Ruacana Falls
A large waterfall on the Kunene River, about 700 m wide with a 120 m drop; it is spectacular when the rainy-season spillway releases water, and mostly bare rock in the dry season.
Ruacana Falls lies on the Namibia-Angola border, about 700 m wide with a drop of about 120 m. Since a hydroelectric plant was built upstream, the great curtain of water appears only when the dam releases water in the rainy season (usually March-April); the rest of the year the riverbed is mostly bare rock. The viewpoint is near the border checkpoint, and visitors must register with Namibian immigration before going (without leaving the country). Ruacana town has a petrol station and accommodation, and you can continue downstream to the Hippo Pools camp. It is about 140 km from Opuwo.
Opening hours
Daytime (register at the border checkpoint)
Nearby sights
- Kunene River at Swartbooisdrif
- Opuwo Country Lodge Viewpoint
- Opuwo
- Opuwo Market & Himba Crafts
- Himba Villages
- Epupa Falls
- Van Zyl's Pass
- Marienfluss Valley