Things to do
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Kunene River Lodge
Set on the riverbank at Swartbooisdrift under old trees, this lodge is known among birdwatchers for species that reach no further south than the Kunene. Rafting and boat trips run from the bank. It sits between Opuwo and Epupa and breaks the drive for anyone not doing it in one push.
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Opuwo Country Lodge
A ridge above the town carries this lodge, with a pool on the edge of it looking west over the valley and the settlements below. It is the last comfortable bed before the Kunene. Guides for visits to Himba homesteads are arranged here, with the terms agreed in advance.
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Ruacana Falls
The Kunene drops through a gorge on the Angolan border, and whether there is any water in it depends on the rains upstream and on what the hydroelectric scheme is holding back. In full flood it runs the width of the rock face. For much of the year the viewpoint looks at dry stone.
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Van Zyl's Pass
A descent of loose boulders and steep ledges drops off the escarpment into the Marienfluss, driven west only and considered among the hardest tracks in the country. Recovery gear and a second vehicle are the normal conditions for attempting it. The view over the valley from the top is the reward and needs no descent.
