Where to stay in Sorris Sorris Conservancy
5 hand-picked glamping camps and lodges in and around the park.
Sorris Sorris Conservancy guide
Overview
Sorris Sorris Conservancy covers 2,290 km² of southern Damaraland, in Namibia’s Kunene Region. Its southern boundary is the dry Ugab River, and across it rises the Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain. The name means ‘an abundance of sunlight’ in Khoekhoegowab, the language of the Damara people who live here.
The community began working towards conservancy status in 1999, and Sorris Sorris was registered in October 2001. Since then it has reintroduced Hartmann’s zebra and hartebeest, set up wildlife monitoring and opened an information centre. Tourism and conservation income go to the community.
It is a quiet, little-visited corner of Damaraland between Uis and Khorixas. Granite outcrops tumble across plains of pale grass, and herds of springbok graze in front of the hazy blue Brandberg. Along the Ugab, ana and camel thorn trees provide shade and food for desert-adapted elephants. Visitors come for guided elephant tracking, nature drives and walks, and as a quieter base for Twyfelfontein, the Brandberg’s White Lady rock painting and the wider Damaraland region.
Stays are mostly small camps and lodges run in partnership with the conservancy, including self-drive campsites and tented camps.
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Desert-adapted elephant
The Ugab River is home range for desert-adapted elephants, which walk long distances between water points and feed on ana tree pods and riverine vegetation. Sightings depend on where the herds are moving, so guided tracking gives the best chance.
Other wildlife
Springbok, gemsbok, kudu, steenbok, giraffe and Hartmann’s mountain zebra are the main grazers and browsers. Black rhino occur in the wider region but are rarely seen. Leopard, brown hyena, cheetah and black-backed jackal are present at low density.
Birds and plants
The conservancy holds many of Namibia’s near-endemic birds, including Rüppell’s parrot, rosy-faced lovebird, Hartlaub’s francolin, Damara and Monteiro’s hornbills, Herero chat and rockrunner. Welwitschia grows along drainage lines, with mopane, camel thorn and shepherd’s trees across the plains.
Best Time to Visit
Short answer: May to October, when it is dry, sunny and comfortable, and elephants stay close to the Ugab River.
| Months | Season | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| May – Aug | Cool dry season | Warm days, cold nights and clear skies. Elephants are most reliably found near the river. |
| Sep – Oct | Hot dry season | Hotter days and good wildlife at water points. Dusty. |
| Nov – Apr | Rain season | Hot, with irregular storms. The Ugab can flow briefly after heavy rain, and elephants range more widely. |
Rain here is sparse and unpredictable, so Sorris Sorris can be visited all year. Summer days are very hot.
Getting There
By air
| Airport | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea Kutako International (WDH), Windhoek | International arrivals and self-drive | About four and a half hours by road to Uis. |
| Charter airstrips near Uis and Twyfelfontein | Fly-in safaris | Charter flights from Windhoek Eros Airport (ERS). Camps arrange transfers. |
By road
From Windhoek, take the B1 north to Okahandja, the B2 west to Usakos and the C36 north to Uis. From Uis, the C35 runs north towards Khorixas, and camps in the conservancy are reached off it on gravel district roads such as the D2612. Roads are gravel beyond Uis; a high-clearance vehicle is recommended, and a 4×4 for riverbed tracks.
Entrance & Fees
There is no gate fee for Sorris Sorris. Camps pay a levy to the conservancy, usually included in your rate.
Activities such as guided elephant tracking are priced separately by each camp.
Fees last checked October 2026 against the NACSO register of communal conservancies.
