Kaokoveld
Namibia

Located in the far north-west, Kaokoland (also called Kaokoveld) is one of the relatively untouched regions in Namibia. The almost inaccessible area south of the Kunene river, is home to the Himba ethnic group, who have kept their ethnic individuality and culture in the seclusion of Kaokoland.

Travelling through this region should only be done in the company of an experienced guide and in off-road vehicles. Routes are hardly signposted, corrugated and extremely stony or sandy. There are no service facilities or accommodation in Kaokoland. You must camp in the wild.

The Van-Zyl's pass is regarded as the most difficult mountain pass in Namibia. The narrow track, leading through the rugged Otjihipa mountains, consists of coarse scree and jagged rocks. The gradients to be surmounted are quite extreme. For this reason, it takes about three hours to cover a distance of 10 kilometres by car. Only well-equipped four-wheel drive vehicles with powerful engines and good ground clearance are able to manage the trip.

Once you have reached the bottom, the utopian landscape of the Marienfluss valley, surrounded by shimmering purple mountain chains, embraces you. Slightly soft but nevertheless, negotiable sandroads lead through a slightly undulating grass savannah. Following the northernly direction will lead you to the most beautiful site at the Kunene River. Directly at the river lies Camp Okarohombo, managed by the local Himba. Beware of the crocodiles in the river.

On the way back, you pass through the valley of the Marienfluss in a southernly direction to Orupembe and from there on, the D3707 leads to Purros at the Hoarusib river, an oasis amidst stunning nature. There are Himba settlements and a camp for overnight stays. If you long for the comforts of civilization, 80 km further will take you to the lodge of Fort Sesfontein.

Detailed travel information for the Kaokoveld to be found on the INFO page.