Kaokoveld Travel Guide
Namibia’s far north offers enigmatic desert landscapes, rich indigenous culture, and one of Africa’s great waterways.
In a country prized for its sense of glorious solitude, the Kaokoveld and Kunene region turns the remarkable isolation up another notch.
Offering travellers with a sense of adventure the chance to soak up enigmatic empty landscapes and an ancient culture.
The highlight of any visit to the Kaokoveld is the chance of an authentic encounter with the Himba tribes. These semi-nomadic people have called this arid landscape home for millennia, and are today best known for their striking red appearance due to the fine powder of crushed ochre and butter that is rubbed into the skin and hair. Guided village visits offer a unique glimpse into this ancient culture.
The landscapes are just as memorable though, with dune fields and sandy moonscapes tumbling down to the Kunene River, a vibrant slash of green that forms the border between Namibia and Angola.
Here riverside lodges offer motorboat excursions that promise excellent birding and the chance for close-up encounters with the river’s numerous crocodiles.
On dry land, look forward to nature drives and walks exploring this unique desert ecosystem, as well as thrilling quad-bike adventures.
In this far-flung corner of Namibia it could easily be a 200-hundred mile drive to the nearest restaurant, so no surprise that you’ll enjoy all meals in your chosen lodge!
Despite the remote location, lodges put enormous effort into ensuring a memorable culinary experience, from sundowners with homemade snacks to memorable ‘boma dinners’ enjoyed beneath crystal-clear desert skies. Flexibility is the watchword here, and lodge chefs will happily arrange private dinners and bespoke experiences on request.
Most dietary requirements and preferences can be catered for. Please provide further details on reservation.
There is no dress code at any of the lodges in this rugged corner of Namibia, and you’ll want comfortable gear for active days in the desert.
Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots are recommended for desert walks and quad-bike adventures, while light cotton clothing allows for easy layering on safari drives. The mercury plummets in winter, so a warm thermal fleece and windbreaker/jacket are essential. A wide-brimmed hat is essential for keeping the sun at bay.
Lodges typically offer a small ‘safari boutique’ selling souvenirs, clothing and personal basics, but don’t forget your camera, spare memory cards and charging cables. A pair of binoculars is also useful on safari drives.
Due to the remote nature of many lodges, ensure you have sufficient supply of prescription medication before departure.
The weather in this arid corner of Namibia is all about extremes. Winter (May to October) is the best time to visit the Kaokoveld with mild temperatures and clear skies during the day, but can be extremely cold in the early morning and evening.
Summer (November-April) is the ‘green’ season, when the rains fall in dramatic afternoon thunderstorms to coax new life from the desert. This is the best time for birding along the Kunene River, but the searing temperatures make exploring the desert challenging.
The Kaokoveld is an extremely low-risk malaria area, especially during the dry winter months of no rainfall. For further advice, consult your travel doctor at least three weeks before departure.
Stretched out along the Kunene River some 740-kilometres (450-miles) north of Windhoek, the Kaokoveld occupies the far north-west of Namibia. Get your bearings with our handy travel planner maps…
For decades the Kaokoveld was out of reach to all but the most adventurous overland travellers, but with the convenience of private air charters fly-in safaris have made the region more accessible. Direct charter flights from Windhoek, and other popular destinations in Namibia, put this remote region within easy reach.
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