Searching for where to see the Himba people in Namibia? Our tours take you to Opuwo (most recommended place), Kamanjab and Omapaha Himba villages for a community tour experience at the best prices.
The northern Namibian region of Kunene is home to the Himba people. In the 16th century, some members of the Herero tribe moved to Namibia to look for better land in Southern Africa.
The first residents of this semi-nomadic tribe came from Angola and spread across the Kunene region, which was once called Kaokoland. As often happens, new environments and cultural changes led to a change in their way of life, creating a new tribe.
The Ovahimba Living Village Museum is located 40 kilometers north of Opuwo on the way to Epupa Falls. It is a good place to camp and a chance to meet the Himba people and learn about their traditional lifestyle. Even if you do not plan to camp, the museum is worth visiting. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The word “Ovahimba” means “beggar” in the Ngambwe language, another local group, and it shows the hard times the Himba faced, including a severe drought that caused many of their animals to die.
Today, there are about 50,000 Himba people living in Namibia. Few of the many small Himba settlements in Kunene still fully follow their traditional way of life. In recent years, the modern world has greatly affected many of them, especially through changes in diet and the use of junk food.
The Himba are semi-nomadic and live in large homesteads with their extended families. The Himba tribe is patriarchal and follows both the father’s and mother’s family lines, so each person belongs to two clans. The clan leader is usually the oldest male.
The Himba practice polygamy, and many Himba men have two wives. A Himba mother lives with her children in her own hut. By keeping close family ties, the Himba are able to continue their traditional way of life.