Namibia Skeleton Coast - Leg/Day 4
Himba People
The 'Himba' are the semi-nomadic indigenous people living in Northern Namibia, mainly in the Kunene region. They live of the land raising cattle, cows and goats primarily. The goats are the livestock most suited for the Himba's nomadic movements and are most hardened in enduring dry desert conditions. In their geographical and cultural isolation they maintain a 'pastoralist' lifestyle that, as yet, has remained traditional and essentially unchanged over time.
The Schoeman family maintain longstanding contact with the Himba in the area of the Kunene bush camp. Through their arrangement we were invited to a Himba settlement with the opportunity to see and buy a variety of their decorated tools, utensils and basic body 'juwellery'. Fascinating to see and photograph were above all the uniquely beautiful natural looks and the varying (hair)dresses of the elder (married) women/mothers, the girls and the young childeren.