Palmwag Concession | Namibia
Desert Rhino Camp: Black Rhino Tracking in the Palmwag Concession
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Desert Rhino Camp sits in the expansive Palmwag Concession of Damaraland, and is the region’s best known base for guided black rhino tracking. Just eight Meru-style tents make this an intimate camp, blended into the starkly beautiful, rocky desert landscape around it.
What Makes Desert Rhino Camp Different
Desert Rhino Camp’s rhino tracking, on foot or by vehicle, is run in direct partnership with three local community conservancies and Save the Rhino Trust Namibia. It’s a 21-year collaboration that has helped grow the black rhino population while cutting poaching in the concession by roughly 80% — one of the clearest, most credible conservation partnerships attached to any wildlife activity in the region. This isn’t an incidental sighting on a general game drive. It’s a structured, guided tracking activity built specifically around the desert-adapted black rhino, alongside the chance to spot desert-adapted lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, spotted hyenas, giraffes, oryx and springbok.
Accommodation at Desert Rhino Camp
Each of the six canvas-and-stone suites, including one family unit, sits on a raised deck, with a writing desk, easy chair, luggage rack, electronic safe and a private stargazing deck alongside the shaded outdoor lounge area. Suites include an outdoor star bed on the deck, where guests can spend a night sleeping out under the desert sky. En-suite bathrooms have a double vanity basin, indoor shower and separate toilet. The main area includes a pool.
Location & Getting There
Desert Rhino Camp can be reached by self-drive using a rented 4×4, or via fly-in safari, both well suited to the camp’s remote position within the Palmwag Concession.
- Swakopmund: 425 km (5h20m drive).
- Twyfelfontein:
- Etosha National Park – Galton Gate:
- Khorixas:
Activities & Experiences
- Rhino tracking is the camp’s signature activity.
- Day and night game drives
- Guided walks and hiking trails
- Sundowner drives.
- Stargazing.
- Evenings are spent around the fire, with meals built around locally grown ingredients, whether at a bush picnic, a poolside dinner or under the stars.
Nearby Attractions
Desert Rhino Camp sits within the same broad Palmwag Concession rhino range as Grootberg Lodge, Hoanib Elephant Camp and Hoanib Valley Camp, with Sesfontein Guest House and Khowarib Lodge & Safaris also within reach. See our rhino tracking guide for the full picture of where this activity is offered across Damaraland.
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Gallery
Facilities & Amenities
Bedroom
Canvas tented accommodation on a raised deck
Star Bed sleep-out
Writing desk and chair, easy chair, luggage rack, mosquito net (available on request only), electronic safe, tea and coffee making facilities
During winter months hot water bottles and extra blankets are provided
Private viewing deck with shaded outdoor lounge area
Indoor lounge area
Bathroom
En-suite facilities with indoor shower, double vanity basin and separate toilet
Bath robes, liquid soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shower caps
Reception Services
Canvas tented lounge, dining and bar areas on a raised wooden deck
Reading area with a selection of reference books
Outdoors
Pool in main area with partially shaded deck and loungers
Camp fire
Floodlit waterhole
Activities
Day and night game / nature drives
Rhino tracking – via foot or vehicle
Birding
Guided walks
Sundowner drives and hiking trails
Stargazing
Media Technology
Free in-Tent Wi-Fi
Solar power
Pets
No Pets
Cleaning Services
Free Laundry Facilities
Languages Spoken
EnglishFrequently Asked Questions
Is rhino tracking guaranteed at Desert Rhino Camp?
Rhino tracking is the camp’s core, structured activity, run on foot or by vehicle in partnership with Save the Rhino Trust Namibia and three local conservancies, though as with any wildlife tracking, sightings can’t be guaranteed on every outing.
What other wildlife might I see at Desert Rhino Camp?
Desert-adapted lions, elephants, zebras, spotted hyenas, giraffes, oryx and springbok are all found in the surrounding Palmwag Concession.
How do I get to Desert Rhino Camp?
By self-drive with a rented 4×4, or by fly-in safari, both suited to the camp’s remote position in the Palmwag Concession.
