Twyfelfontein Area | Namibia
Camp Kipwe: A Boulder-Built Camp in Twyfelfontein, Damaraland
- Book directly with the lodge | Secure booking
Camp Kipwe is built directly into a hillside of granite boulders in the Uibasen-Twyfelfontein Conservancy, in the heart of Damaraland. Nine dome-shaped bungalows and one suite are set among the rocks, connected by pathways that wind through the boulder field itself. The camp is a popular base for honeymoon couples and self-drive travellers exploring Twyfelfontein’s rock art sites and watching for desert-adapted elephants along the Aba Huab Valley.
What Makes Camp Kipwe Different
Camp Kipwe takes its character from the granite boulders it’s built among — walkways wind between and over the rocks, linking nine dome-shaped bungalows and one suite to a central lounge, restaurant and pool area. Each bungalow’s en-suite shower is built outdoors, set directly among the boulders, so guests wash beneath open sky. The rock-integrated design and privacy of each bungalow have made Camp Kipwe especially popular with honeymoon couples. In the late afternoon, guests climb to the top of one of the camp’s large boulders for sundowners, looking out over the Aba Huab Valley as the sun sets over Damaraland.
The Rooms at Camp Kipwe
Camp Kipwe has nine dome-shaped bungalows and one suite, each with twin beds that convert to a double. Every room is en-suite, with a shower built outdoors among the boulders in keeping with the camp’s rock-integrated design. The suite adds a private lounge, mini-bar, laundry service and satellite TV for guests wanting extra space. Rooms are child-friendly, making Camp Kipwe a suitable base for families as well as couples. Compare Camp Kipwe against other luxury lodges and camps in Damaraland to see what best suits your itinerary.
Location & Getting There
Camp Kipwe is approximately 13.6km from Twyfelfontein, just off the D2612 in Damaraland’s Uibasen-Twyfelfontein Conservancy. Self-drive access is straightforward on this route, and the camp has its own nearby airstrip for guests arriving on a fly-in safari.
- Swakopmund: 323 km (about 4 hours).
- Etosha National Park – Andersson Gate: 320 km (about 3.5-4 hours).
- Etosha National Park – Galton Gate: 269 km (about 3.5 hours).
- Khorixas: 92.8 km (about 3.5 hours).
Nearby Attractions
Camp Kipwe runs day trips to Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to one of Africa’s largest collections of rock engravings, as well as to the Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes. For more to explore across Damaraland, see our complete Damaraland guide. For those guests seeking a cultural encounter a Damara Living Museum tour can be done which is located close to the Twyfelfontein Visitors Centre.
Activities & Experiences
Guided open-4×4 nature drives search for desert-adapted elephants along the Aba Huab River, with drinks and snacks included. Self-guided nature walks are available directly from camp, with reception on hand to point out the plants and trees along the trail. Day trips run to Twyfelfontein, the Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain. Back at camp, guests can relax at the rock pool or the on-site restaurant . Camp Kipwe does have WiFi but due to it’s remote location the signal strength can be slow.
Book Your Stay
Secure booking. No middleman fees.
OR
Send an Enquiry
Get a quick response from Camp Kipwe: A Boulder-Built Camp in Twyfelfontein, Damaraland.
Need to speak to someone?
Contact Camp Kipwe: A Boulder-Built Camp in Twyfelfontein, Damaraland directly.
Gallery
Facilities & Amenities
Bedroom
Air conditioning
Kingsize bed
Private deck with a view
Limited Wi-Fi
Fridge
Tea & coffee facilities
Fans
Hairdryers
In-room safe
Telephone for room service
Power - 220/240 volts. Outlets are round 3-pin 15-amp type, or 2 round-pin plugs
Family friendly accommodation available.
Bathroom
En-Suite Faciities
Outdoor Shower & Ablutions
Reception Services
Credit Card Facilities
Lounge & Dining room with sweeping views
Curio Shop
Camp Kipwe is child friendly.
