Damaraland, former bantustan in South-West Africa (now Namibia)
Damaraland was an area in South West Africa established during South African rule as a homeland for the Damara people. The region sits in northwestern Namibia and covers dry grasslands, rocky plains, and rock formations stretching between the coast and the interior.
The territory was formally demarcated in 1970 during apartheid as part of South African policy to separate population groups. After Namibian independence in 1990, the administrative structure was dissolved and the region returned to normal governance.
The former boundaries are no longer visible and carry no legal meaning today. Travelers move freely through the region, which now belongs administratively to different constituencies.
The name refers to the Damara, one of the oldest population groups in southern Africa whose language uses click sounds. Many place names in the region come from their language and are difficult for outsiders to pronounce.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
