Namibian style) as well as bungalows.

The camp is situated on the south shore of the Ugab revier, which is 90% of the year a dry river bed. But for sure a very attractice one, since exactly here, bigger groups of Namibia´s desert elephants can be found frequently on their quest for hidden waterholes just underneath the dry crust of the Ugab.

At this spot, we were extremly lucky to literally run into a herd of nearly 30 animals just appearing 50m away from our campsite at one of the fountains installed there. I alsmost did not realize all this giants around us, until I lifted my head after setting up the roof tent – one of teh younger bulls was fixating me, only about 20m away from me. But let the pictures talk for themselves…

Andy Schweiger