Madisa Camp: Safari Tents & Campsites in Damaraland

Madisa Camp sits among Damaraland’s open plains, offering one of the region’s widest ranges of self-drive accommodation — from safari tents to private and overland campsites. Every site has its own braai area, and the safari tents and private campsites also come with a private open-air bathroom. It’s a rare pet-friendly stop in Damaraland, and a well-placed base for exploring Twyfelfontein and the Petrified Forest.

What Makes Madisa Camp Different

Madisa Camp gives self-drive travellers real choice: five double safari tents, three family tents, nine private campsites, and five overland campsites for larger groups. The safari tents and private campsites each have their own private open-air bathroom. Every site, including the overland campsites, has its own braai area. It’s one of the few Damaraland properties that welcomes pets — a genuine point of difference for travellers on longer self-drive routes. After dark, low light pollution makes for some of Damaraland’s clearest stargazing, with the Milky Way visible directly overhead.

The Safaris Tents & Campsites at Madisa Camp

Accommodation ranges from double and family safari tents to private campsites, each with a private open-air bathroom and braai area, and overland campsites with shared ablutions for groups travelling together. Of the three family tents, two are paired tents sleeping four guests in total, while the third is a three-tent unit that sleeps six — a good option for larger family groups or gatherings. A rustic bar on a raised deck and a swimming pool serve as the camp’s social hub. Power runs on solar, available during set evening hours, and hot water comes via a traditional donkey boiler — part of the camp’s deliberately low-impact, back-to-nature setup. For a full comparison of options in the area, browse Damaraland accommodation to see what else is nearby.

Location & Getting There

Madisa Camp is in the Twyfelfontein area of Damaraland, within a short drive of both Twyfelfontein and the Petrified Forest. Self-drive access is straightforward. Wood and braai grids are available on site for guests cooking their own meals (a refundable deposit applies to grids), and ice is sold at reception, though supply can occasionally run low given the desert location.

• Swakopmund: 281 km (3h 30m drive).
• Etosha National Park – Andersson Gate: 281 km (about 3 hours).
• Etosha National Park – Galton Gate: 230 km (about 2h 50m).
• Khorixas: 71.1 km (about 1h).

Nearby Attractions

• Guests can visit Twyfelfontein’s UNESCO-listed rock art, as well as the Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain.
• A short drive brings you to the fossilised pieces of the Petrified Forest, estimated at 260 million years old and a window into Damaraland’s ancient past.
• For those interested in a cultural experience near Twyfelfontein guests can visit the Living Museum of the Damara.

Activities & Experiences

• Elephant tracking excursions in open game viewer vehicles bring guests close to desert-adapted elephants moving through Damaraland’s riverbeds.  The elephant tracking excursion departs at 7:30am and runs 6–8 hours, including a light lunch (not suitable for children under 5).
• The Scenic Sundowner Drive is a three-hour guided outing in an open game viewer, taking guests up onto a nearby koppie for sunset views over Damaraland. Sightings of elephant, giraffe, and springbok are possible along the way, though not guaranteed.
• Guests can also self-drive to Twyfelfontein, the Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain at their own pace.