5 Best Sights in Damaraland, Namibia

This national monument and UNESCO World Heritage site is home to around 2,000 rock engravings, estimated to be close to 6,000 years old; it's extremely rare for this many paintings and engravings to be found at the same site. The entrance fee includes a knowledgeable guide who narrates the timeline of the landscape and the people who lived here. Start early (it's hard to make out some of the art in full sunshine), bring binoculars, wear sturdy shoes, and bring lots of water (at least a liter) and a hat.

The Damara are one of Namibia's oldest nations. This living history museum provides insight into how the hunter-gatherer bushman once lived with a reconstructed village. It can feel a little contrived, but is still an interesting stop.

Driving the dusty plains of Damaraland, one of the last things you'd expect to find is a winery, but this beautiful spot is one of Namibia's few wine estates. The glass-fronted restaurant and tasting room lead out onto a large veranda that overlooks the small vineyard. Red grapes are grown on-site, but the white grapes are bought from South Africa---perhaps unsurprisingly, the white varietals are better than the reds. They also produce a fairly smooth whisky made from millet, barley, and maize. The restaurant serves a selection of mostly meaty dishes for lunch; bookings are advised.  It's off the beaten track and the approach road is best tackled in a 4x4.

What could be described as Namibia's Matterhorn, Spitzkoppe towers nearly 610 meters (2,000 feet) above the plains. Plan to spend at least three to four hours exploring Spitzkoppe's Golden Snake—a gigantic rock formation popular with rock climbers—and the Bridge—an interesting arch-like rock formation. The San paintings at Bushman's Paradise are included in the entry fee and are definitely worth a look. You can visit under your own steam, but you'll get a lot more from the experience if you hire a guide to show you around.

The Brandberg (Burnt Mountain) rises 2,606 meters (8,550 feet) out of the desert, claiming the title of Namibia's highest peak. This stark and impressive mountain range provides an impressive backdrop for Namibia's most famous rock paintings. Excellent guides lead the way on an hour-long walk to reach the overhang that's home to the millennia-old White Lady. Rediscovered by German surveyors at the start of the 20th century, it was erroneously named, and experts now agree that the painting depicts a shaman (medicine man). Surrounded by other ancient etchings, it's well worth the walk, which crosses dry river beds between the granite mountains. It's best to go as early in the morning as you can, as the walk can get scorching hot, even in the cooler months and despite being fairly flat.