Opuwo

Opuwo is the main town of the Kaokoland area, and the capital of the wider Kunene region, in north-western Namibia. It has a population of 20,000 (2020).

Get in
Due to the scarcity of other options, most travellers will arrive by car. Opuwo is about 720 km north-northwest from Windhoek. This road is tarred all the way, and from here there are gravel roads.

Get around
Hire a car in Windhoek (preferably a 4x4 to visit remote villages). A normal sedan will reach Opuwo easily.

See
Himba People, Epupa Waterfalls, Marienfluss, Desert Elephants, Van Zyl's pass (4x4), Traditional villages of the Himba, Herero and Dhimba people.

Do

 * Walk around one of the most interesting towns in Africa and experience its diverse people. Buy some cultural ornaments from the street markets and support the local economy.
 * Drive to the Epupa waterfalls (180 km north) or a nearby traditional village.
 * The Opuwo Town Council hosts the annual Opuwo Trade Fair, which combines a modern business exhibition with cultural performances, live shows and entertainment in May.

Buy
Well-stocked grocery shops, Internet cafe, banks, petrol & diesel. Keep in mind that there is no further petrol station north and west of Opuwo.

Local craftspeople selling hand-made jewellery and other crafts - to be found on street, in particular outside OK Supermarket.

Eat
If you are adventurous you can try the street food that is sold downtown. For instance there are large grilled bones selling for a song (N$10 per piece), and junkies (fried dough dumplings N$1 per piece). Very tasty, very cheap, very Namibian.

Connect
There is cell phone coverage everywhere in town. If you're heading towards Kaokoland proper, here is the last opportunity to have Internet access.

Stay healthy
Malaria area. Regional Hospital and private pharmacy can treat most health related problems.