Does Desert Rhino Camp support conservation directly?
Yes — the camp partners with three local community conservancies and Save the Rhino Trust Namibia to protect the desert-adapted black rhino population.
Reviews
Jeronimo Panebianco
6 months ago
It's a place to go for just one day if you're a rhino fanatic. But you can see them from 10,000 meters away. The rooms don't have air conditioning. The hotel lobby doesn't have Wi-Fi. The pool area isn't private. I don't recommend it. A 9-hour safari without seeing a single animal.
R M
9 months ago
Our family of four stayed at Wilderness Safaris’ Desert Rhino Camp with the hope of seeing desert-adapted black rhinos, and the experience was truly special. The camp is intimate, with just six luxury tented suites, and the staff made us feel incredibly welcome—from a heartfelt arrival to a festive Christmas dinner filled with songs and dancing.
A special mention must go to the camp manager, Fanus, who was outstanding. He was always present, approachable, and genuinely invested in making sure everything ran smoothly.
Despite its remote desert setting, the camp offers impressive comforts including hot showers, quality bedding, and even functioning Wi-Fi. The landscapes are stark, beautiful, and unforgettable, perfectly matching the camp’s philosophy of immersing guests in a place where everything has meaning.
Our guide, Nicky, was outstanding—patient, deeply knowledgeable, and relentless in his tracking efforts. Working closely with the camp’s trackers, he helped us find a mother black rhino with a very young calf, an extraordinary and unexpected sighting. We were even able to return later that day to observe them again in a surreal setting.
One small note for future guests: while this is absolutely one of the best places to track black rhinos, they are not “around the corner.” Tracking can take hours, which we only fully understood once we arrived. This isn’t a criticism—just something the camp or website could communicate more clearly. Additionally, during quieter periods the main lodge was sometimes unattended; a simple calling bell might help guests avoid searching for staff.
Overall, an exceptional conservation-focused experience in one of Namibia’s most remote and rewarding landscapes.
Komal Garewal
1 year ago
Although 1.5 hours ish from pickup point, and plagued by terribly Bumpy roads, this lodge was a fabulous experience. The staff sings to welcome you; rooms are completely enclosed by giant glass doors while offering stunning views and outdoor beds & showers to enjoy; complimentary mini bar stocked with liquor and beer; fabulous meal options and preparation. Pro tip — have them assemble the outdoor beds for a romantic night under the stars! One of the only camps in Damaraland that’s pretty handicap accessible.
Steve Bertrand
1 year ago
Stunning experience with the most authentically happy, responsive and talented staff ever. Huge special thanks to our chefs, guids,
Paride Reda
2 years ago
Thanks to Barbara and Sabrina from Afrozapping, a fantastic experience searching for rhinos on foot..... the structure and the staff are exceptional.
David Silver
3 years ago
Was there for 3 nights. Rooms are comfortable. Meals were served family style. Nicely prepared meals. Trackers and guides were very good. Mine was Leonardo and he was excellent. Be prepared for very bumpy rides but good chance to see rhinos in the wild. I saw 5.
Andrea Trescot
9 years ago
We were on a self-drive tour of Namibia, arranged by Audley Travel, when we traveled to Desert Rhino Camp in Damaraland. The camp is somewhat difficult to reach - 5 hour drive from Swakopmund and then a 2 hour transfer by jeep from the welcome station to the camp - but it is worth every minute. I have been many places in the world, but I have rarely met such a wonderful staff. The facilities are rustic but elegant. The food was excellent. And the wildlife, in the middle of the desert, was amazing. We saw wild black rhinos (while we were on foot!), elephants, jackals, giraffes, and a stunning collection of birds, all desert-adapted. This is one of the few places in the world where you can see black rhinos that are being studied and protected; the camp coordinates with the Save the Rhino Trust, Wildlife Safaris, and the Minnesota Zoo to provide that balance between tourism and conservation.This spot is well-worth the effort to reach it. Make sure not to miss the "scorpion hunt"!
