Discover Himba Villages

The Himba—known as the Ovahimba in their own language—are one of Africa’s most visually striking and culturally preserved peoples. Numbering around 50,000, they inhabit the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, a harsh landscape they call Kaokoland. Their ancestors migrated from Angola in the 16th century, and while their Herero relatives adopted Western dress under missionary influence, the Himba’s isolation in this remote wilderness allowed them to maintain traditions unchanged for centuries.

What makes the Himba instantly recognizable is the otjize paste—a mixture of butterfat, red ochre mined from sacred sites near Opuwo, and aromatic omuzumba resin—that women apply daily to their skin and hair. Far from mere decoration, this ancient beauty practice provides natural sun protection (studies confirm its UV-blocking properties), moisturizes skin in the water-scarce environment, and repels insects. The deep red hue symbolizes the earth’s vitality and blood itself—the essence of life in Himba cosmology.