Namibia🇳🇦 | landmarksEpupa FallsKunene cascades, baobab above the gorge, makalani palms, Himba villages | things to do and best time to go

The best base for backpackers is the riverside strip at Epupa Falls itself, where a handful of campsites sit along the Kunene within walking distance of the cascades. Budget travelers here mostly pitch tents, either their own or on rented platforms, under shady makalani palms and fig trees. Evenings are social, with overlanders and small-group tour travelers swapping road stories around shared fire pits and riverside bars. Walking between sites after dark is generally fine, but crocodiles live in the river, so keep clear of the water’s edge at night and swim only in the designated safe pools. … read more 👉

The best base for backpackers is the riverside strip at Epupa Falls itself, where a handful of campsites sit along the Kunene within walking distance of the cascades. Budget travelers here mostly pitch tents, either their own or on rented platforms, under shady makalani palms and fig trees. Evenings are social, with overlanders and small-group tour travelers swapping road stories around shared fire pits and riverside bars. Walking between sites after dark is generally fine, but crocodiles live in the river, so keep clear of the water’s edge at night and swim only in the designated safe pools. Solo travelers will find it easy to meet people, and many campsites arrange Himba village visits and sunset walks at the falls.

If you arrive late or want a bed under a roof, Opuwo is the other option, about 180 kilometers away by gravel road. It has basic guesthouses and the last real supermarkets and fuel stations, so it works well for a night of stocking up. It is less atmospheric than the river, but a practical first or last stop. Staying on the Angolan side is not an option for most travelers, so keep your base on the Namibian bank.