Kunene, also known as Kaokoland, is one of the most northern regions of Namibia and is characterized by impressive mountainous geography. The largest town and capital is Opuwo.
The region’s name comes from the Kunene River, which forms the northern border with Angola. Kunene’s western edge is the shores of the Atlantic Ocean while in the north, it borders Angola’s Namibe Province and in the far eastern part of its northern edge, it borders Cunene Province.
Kunene is one of the least inhabited areas on the planet, possibly due to its inaccessible mountainous geography and the dryness that significantly hinders agriculture. Here, impressive desert mountains, gorges, plains and transient rivers beg to be explored.
The seasonal rivers create a haven for animals such as elephants and rhinos. You will also find Zebra and giraffe as well as various species of antelope and lion. Kunene is inhabited by the Damara, Herero and Himba people who all display a rich cultural heritage waiting to be explored.
The Himba people are an ethnic group of about 20,000 to 50,000 people living in the Kunene region. They are a nomadic, pastoral people, breeding mainly cattle and goats while leading a semi-nomadic life. The Himba migrate with their herds to the different waterholes from season to season.
For the Himba, clothes, hair and jewellery hold a special meaning and form an important part of their tradition and culture. Newborn babies are adorned with pearl necklaces while older children are given bracelets crafted from copper and decorated with shells.
The proud Himba women spend many hours on beauty care and grooming every day. They cream their whole body with a mixture of rancid butterfat and ochre, scented with the aromatic resin of the Omuzumba shrub. The cream lends the body an intense reddish glow, which reflects the Himba ideal of beauty.
