Damaraland was established as a self-governing homeland for the Damara people when Namibia was under South African control. This homeland was abolished in 1989 when Namibia began its journey to independence, and now comes under the Erongo administrative district in Namibia. Despite this, the area is still to this day commonly referred to as Damaraland.

This part of Namibia, south of Sesfontein and north of Uis, is a popular destination with tourists mainly due to the variety of attractions and the ease with which they can be accessed.

Around Twyfelfontein there are several attractions including the famous rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, the Organ Pipes (a mass of angular dolerite columns), the Petrified Forest (approximately 2.5 square km of petrified trees scattered around a sandstone outcrop of the Aba-Huab River Valley) and the Burnt Mountain (the mountain has the appearance of having literally been exposed to fire and is part of a 12 km long ridge to the east of Twyfelfontein).