Wilderness Namibia camp newsletters – Apr/May 2026

Late summer rains across much of Namibia meant April was showing off vibrant green landscapes and carpets of grasses and blooms, which softened in May to golden autumnal hues. 

Weather and landscapes

In Damaraland, April sees daytime highs of around 27° Celsius and cool nights averaging 11° C.  This year we also still had some light rainfall. By May, the weather is shifting to the dry season, with highs of around 24° C and cooler nights dropping to as low as 7° C
The landscape changed noticeably from green in April to golden in May, offering stunning contrasts and excellent wildlife viewing.

Wildlife around Damaraland Camp

April and May were excellent months for wildlife viewing. As the green season fades into the dry season, animals gathered near the water sources, making them easier to spot.

Common sightings for April and May included desert-adapted elephants, oryx, kudu, springbok, and mountain zebra. The cooler weather, clear skies, and golden landscapes make these months perfect for photography and nature drives.

Guest comments

Made each guest feel special. Welcome, connections between staff – atmosphere, willingness and magical Boma dinners.

Welcoming of the guest, sharing the culture, kindness as well as professionalism of the whole team. Authentic.

The entire staff was the key thing to make this the perfect place to visit. Very friendly – made us feel at home. We learned so much about Damaraland.

Staff news

A lot of good news to share with this update!

Firstly, we extend a warm welcome back to Moses, our amazing guide, from Serra Cafema! We are truly happy to have you back with us. Your passion, knowledge, and great spirit are always appreciated by both the team and our guests. Wishing you a smooth return, many wonderful adventures ahead, and lots of memorable moments together again. Welcome back home, Moses!

Plus, huge congratulations to our 2026 Wilderness Way Champion, Irene Tsuses, Wilderness Namibia Relief Assistant Manager! She is the living embodiment of the quote: ‘Values aren’t just words on a wall; they’re the promises we keep when no one is watching.’
Finally, meet Ricardo Williams from Maintenance, selected as our Employee of the Month. His dedication, positive attitude, teamwork and commitment to delivering excellent service are truly appreciated.

Newsletter by Ghandy Hoes | Pictures by Moses, Collin & Rutavi.

Weather & landscapes

We recorded warm autumn temperatures in April, with daytime highs averaging 31° C, reaching a maximum of 35° C for the month, dropping to 14° C overnight. Conditions remained pleasant with residual warmth expected in this late summer season. May marked a clear transition into the dry winter period, with average daytime highs of 27° C, cooler evenings of around 8° C, and crisp morning conditions, ideal for game viewing and guest activities.

The Palmwag Concession retained visible residual greenery across the drainage lines and lower-lying sections thanks to the late summer rainfall. Grazing conditions were moderate, and temporary pools still supported wildlife movement. By May, the veld had transformed into its dry-season appearance as grass cover and vegetation thinned. This opened up excellent visibility for wildlife sightings and encouraged the animals to move closer to permanent water points.

Wildlife & birds of Palmwag

April and May produced exceptional wildlife encounters. Black rhino tracking was successful, with several healthy individuals observed, including a cow with calf. Desert-adapted elephants were frequently recorded moving through the dry river beds, while thrilling giraffe territorial sparring, increased hyena tracks, and regular sightings of Hartmann’s mountain zebra, springbok, kudu, and oryx enriched guest experiences. Birdlife was rewarding around camp, with regular sightings of spotted eagle-owl, red-billed spurfowl and pale-chanting goshawk.

Community & Conservation

Community rhino rangers continued their rhino and elephant monitoring while anti-poaching patrols remained active across the wildlife corridors.  

Guest experiences at Desert Rhino Camp

Guest experiences during April and May were very rewarding. A milestone birthday celebration was hosted with a private bush dinner beneath the stars, complete with a personalised cake. Rhino tracking was the highlight for most visitors, while private sundowners, scenic drives, fireside storytelling, and stargazing experiences received outstanding feedback.

Camp & staff news

April and May focused on Operations development. Training covered luxury service standards, hygiene and sanitation compliance, plating consistency, stock control procedures, guest engagement, and equipment maintenance.

