The Kunene (previously called Northern Damaraland and Kaokoland) region of Namibia is a vast semi-desert area where the frigid Atlantic ocean collides with the world’s oldest desert, the Namib, along the infamous Skeleton Coast, named for countless shipwrecked sailors who perished among its baking dunes.

Further inland lies the Etosha National Park, one of the world’s largest wildlife refuges. The Etosha Pan, a dry lakebed left behind when the Kunene River changed course long ago, offers a fleeting oasis during the rainy season for myriad wildlife, including enormous flocks of flamingoes. For most of the year though, the park’s resident animals survive on waterholes fringing the pan.

These two entities form one of the world’s largest conservation areas reaching across more than 15 million acres.

The Kunene region is inhabited by approximately 12000 Himba people who are recognized for their abilities to adapt and survive in these harsh conditions, and these traders make their living off the pottery, jewelry and leather works, and will barter tobacco,sugar and coffee with visitors, so go prepared!

The region’s community and government lands link The Kunene’s rocky desert, arid grasslands and dry riverbeds provide a sparsely populated corridor for iconic wildlife:

The desert-dwelling black rhinoceros finds its last free-ranging stronghold in the Kunene. A surprisingly agile mountaineer, the rhino often climbs onto ledges in search of succulent plants and cool Atlantic breezes.

Here also lives the massive desert elephant, led by herd matriarchs with intimate knowledge of the dunes’ scarce food and water sources. By digging waterholes during dry periods, these elephants may even help other animals survive.
Unlike other rhinos and elephants that drink daily, these desert-adapted animals may go three to four days without water.