Food Drink
On-site Restaurant
Private dining available in-room or on the deck
Bar
Outdoors
Private deck with splash pool overlooking the valley
Outdoor boma area
Viewpoint & sundowner spot with 180 degrees of natural beauty
Activities
Guided Nature & Elephant Drives
Self-Guided Walks
Excursions to Twyfelfontein,
Burnt Mountain & Organ Pipes
Visit the Damara Living Museum
Media Technology
Limited Wi-Fi
Pets
No Pets Allowed
Cleaning Services
Laundry at extra cost
Languages Spoken
EnglishFrequently Asked Questions
Is Camp Kipwe good for a honeymoon?
Yes — Camp Kipwe is specifically known for its popularity with honeymoon couples, with private, secluded bungalows built directly among the granite boulders.
How far is Camp Kipwe from Twyfelfontein?
Approximately 13.6km, just off the D2612.
Does Camp Kipwe have WiFi?
Camp Kipwe does have WiFi but due to it’s remote location the signal strength can be slow.
When is the best time to see desert-adapted elephants near Camp Kipwe?
Sightings are most reliable in the dry season, May to October, when elephants concentrate closer to the Aba Huab River in search of water.
Reviews
Filippo Tizi
2 months ago
A very disappointing experience, especially regarding the service.
We stayed two nights at Camp Kipwe. For completeness, I also refer to my review posted on TripAdvisor on August 7th, to which the lodge has since responded.
The lodge is in a spectacular location: the rooms are very characteristic, perfectly integrated into the rocks of Damaraland, and from the top of the structure you can enjoy a truly magnificent sunset. The desert elephant trek was also excellent, and our guide was exceptional.
Unfortunately, these positive aspects were severely compromised by the rest of the experience.
The bathroom in our room was completely open-air, and during our stay, the shower had a very weak jet and barely warm water. Considering the low evening and morning temperatures, using the bathroom and shower was extremely unpleasant.
The main issue, however, was the food service and the attitude of some staff members. My wife doesn't eat meat, and we had communicated her dietary requirements both when booking and at check-in. She hadn't requested anything special: simply a protein source, such as a fish fillet, accompanied by vegetables.
The first evening, we were initially told that no fish was available. She was therefore served a plate of spaghetti with cream, tomato, and mushrooms, accompanied separately by practically raw vegetables. After expressing our dissatisfaction, and after a very long wait, the fish that we had initially been told was unavailable suddenly became available.
To avoid further problems, for the second evening we agreed on the menu in advance: shrimp and avocado salad, followed by white fish fillet with vegetables. What was supposed to be a shrimp and avocado salad turned out to be an avocado mousse with shrimp covered in mayonnaise and ketchup, with a cherry tomato and a slice of cucumber chopped on top. Definitely not what we had agreed upon.
After the problems at the first dinner, a waiter and another employee informed us that, as a courtesy, the drinks we'd ordered that evening would be free: a bottle of cider, a bottle of sparkling water, and a small beer.
At checkout, however, we were charged for the drinks. When we pointed out what we'd been informed the previous evening, we received a response that we perceived as rude and derisive, essentially questioning whether the offer had ever been made. I should point out that the drinks were worth about 8 euros: evidently, it wasn't a question of money, but of fairness and how we were treated.
Finally, during the second breakfast, we personally witnessed a waiter retrieve some used jam containers from the table that had just been vacated by other guests, reseal them, and bring them to our table. When we pointed this out, we received an apology.
So, for us, this isn't a one-time issue. A problem with hot water can happen; A dish can be a disaster. What made the experience so negative was the sequence of incidents and, above all, the attitude we received when we tried to report them.
It's a real shame because Camp Kipwe is a beautiful facility, nestled in an extraordinary setting, and the elephant-handling experience was excellent. But considering the lodge's price, we expected significantly higher standards of service, attention to dietary needs, and guest management.
Unfortunately, our experience did not live up to either the price paid or the expectations raised by the facility.
Alex Zoz
2 months ago
Stopped here on the way to drink coffee.
The coffee is good, a wonderful terrace with chairs, and the toilet in general - with a pleasant surprise )
Three walls instead of four with views of nature. The toilet - simple 🔥
M. S.
2 months ago
One of the most beautiful lodges we've ever visited. There's really nothing to criticize. The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly. It's unbelievable what wonderful dishes the team conjures up in such a small kitchen. And the sundowner spot is truly unique.
