Conservancy Safaris are co-owns, markets and manages the stunningly located self-catering Etaambura Camp – the name means the place from where you can see the rain.
-
Each of Etaambura’s simple but comfortable, en suite chalets has its own deck and a spectacular view.
-
Enjoy a sundowner on one of the lodge’s circular decks.
-
Etaambura’s curved lounge and dining room are airy, large and comfortable. Himba-owned CSN and the local Orupembe Conservancy are majority shareholders of this special small lodge built on the highest hill in the area.
-
Etaambura’s designer-builder Trevor Nott has not imposed his designs on the landscape – he has melded his beautiful structures around nature.
-
Our chalets which are built into the hillside offer unrestricted views and are cool, no matter the temperature outside.
-
No two Etaambura bathrooms-with-view are the same as each incorporate rock faces and other natural features.
Etaambura, 25 kms north of Orupembe, is on the main route to the Marienfluss and Kunene River
Etaambura, Namibia’s first Himba co-owned camp is situated in Orupembe Conservancy on top of one of the highest hills above the holy plains of Onjuva where livestock and springbok peacefully graze together. It is small and exclusive self-catering, offering ten beds only. Rates on request.
The holy plains are steeped in mystery, with several different stories of why the area was consecrated by the semi-nomadic Himba herders who live here. But one thing is sure, hunting is strictly forbidden. Tradition has it that animals on the plains are protected by the ancestral spirits.
Etaambura is the ideal place to relax. You might see a klipspringer or at dusk, a Jameson’s rock rabbit. Tiny footprints are evidence of genets and African wildcats. The calls of a diversity of birds, the whispery rustle of paper-bark and other commiphora trees, bottle trees in bloom, the rich hues of purple-pod terminalia with 360 degree views make this camp unforgettable. After a game drive where you might be fortunate enough to see black rhino, enjoy a stroll and explore the hill, a botanical treasure trove with its many endemic species of plants and shrubs. Or just chill on one of the decks and enjoy the view with a sundowner.
2024 Rack Rates
inc. VAT & Levy
Namibians N$ 1160 per person per night
SADC N$ 1210 per person per night
International N$ 1450 per person per night
2025 Rates
inc. VAT & Levy
Namibians N$ 1280 per person per night
SADC N$ 1360 per person per night
International N$ 1600 per person per night
Please note: Solar and water upgrade completed post pandemic
Etaambura has five canvas and thatch chalets (one of which is wheelchair friendly), each with its own private deck extending from the hill and into the beyond, conjuring illusions of “stepping into air”.
The twin bedded rooms are comfortably furnished and provide a wonderful retreat. Each bathroom, built either into the surrounding marble outcrops, or artfully created so as not to encroach on the endemic flora, has its own charm. Bed linen and towels are provided.
Built on a wooden platform and, in some cases, on stilts, each unit is positioned to optimize the view. Lie in bed and be dazzled by an incredible sunrise. Observe the skittish rock hyraxes sunning themselves on jagged rocks, listen to the calls and discover a world of birds that thrive in this environment. At night follow the path of the stars across a cobalt sky.
The horseshoe-shape of our recreational area, built from natural materials, fully blends in with the contours of a hill-top skyline. Enjoy your meals on Etambura’s circular decks with spectacular views over the hills, valleys and plains, or in the spacious dining room. Should you just want to relax, settle down in the cool comfort of our lounge and unwind in the tranquility of this high oasys.
Enjoy a drink as the sun sets and, when the last oranges, purples and pinks have faded, watch as one by one distant fires from surrounding Himba villages light up and flicker in the darkness, allowing you to feel that you are indeed in Africa. Let the cooling breeze carry up to you, high on the top of this magical hill, the lowing of cattle, an owl’s haunting hoot, the call of someone lingering round a cooking fire down below. Immerse yourself in the sounds and scents of life out here while above you stars ignite the night sky.
- Solar lights running on 12 volt batteries (facility to charge batteries, e.g. camera)
- Hot water in en suite bathrooms, fueled by a “donkey”
- Comfortable beds with reading lamps
- Lounge/library, private and communal look-out decks
- Crockery, cutlery, glassware, cooking pots and utensils available
- Braai area
- Landing strip 20 minutes from camp
- Walking trails and drives – endemics plants, marble mine, Himba villages, rhino tracking, a day’s excursion to Marienfluss and Kunene River
- Conservancy Safaris staff available to welcome, brief and assist guests and ensure their stay is comfortable. Ask our staff for the rates for cooking your food for you, taking guided walks and cultural visits
Eastern point (DMS)
S 18 03 872
E012 37719
Western Point
S 18 04 261
E012 36 924
