Between Namibia’s iconic Etosha National Park and the remote Kunene River lies the Kaokoveld—a region often regarded as one of Southern Africa’s last untouched wildernesses.
This rugged landscape is defined by its extreme climate – from bone-chilling winters and scorching summers, interrupted only by the occasional dramatic downpour. Get ready to experience the stark and mesmerizing beauty in Kaokoland Namibia, home of the nomadic Himba people, the rare desert-dwelling elephant, and the black rhinos. Safaris through Namibia and the remote and beautiful Kaokoland. Famous for its rugged purple mountain ranges and the Kunene River, Kaokoland is a harsh bit of Namibian desert with huge boulders dotted around and rare wildlife somehow successfully finding ways to survive.
Despite these harsh conditions, the Kaokoveld is home to the Himba people, a semi-nomadic pastoral community renowned for their resilience and striking traditions. Himba women, in particular, are notable for their distinct appearance. They use a mixture of crushed ochre rocks and butter to coat their skin, giving it a glowing, reddish-brown hue reminiscent of their culture’s central symbol of wealth: cattle.
The Kaokoveld is best explored as a fly-in destination, with only a select few lodges along the Kunene River. Here, you can enjoy excellent birdwatching, embark on game drives to spot rare, desert-adapted wildlife, and engage in meaningful cultural encounters with the Himba. For those seeking a truly off-the-beaten-path adventure or a unique honeymoon destination, the Kaokoveld offers an unparalleled experience. Contact us for more details and personalized recommendations.
Welcome to one of the wildest and least populated areas in Namibia, where Himba people make up a third of the total population. These descendants of the Herero (who migrated further south in the 18th century) retained much of their traditional, nomadic, and pastoral habits. The mountainous and arid Kaokoland is 4×4 country, its boundaries are the Hoanib River to the Kunene River on the border with Angola.
Most visitors to Kaokoland search for the unique desert-adapted elephants, often moving up to 200 km a day to find water. They only drink every three or four days, compared with elephants in Etosha which drink 100 to 200 liters of water a day.
Kaokoland Namibia is a remote 40 000 square km region with just a few private lodges offer rhino-tracking safaris on foot or in a 4×4. It has to be one of the best areas in Namibia to explore.
Kaokoland is remote and life here for the Himba People remains largely untouched by modern living. However, the unforgiving climate, alongside threats like lion predation of cattle are leading some Himba to move away from traditional livestock herding to the cities. The inevitable growing presence of tourism is also gradually impacting the Himba way of life. If you wish to experience the Himba’s authentic and rapidly changing environment, it’s best to do so soon.
Safaris through Namibia and the remote and beautiful Kaokoland offer a once in a lifetime experience. It is Namibia’s most remote and wildest region – solitude and space with numerous highlights.
