Information
Epupa Camp offers you a relaxing yet exhilarating few days of personalised service and excellent meals in the seclusion of a lush riverine wilderness of ana trees, wild figs, makalani palms and baobabs.
Epupa Camp is situated on the southern bank of the Kunene River, from which the Kunene Region in the northwest of Namibia, takes its name. Epupa Falls, acclaimed by many international travel writers as a must-see tourism destination, is about as far north as you can drive in Namibia.
Kaokoland is one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Southern Africa with some of Namibia’s highest mountain ranges. It is a world of incredible serenity and hauntingly beautiful mountain scenery that stuns the eye and touches the soul. It’s vast. Silent. Magical.
Bordered on the south by the Hoanib river and by the Kunene River in the north, this is where the real Africa begins. Journeying here is like journeying back in time, before the time of cell phones, automobiles, electricity, and television, where life goes on undisturbed and unimpressed by modern civilization. It is one of the last refugees for the black rhino, and home to the famous desert elephants that roam freely in this region.
The area surrounding Epupa Camp consists of richly coloured rock walls, and the lush Kunene River that snakes through the landscape creating a thin green oasis that gives life to a variety of exotic trees including the wild fig, baobabs, and waving makalani palms. Spectacular sunsets and the river’s perennially flowing waters mean that the area offers much to see and experience.
Completely untouched, this landscape has remained the same for thousands of years and yet always seems to change. From the soft pastels and deep shadows of the early morning and late afternoon to the harsh and rugged landscape of the midday sun, you will find that what at first seems devoid of life, slowly begins to come to life, as if the mountains themselves are breathing and have a soul of their own.
Kaokoland is simply magical. There is no better way to describe it, and no other way but to experience it.
The camp has a great relationship with the local Himba people and there’s the chance to visit one of their small villages; it’s an incredible insight into one of Africa’s oldest and most fascinating cultures. You can also enjoy rafting on the Kunene River and visit magnificent Epupa Falls.
The Himba People
More than anything, Kaokoland and Epupa is the land of the fascinating Himba people, one of world’s last nomadic tribes.
The Himba are a traditional, pastoral people, relying upon herds of drought-resistant cattle, hunting, and gathering for their survival. They look and live like no other people in Africa.
One of the most striking things about the Himba is the colour of their skin and hair and their unique way of dressing. They smear their skin with a mixture of cattle fat, ash, and ochre to protect themselves from the harsh desert climate and the merciless sun above. As an additional bonus, the paste gives the Himba a deep red colour that is a highly desirable look in the Himba culture and is very striking to look at. The women wear small skirts made of goat skins adorned with shells and jewellery made of iron and copper. The men and boys wear goatskin loin cloths.
Their houses are simplistic cone-shaped structures made with saplings covered in mud and dung.
Until the late 1980’s, people living in the area relied entirely on a hunter-gatherer existence, using only stone implements. For the most part, the Himba people are still unaffected by modern civilization and are a rare and unique people to experience.
Getting there
By road from Opuwo
Himba men on donkeys Epupa Camp lies on the banks of the Kunene River in the Kunene Region, of which the northern part was known as Kaokoland. From Opuwo take the DR 3700 gravel road north. Epupa is about 180 km or three-hours’ driving from Opuwo. It is scenic road, made slow by the many dry river beds, herds of farm animals and the nomadic Himba you pass. After 100 km you reach Okongwati. On arrival at Epupa, follow the signs for Epupa Camp as it winds through the picturesque village. We are about 800 meters upstream from the main falls. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended, especially during the rainy season. The coordinates are S16°59′ 55.34″ E13°15′ 17.91″
By road from Ruacana
Himba boys Drive west along the Kunene River via Swartbooisdrift, take DR 3701 towards Epembe and then turn right onto DR 3700 via Okongwati. It is approximately 250 km or a 5-hour drive from Ruacana to Epupa Falls. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended. At Epupa simply follow the signs for Epupa Camp. We are about 800m upstream from the main falls.
