Ugab River Rhino Camp | Otjiwarongo

Information

Landmark: Ugab River Rhino Camp
City: Otjiwarongo
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Ugab River Rhino Camp, Otjiwarongo, Namibia, Africa

Ugab River Rhino Camp is a community-run conservation outpost and campsite situated in the remote Ugab River Valley of the Kunene Region, approximately 100 km west of Khorixas.

Visual Characteristics

The camp is positioned on the southern bank of the ephemeral Ugab River, set against a backdrop of jagged sandstone cliffs and red basalt hills. The environment is a stark riparian corridor featuring massive camelthorn trees and ana trees that provide essential shade. The terrain is characterized by deep river sand, rocky outcrops, and sparse desert-adapted vegetation.

Location and Access Logistics

Access: Located on the D2303 track. The primary route involves traveling west from Khorixas or south from Twyfelfontein.

Vehicle Requirements: Strictly 4x4 only. Access requires navigating deep river sand and sharp rocky descents.

Self-Sufficiency: The site is extremely remote. Visitors must be 100% self-sufficient for fuel, water, and food. There is zero mobile reception or data connectivity.

Status: The camp serves as a base for the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) and is managed by the local Sorris-Sorris community.

Conservation and Wildlife

The camp is a primary monitoring station for the world’s last free-roaming population of desert-adapted black rhino (Diceros bicornis bicornis).

Wildlife: Aside from rhino, the area is a corridor for desert-adapted elephants, lions, mountain zebra, gemsbok, and giraffe.

Proximity: The camp is located within the Ugab-Huab Conservancy, a vital link between the Skeleton Coast and the interior.

Infrastructure and Amenities

Campsites: Simple, designated sites under large shade trees.

Facilities: Very basic. Includes "donkey-fired" (wood-heated) showers and long-drop or flushing toilets, though water availability is seasonal and dependent on the local borehole.

Activities: Primarily used as a base for self-drive expeditions toward the Doros Crater or guided rhino tracking (which must be pre-arranged with authorized conservancy guides).

Strategic Importance for Travelers

The Ugab Rhino Camp is the critical southern waypoint for the Doros Crater Trail. It marks the transition from the relatively accessible Damaraland tracks to the high-clearance, technical terrain of the Skeleton Coast hinterland.