Kunene

Kunene is a vast and rugged region in northwestern Namibia, stretching from the Skeleton Coast to the Kunene River border with Angola. The region is named after the Kunene River, which thunders over Epupa Falls near the coast. Kunene is defined by dramatic landscapes: the arid Skeleton Coast, the rocky Kaokoveld, and remote mountain ranges. It is home to the Himba people, one of Africa's last traditional pastoralist societies, and offers some of Namibia's most remote and spectacular wilderness experiences.

The dry winter months from May to October offer the best travel conditions. Summer (November to April) is hot but the landscape is greener.

The main roads connecting Outjo, Khorixas, and Opuwo are gravel but well-maintained. The Skeleton Coast requires 4x4 and permits. Distances are vast — fuel up where available.

• Opuwo — the regional capital, gateway to Himba villages
• Outjo — a town at the entrance to Etosha and Kaokoveld
• Khorixas — a town near the Petrified Forest and Twyfelfontein
• Kamanjab — a town on the route to the Himba villages
• Sesfontein — a historic fort in the remote Kaokoveld
• Epupa — a village at the Epupa Falls on the Kunene River
• Palmwag — a concession area with desert-adapted elephant
• Okanguati — a settlement in the Kaokoveld
• Skeleton Coast National Park — the famous "coast of bones"

Game meat, goat, and traditional Himba dairy products feature in the local diet. Dried biltong is a staple for travellers.

The Himba people are known for their distinctive red ochre-covered skin and traditional pastoralist lifestyle. The annual Himba Festival celebrates their culture. German colonial ruins dot the region.

• Visit a traditional Himba village near Opuwo or Kamanjab
• Explore the Skeleton Coast with its shipwrecks and seal colonies
• View Epupa Falls on the Kunene River
• See the ancient rock engravings at Twyfelfontein (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Track desert-adapted elephant at Palmwag
• Drive the remote Kaokoveld landscapes