Ohangwena

Ohangwena is a region in northern Namibia on the border with Angola's Cunene Province, characterised by the flat, low-lying Cuvelai basin with its oshana floodplains. Covering roughly 10,700 km² — about 1.3% of Namibia's land area — it is the second most populous of Namibia's fourteen regions, with a 2023 census population of around 338,000, and its economy rests on subsistence mahangu farming and cattle-keeping. The region was created in 1996 when the former Ovambo Region was subdivided.

The dry season (May to October) is best. The rainy season transforms the plains.

The region borders Kavango West to the east, Oshikoto to the south, and Oshana and Omusati to the southwest; the B1 highway skirts its southern edge, connecting toward Oshakati and Ondangwa. Secondary roads within the region are largely gravel. Eenhana (the regional capital) and Helao Nafidi are the main towns.

• Eenhana — the regional capital
• Helao Nafidi — a border town with Angola
• Okongo — a settlement in the region
• Omungwelume — a village in the region
• Engela — a town near the Angolan border

Traditional Ovambo cuisine: mahangu porridge, chicken, and seasonal vegetables.

Ovambo culture defines the region. Cross-border trade with Angola is a significant economic activity.

• Experience the rural Ovambo landscape of oshana floodplains
• Visit the Angolan border at Helao Nafidi