Damaraland: dramatic vistas amidst vast open spaces

Torra Conservancy 

Damaraland Camp is the successful result of a partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the Torra Conservancy, and has become an inspiration for communities and conservationists throughout Africa and beyond.  Damaraland Camp is now a benchmark in the world of ecotourism, having won the 2005 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award.

Wilderness Safaris and the local Torra community in Damaraland have formed a highly successful partnership, with the community acting as landlord. It has resulted in a 352 000-hectare (869 000-acre) conservancy being proclaimed in what was once barren denuded land. The rare desert-adapted elephant, black rhino and plains game are flourishing again and poaching, once rife, has stopped.

Today, this area has been transformed; the wildlife numbers are climbing and many of the animal populations have doubled. Revenues flow from Damaraland Camp to the community through significant bed-night levies, the provision of services, secondary businesses and salaries. The community earns a percentage of the camp's bed-night accommodation revenue and its Trust is one of the most successful community trusts in Namibia.

Camp staff are sourced from the surrounding community; thus the very existence of the camp has been instrumental in alleviating poverty in the region. This partnership has resulted in the Torra community being one of the first in Namibia to have its area proclaimed a Community Wildlife Conservancy, known as the Torra Wildlife Conservancy.

Read more: Damaraland - Torra Conservancy
Further reading: Torra Conservancy Equator Initiative Case Study