Teambuilding sessions strengthened collaboration across departments, all reinforcing Desert Rhino Camp’s commitment to operational excellence and world-class guest service.

Guest comments included: ‘Tracking desert-adapted rhino on foot was unlike anything we’ve ever experienced’, and ‘The food, service, and wilderness setting created an unforgettable stay’.

Newsletter by Joseph Mwengo | Pictures by Joseph & Sue.

Weather in the Hoanib Valley

• Max 35° C and min 19° C
• Rainfall: 2mm
• Wind: High 34 km/h | Low 21 km/h

Landscape

• Condition of the veld: Lovely and green
• Trees of the area: Ana tree, acacia and shepherd’s tree

The Hoanib River, which was flowing for approximately two months, has now dried up. This has improved accessibility within the concession, allowing vehicles to once again cross the riverbed for nature drives and transfers to Möwe Bay.

Wildlife around Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp

A notable highlight has been the increased lion activity around camp. The male lion known as Oupie was sighted in the area early in the month, followed by Gamma and her cubs, providing guests and staff with memorable wildlife encounters.

Other interesting sightings included a beautiful puff adder, and baboons from a drive.

Camp and guest news, and comments  

May was a month of celebrations, with several guests marking birthdays and anniversaries during their stays. A special highlight was the celebration of Richard Swain’s 71st birthday, which was commemorated by the camp team and fellow guests with a birthday cake.

Guests Colin and Rua celebrated their anniversary during their stay and enjoyed a private dinner arranged at their room, for a memorable and intimate experience.

When asked what we did we do really well, one guest wrote: ‘Everything! Ben is an absolutely gifted guide! And just lovely person. Fantastic staff and top notch. Food amazing – even if a special diet! Everyone was generous and warm!’

Staff news  

At the moment we are busy with building extra rooms for staff.

We are pleased to welcome Kanda Bongani Brandt to the maintenance department. Kanda joins us from Doro Nawas and has taken on the role of Airstrip Attendant from April.

Congratulations to Max and Richardt, who successfully completed their coastal guiding training programme and received their certificates during May. Their achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to professional development and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Newseltter by George | Pictures by Bernhard.

Weather and landscape

• Min: 9.44° C and max 35° C
• Average daily high for the month was 30° C.
• The south-westerly wind came up every afternoon, as is expected for this time of year. 

There are a few summer flowers left, including the beautiful blue Baleria, wild sage and wild petunia. The vegetation is still green, though the grass is now turning golden.  Purple pod terminalia and Namib hoodia trees are still in leaf.

Thanks to the late season rains, the reservoir at Doro Nawas has water, as does Rendezvous. The natural spring is also full.

Wildlife and birds

Dassie rat, desert-adapted giraffe and greater kudu were spotted from nature drives, while among the reptiles, a western keeled snake was seen.

A pair of rare Abdim’s storks was also spotted. The smallest of the stork species, this dark-coloured intra-African migrant is usually highly gregarious and may be seen in large flocks.

Guest comments

• The service and guiding were exceptional, especially Stephanus, Rozario and Trooi (future chef).
• The perfect integration into the landscape, very great reception, everyone is adorable.
• Really warm effect to all guests and worked together as a team that seemed more like a loving family.

Staff news

• Changes in senior camp staff: Sannie Uiras has been promoted from Receptionist to Assistant Manager.
• Johnny and Clement came through from Windhoek Head Office do a Wilderness Standards rollout.

Newsletter by Theodor Adams | Pictures by Mamii Kasaona.

Weather and landscape

Between April and May at Kulala Desert Lodge, temperatures ranged from 16° C during the early morning hours and at night, to 29° C during the day. Winter is on its way, but it is not that chilly yet.

The magic of this season is the light on the dunes at sunrise on the Kulala Wilderness Reserve, which our guests get to experience thanks to our exclusive early access to Sossusvlei through our private gate. The sky is so clear and blends in well with the landscape making for beautiful views.

Wildlife

The environment at this time of year is active and visually striking. Following the end of the summer rains, the desert has transformed. You can see lush, green grass on the dunes and an influx of large desert-adapted herbivores. Our guides are always excited to go out onto the reserve to showcase the unique adaptations within the ecosystem.