The road along the Kunene River is a tough 4×4 road. It takes up to 10 hours to reach Epupa from Swartbooisdrift – if all goes well. Only take this road if you are traveling with more than one vehicle and are experienced 4×4 drivers with plenty of time to spare and lots of spare wheels!
Rooms
Epupa Camp offers three kinds of accommodation, namely tented rooms, self-catering tented-campsites and traditional campsites, where you do the do-it-yourself-roughing-it, or the city-sleeker caravan or rooftop camping.
The ten comfortable safari-style tents consist of eight twin tented rooms, one honeymoon tented room with a queen-sized bed and a four-bed family tented room, all with en suite bathrooms. The tents have electrical lights and mosquito netting at the windows and doors. Shaded patios in front of the tents overlook the Kunene River on its flow to the Atlantic Ocean.
Kingfisher Tent – Self Catering
Ten dome tents, each with two single beds and linen provide basic accommodation on this campsite. Barbecue and ablution facilities are shared. The barbecue area is on river front with a lovely Kunene River view. This campsite is perfect for guests and groups fully equipped for self catering. Community members supply firewood and do laundry at negotiated prices.
Camping – Self Catering
Epupa Camp offers 12 spacious, riverfront campsites, shaded by indigenous trees. All campsites have a river view, each with private ablution facilities, a fire place and sink. Community members supply firewood and do laundry at negotiated prices. Our campsites combine the use of local material with pleasing attention to detail to allow for a most memorable stay in Namibia. One of our camping guests rated our showers as the best in Namibia. Campsites are spacious and can easily accommodate a group of 10 guests with vehicles with off-road trailers or caravans.
Tented Double Room
Epupa Camp has one honeymoon suite with a queen-size bed, with electrical lights, an en suite bathroom and mosquito netting at the doors and windows. A private patio overlooks the Kunene River.
Tented Twin Room
Epupa Camp has eight comfortable safari-style twin tented rooms. All tents have electrical lights, en suite bathrooms, mosquito netting at the doors and windows.
Facilities
Apart from the private island and swimming pool with a river view, our facilities include an outdoor bar with free wifi, lounge with small library and dining room.
Restaurant
At Epupa, we serve three meals a day with complimentary coffee and tea available all day. Our bar is always available for something more exotic.
A fine cuisine is always served Breakfast is served from 07h30 and consists of a healthy buffet with fresh fruits and nuts, cereals, homemade muesli, freshly baked bread, meats, cheeses, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggs.
A light lunch is served at 13h00 and usually consists of quiches, lasagne, or pasta accompanied by fresh salads. Complimentary afternoon tea, coffee and cake is served at 16h00.
If weather permits, romantic candle-lit three course dinners are served on riverfront under the Namibian starlight. Please inform us well in advance if you have any special dietary requirements (the nearest food supplier is about 200 km away!).
Depending on the season, some of the vegetables will be our own organic crop, home-grown in one of our vegetable gardens.
Activities
Hiking
Our guides can take you along the river or into the surrounding hills to explore the flora and fauna of the Kaokoland and enjoy stunning views of the Kunene snaking its way through the dry desert landscape.
During your hike you are likely to come across large Euphorbia bushes (whose poisonous milky-white latex has been used by the Himba for hunting for centuries), rose quartz crystals, mopane scrub, and the flat-topped umbrella thorn with the almost Mexican name: Acacia tortilis.
Guided Hikes At And Around The Epupa Falls
Our guides can take you along the river or into the surrounding hills to explore the flora and fauna of Kaokoland and enjoy stunning views of the Kunene snaking its way through the dry desert landscape. During your hike you are likely to come across Bushman’s poison bushes with their beautiful but deadly pink flowers and large Euphorbia bushes, of which the poisonous milky-white latex has been used by the San and Himba for hunting for centuries. Also easily recognisable are the makalani palms, mopane scrub and the flat-topped umbrella thorn with the almost Mexican name: Acacia tortilis.
