Himba Villages

Opuwo / Kaokoland

The 'red earth people' of the semi-nomadic Himba tribe in the Kunene Region, known for coating their bodies in ochre and butterfat and for their intricately braided hair. With the village headman's consent, visitors can learn about traditional life in the village.

The Himba are a semi-nomadic people living in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, formerly known as Kaokoland. Their population is about 50,000, and they are one of the few tribes in Africa that still maintain a traditional way of life. Himba women rub a mixture of ochre powder and butterfat, called otjize, over their bodies and braids, which turns their skin reddish-brown. It protects against the sun and symbolizes the earth and blood. Hairstyles and ornaments show a person's age and marital status, while men are responsible for herding cattle and goats.

The usual way to visit a village is to arrange it through a lodge or local guide in the regional capital, Opuwo (about N$300 to 500 per person). The guide first takes visitors to a supermarket to buy gifts of cornmeal, sugar and cooking oil. Then you drive 10 to 30 km to the village. With the headman's consent, you can visit the round huts, the sacred fire and the cattle pens, watch women prepare ochre paste and smoke-bathe, and buy handmade jewelry. The more remote Epupa Falls area, about 180 km of gravel road north of Opuwo on the Kunene River at the Angolan border, has more traditional villages, and the two can be combined along the way. Opuwo is about 250 km from the Galton Gate at Etosha's western entrance and about 750 km from Windhoek. It is usually scheduled between Etosha and the Skeleton Coast or Damaraland.

Tips: Always get permission before taking photographs, and never point a camera at someone without consent. Respect customs and do not enter the area between the sacred fire and the houses. Avoid giving candy or cash to children. Hand gifts to the headman for distribution.

Himba Villages

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