Etendeka Walking Trail

19°45’5.4"S 14°2’14.0"E

95% (8 reviews)

Full review Our view Geographics Food & drink Special interests Children Wildlife sightings Communications Health & safety Activities Extras

Etendeka Walking Trail: Our full report

Trekking on foot though the hills of the Grootberg Massive promises travellers a unique perspective on one ...

... of Namibia’s most remote and untouched wilderness areas. An expert guide will be on hand throughout the 3-4 day walking trail to point out the flora, fauna and geology of this harsh but surprisingly verdant and undeniably breathtaking landscape.

This multi-day trek, offered by the team behind Etendeka Mountain Camp, promises an authentic and immersive wilderness experience. The guides, led by Dennis Liebenberg, have been exploring the 500km² Etendeka Concession since the early 1990s and the guiding team’s intimate knowledge of the region will provide hikers with a fascinating insight into one of Namibia’s most iconic destinations. Although we have yet to experience the trail ourselves, we know the Lodge and area well and are confident the trail is a unique and rewarding experience for those wanting to stretch their legs.

The trail is designed to provide a raw, yet rewarding hiking experience, and usually follows the itinerary below:

Day 1: Palmwag Lodge to River Camp
The adventure begins at 4pm with a departure from Palmwag Lodge. Here, walkers will leave their vehicles and main luggage behind – your luggage will be transported ahead to River Camp, the first stop. The initial walk is a gentle 2-3 hour trek to ease you into the adventure, arriving at River Camp in time for a relaxed evening. Set beside a waterhole, this simple yet comfortable camp offers a rustic experience with bucket showers, meals cooked over an open fire, and a chance to sleep out on raised platforms under Namibia’s vast, star-studded sky.

Day 2: River Camp to Hill Camp
Following a light breakfast, day two takes you deeper into the concession with a walk of 15 to 20km. The day’s reward is the spectacular view from Hill Camp, perched atop Crystal Mountain and surrounded by unique rock formations. Like River Camp, it offers a back-to-basics wilderness experience, with open-air sleeping platforms and the same simple amenities. Again, your luggage will be transported for you, leaving you free to enjoy the walk with just a daypack.

Day 3: Hill Camp to Etendeka Mountain Camp
The final morning typically involves a short walk, arriving at Etendeka Mountain Camp in time for a transfer back to Palmwag Lodge before the midday heat. For those who want to extend their adventure, an optional extra day of walking around Crystal Mountain can be arranged, with an additional night at Hill Camp. Alternatively, those looking for a slightly more comfortable base and extend their stays with a night or two at Etendeka Mountain Camp.

Both River Camp and Hill Camp feature five open-air sleeping platforms, each equipped with comfortable bed rolls, cotton linen, and duvets. Each platform has its own toilet and basin, and communal bucket showers are available nearby, with eco-friendly toiletries provided. The platforms also come with retractable awnings, perfect for shade during the day, but easily stowed away for a clear view of the night sky.

There are no charging facilities on the trail, so guests should ensure their cameras and devices are fully charged before starting the trek.

A good level of fitness is essential, as the terrain can be demanding, and temperatures can be high. May to September is probably best time for this kind of hiking experience, when you can expect warm days and cold nights – temperatures can drop below freezing, so be sure to pack layers for the evening. Remember your main bags will be transported for you so you don’t need to carry everything in your day pack. October to February are often the hottest months, while January to March have the highest potential for rain. Both high temperatures and high rainfall may mean the itinerary for the trail is adjusted.

A well broken in pair of comfortable hiking boots, sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses are must-haves. A torch or head-torch, camera, binoculars, and walking sticks are also highly recommended to fully enjoy this unique experience.

Our view

Whether you're seeking solitude, stunning landscapes, or an authentic Namibian wilderness experience, the Etendeka Walking Trail promises to deliver a truly unforgettable adventure. The hiking can be a real challenge but quality guiding in the untouched Namibian wilderness promises to make the challenge worth it.We can't wait to give the trail a go ourselves.

Tom Morris

Country manager: Namibia

Geographics

Location: Damaraland, Namibia
Ideal length of stay: The trail lasts 2-3 nights although travellers may choose to add a night at Etendeka Mountain Camp for a bit of R&R after the walk.
Directions: The start and end point for the walking trail is Palmwag Lodge.
Accessible by: Self-drive

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Dinners are usually enjoyed around the open fire pit, breakfast and packed-lunch, under the shade of a tree during the trek.
Drinks included: Selection of local drinks and house wine available, tea and coffee included.

Special interests

Walking: The stunning scenery, expert guiding and raw wilderness experience of the Etendeka Walking Trail promises to be one of the most challenging and rewarding hiking experiences in Namibia.; See ideas for Walking in Namibia

Children

Attitude towards children
Property’s age restrictions: Children under 12 years old are not accepted. If children over 12 years old, they must be capable of completing the walking experience.
Special activities & services: None
Equipment: None

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Etendeka Walking Trail

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Etendeka Walking Trail have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Oryx

100% success

Giraffe

80% success

Zebra

80% success

Elephant

25% success

Black Rhino

0% success

Brown Hyena

0% success

Cheetah

0% success

Leopard

0% success

Lion

0% success

Spotted Hyena

0% success

Wildebeest

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes: No electricity or charging facility available on camps.
Communications: No internet.
The guides have hand held radios to stay in touch with the camp if first aid or evacuation support is necessary.
TV & radio: None
Water supply: Borehole
Water supply notes: Bathrooms equipped with bucket showers.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: Patients in need of medical assistance would be driven back to Palmwag Lodge, or in an emergency flown to Windhoek, which would take about four hours.

Walking with an armed guide: at Expert Africa we strongly believe that when walking in an area with dangerous wildlife, it is normally important that you are accompanied by a trained and armed guide to protect you should you have a close encounter. While dangerous wildlife, such as lions, leopards, rhinos and elephants are found in the area around Etendeka, their densities are low and the terrain is generally very open. As such the chances of an unexpected encounter these animals is very slim.

The guides at Etendeka are experienced and highly skilled, but they don't carry rifles on walking safaris. Given the circumstances, we believe that the walks here as are safe as the walking safaris that we offer elsewhere, where guides are armed; the bush is thicker; and wildlife densities are higher. However, if you have any concerns please don't hesitate to discuss them with the team at Expert Africa - ultimately we would be happy to look at another experience for your to enjoy in Namibia if this isn't suitable.
Dangerous animals: Moderate Risk
Fire safety