Depending on your interests, we offer guided walks to one of the following:
To and around the Epupa Falls down to a white beach below the Epupa Falls. The walk will take you through the village to the main fall where the Himba people often come to wash their clothes, bathe, or play in the shallow pools.
Into the surrounding hills to explore the fauna and flora of this riverine area and beyond.
The crocodile trail, a 3 km walk meandering eastwards along the Kunene River bank.
Birding walks at Epupa Falls and the surrounding area.
These walks can take up to three hours. In summer these are best undertaken in the early morning hours. The starting time depends on the guests and their interests.
Bird Watching Trip By Boat
For bird lovers, we offer river birding trips where our expert guide will point out some of the 238 recorded species that inhabit the Kunene region, including Rufous-tailed Palm-Thrush (a permanent resident at our camp), Monteiro’s Hornbill, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Goliath Heron, African Fish-Eagle, various bee-eaters, kingfishers ranging from the Giant to the tiny Malachite Kingfisher, bulbuls, rollers (Purple, Lilac-breasted and European), Rosy Faced Lovebird, Golden, Spectacled and Lesser Masked-Weaver, and sunbirds, to name just a few. This is as close to nature as you will get, and truly a soothing way to spend your morning or afternoon.
Exclusive birding trips need to be booked well in advance.
Rafting
For those of our guests who want more than just to gaze at the Kunene River, we offer seasonal rafting trips twice daily, namely after breakfast and lunch between May and November. After taking you upriver in our open safari vehicle, our qualified guide will provide you with the equipment needed and brief you on the day’s expedition. He will then lead you on a gentle cruise down the river with ample time to stop and enjoy the scenery, watch the birds and the crocodiles sunbathing on the banks, and take photographs. En route we will stop at one of the islands for refreshments.
For those who do not want to paddle or are a bit wary of the water, we have 8-seater rafts where our guides do the paddling and manoeuvring for you The greatest fun, however, is the 2-seater crocs, where you and your partner do the paddling. No advance rafting experience is required. Our guide will instruct you and also give you a safety briefing. Helmets, safety jackets and dry bags for cameras and other personal belongings are provided.
Sundowner
The Epupa Falls, a series of cascades that drop a total of 40 m over a distance of about 1,5 km, is just 800 m west of Epupa Camp, an easy walk. Originating from the Herero word for the spume created by falling water, Epupa is a fitting name for this fascinating sight.
To quote the Bradt Travel Guide, “Epupa Falls don’t compare to Victoria Falls in scale, they are all the more beautiful for occurring in such an arid region.” Nowhere else in the world do you find a waterfall contrasted with such wild arid desert landscape. Watching the Epupa Falls and its white mists of water against the red colours of the surrounding desert and mountains during sunset, with a sundowner drink in one hand and your camera or binoculars in the other, is likely to make up one of the most beautiful and memorable experiences during your trip to Namibia.
Every evening approximately one hour before sunset, we take you in our safari-style vehicle to the Epupa Falls and then to the top of one of the hills overlooking the waterfalls for a sundowner. Enjoy a gin and tonic or one of Namibia’s excellent beers while watching as the surrounding desert landscape explodes in colours and fascinating shadows. We return to the lodge in time to freshen up for dinner.
Guided Visit To A Himba Village
Join one of our local Himba guides to visit a Himba village and learn how one of Africa’s remaining semi-nomadic people, live, work and worship. Through the guide’s interpretation you will be able to exchange information and be allowed to take photographs and film the Himba family as they go about their daily lives.
The activity is offered on a daily basis and normally departs after breakfast in one of our safari vehicles. Depending on your interests, you will be taken to a traditional Himba graveyard and the local primary school. Guests are back at about 11:30 in time to freshen up for lunch.