Domiza
3 months ago
Camouflaged luxury in the rocks with respectful elephant tracking
Getting to Camp Kipwe is an adventurous, rugged drive into the heart of Damaraland, but the reward is spectacular. The way the camp is built into the giant granite boulders like natural camouflage is an architectural triumph. The rooms are beautiful and feature unique, creative outdoor/open bathrooms (which we loved). The rock pool is beautifully integrated into the scenery, the food is delicious, and the staff is lovely.
The game drives here are highly recommended. The guides have an incredible instinct for tracking down the famous desert-adapted elephants and giraffes, but what we appreciated most was their deep, genuine respect for the animals—they never push boundaries or stress the wildlife.
Our Safari Lesson: If you visit during the African winter, layer up heavily! It gets biting, brutally cold on the early morning open game drives, so a beanie, gloves, and a proper wind jacket are absolutely mandatory.
Cheeta R
4 months ago
Maria Proskurina
5 months ago
It feels like this lodge is going to be the best of our entire 16-day trip, and the only thing I regret is that we booked just two nights. Everything here is absolutely perfect: the location, the accommodation, the food (the best ribeye I’ve ever had), the safaris, and of course the people… 10/10
Chika Anajemba
6 months ago
Just spent 2 nights in Camp Kipwe and whilst it was generally a lovely place to stay, there are a few things that could have made this a 5 star experience but sadly doesn’t. I’ll start with the positives: the camp is beautiful, food is good with good options and lots of snacks. Surrounds are absolutely stunning and it was fulfilling to see the desert elephants as that’s the primary reason people visit Damaraland, including to see the organ pipes and ancient rock paintings. There’s also good network service which was very useful for keeping in touch with family.
Now for the not so positives: my room was right in front of the fire pit so in the evening my room would smell of smoke and sometimes get on my clothes. Housekeeping service could be better, used plates and cups were not removed from the room and remained there for the duration of my stay until my last night when I asked the waiter who was helping me bring tea to my room to remove it, used towels which I was happy to reuse to conserve water were not properly arranged and left in whatever state I left it. Never mind that housekeeping would perform a turn down service for the night and still not attend to the little things.
I frequently had to ask for things as services would be provided incomplete as an oversight. The visit to the organ pipes felt quite rushed although it’s a short stop as the main afternoon activity is Twyfelfontein. Twyfelfontein is very interesting to see but it was scorching hot!!! I hope the tour guides conducting these activities are very well paid because going to Twyfelfontein is such hard work 😅!
Lastly I was disappointed in the porter service at camp kipwe as I asked to make change for my money in order to tip the staff and I wasn’t given back my money in full, and was told that there was no change to complete it, so in other words the porter decided how much tip he was going to get, shocking behavior.
For the price paid to stay at Camp Kipwe, service should be better. Overall experience was good but coming from Botswana and staying in similar style lodges, experience was more top notch and 5 star.
S G
7 months ago
We spent two nights in the “old suite” at Camp Kipwe during our honeymoon and everything was perfect. It was the highlight of our trip to Namibia. The camp is perfectly integrated into the natural landscape, the attention to detail is at the highest level possible, the food was the best we had in Namibia, and the service was excellent (special mention to Rudolph). Hope to be back soon!
Jared P
8 months ago
We stayed 3 nights at Camp Kipwe and had one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. First, the lodge is impeccably built and managed, with an attentive, friendly, and professional staff that know how to make guests comfortable and happy.
The food was also excellent and portion size massive - reminded me of the US. You will walk away satisfied at every meal.
We also did two activities, the game drive and rock painting tour. Both of which were very nice and informative. Ziggy found us 15 desert elephants which we had the opportunity to get close to.
Most importantly, the staff were fun and personable and we walked away getting to know many on a first name basis, sharing cultures and stories. Lazarus surprised us the last night with a private table by the fire for dinner which was a special touch to an already perfect stay.
Do yourself a favor and book here. It is worth a price premium and is an experience you will not forget.
