Doro Nawas Camp
Perched on top of a rugged, rocky hill, on the floodplains of the dry Aba Huab River, Doro Nawas Camp provides superb views across the plains to the mountains and sandstone cliffs of Twyfelfontein.
It is a striking, fortress-looking lodge in a stunning location with friendly staff. The 16 chalets at Doro Nawas, one of which is a family unit, are built on stone bases and arranged in a circle at the foot of the hill, with canvas walls supported on wooden poles that in turn hold up the thatched roof. Inside, each chalet is open plan, with a large bedroom in which you’ll find a double bed, or twins, below a ceiling fan, and a couple of comfortable, padded wicker chairs. There are duvets on the beds, with extra blankets provided for the colder months, but no mosquito nets, which are considered unnecessary in such a dry area. There is no air conditioning, either, but the chalets are spacious and cool, albeit rather dark – not helped by the dark concrete floors.
At the side of each room, sectioned off slightly by canvas and stone dividers, are a flushing toilet, a hot shower, and twin washbasins standing on modern wooden wash-stands – each with a large mirror. On the veranda at the front of the chalet there is an outdoor shower, too, reached through a large set of sliding glass doors. Reed screens at the sides of the veranda lend it some privacy, and at the front are a few strands of wire to deter the area’s desert-adapted elephants.
During the day, enjoy the view from a couple of iron chairs here, while at night, the beds can be rolled out onto the veranda, allowing guests to sleep under the stars.
Because water is so short in this semi-desert environment, guests are advised to place a bucket in the shower to collect any excess water. The cleaning staff then collects the bucket and the water is recycled. This is just one of a few eco-senstive initiatives that Doro Nawas has implemented.