Kulala Desert Lodge activities

Kulala offers expansive views of the red sand dunes and the Namib-Naukluft Mountains, which makes it popular and a must-visit destination. Dune hikes, photography at Dead Vlei and exploring the clay pan, hot air ballooning and a hike in Sesriem Canyon’s narrow gorge carved by the Tsauchab River are just a few highlights.

April–May saw remembrance of important Namibian holidays of all kinds, from schools to commemorative days. Like many Namibian children, our Eco-Club members looked forward to their school holidays. However, through the support of Wilderness, they were given a unique opportunity to enjoy something truly special. As an important part of the Children in the Wilderness family, these young people spent their holiday exploring and experiencing the beauty of nature around them.

The holiday programme gave them the chance to immerse themselves in the natural environment, take part in exciting wilderness activities, and appreciate the remarkable wildlife and landscapes that make Namibia so unique. It was an unforgettable experience filled with learning, adventure, and fun—one that will remain a cherished memory for years to come.

Guest comments

Very kind and attentive staff who took time to chat, make us feel welcome. Michael A was our guide- he was knowledgeable funny and we never felt rushed. An epic mix of adventure & relaxations, Thank you. 

Staff news

We are pleased to welcome two new managers on board, Tulonga Heaven Hauwanga and Sara Mabuta.

‘Joining wilderness, Kulala Desert Lodge pleased me and looking forward to the new blooms.’ ~ Tulonga

‘My experience in the industry is quite polished and my way of communication is well observed, I am proud to be here, mostly very observed to how Wilderness is building a strong foundation for its communities. So much to unwrap, to learn, to identify and to share with the team, I am looking forward to build a strong relationship with the Kulala team, both management & entire staff.’ ~ Sara

KDL Team

General Manager Christelle Jansen, Housekeeping Manager Rosa, Front of House Manager, Food & Beverage Manager, Andreas Hidishange, Mechanic team Sem Alweendo & Ihula Hawanga. Kitchen with Serien as a head chef, Henock, Katrina, Miriam, Elizabeth, Castro, Kaly, Eben, Petronella, Elliot, veteran Erna. Housekeeping: Raymunda, Hileni, Karolina, Lentina, Cecilia, Hendrika, Talena, Betsy, Daria.

Our Guide team: Joas, Michael A, Castro, Vilho, Immanuel, Alfred, Mathew, Limbo & Steven.
Front Of House – Donavan as a supervisor, Steven, Maria, Patricia, Ester, Emilia, Estella, Maureen, Senoritha & Julia.

Men in Overalls: Daniel, Rehabeam, Abednego, Joao Batista; Josef & Moses: Hygiene team/Scullery.

As we head into peak season, we are going strong as service ambassadors, willing to offer even more focus and commitment. We strive for growth!

Compiled by: Monika N. Edward, Assistant Manager | Pictures by Vilho Hailonga & Michael A.

Weather

• Max and min temps: 31° C to 13° C 
• Rainfall: None for the month of May
• Wind: No strong winds for May
• Condition of the veld: Still lush green and the grass is growing tall; however, our riverbeds are dry.

Wildlife and Birds

Seen on the Kulala Wilderness Reserve – around the camp waterhole and out on drives: warthog, oryx, springbok, hyena, jackal, Cape hare, blue wildebeest.

Camp news

We created a stunning set up at Uitkyk for sundowner drinks for a group of 18.

The staff kitchen had to be rebuilt after it was damaged by the unseasonal April rains.

Guest comments

• We absolutely loved the staff. They are what made our stay wonderful. Without your staff, the place would not be the same. Everything was perfect! Even your flat whites!
• Welcoming – service – and presence, very, very good. Anything better? Really do not know. All was good. The massage excellent, meals delicious and people adorable.
• Hospitality service! You are the best!
• Thank you for making our honeymoon so amazing and showing us the beauty of Namibia! We also loved the romantic dinner in the wine cellar.

Staff news

We welcomed Chef Henock who moved to us from Kulala Desert Lodge.

Newsletter by Penny | Pictures by Guides Gabes, Emmanuel and Reginald.