Ovahimba Living Museum- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Nestled in the remote Kunene Region, the Ovahimba Living Museum offers a living-history experience where visitors step into the cultural rhythms of a semi-nomadic Bantu people. Established in 2016 through the collaboration between John Tjipurua and the Living Culture Foundation, this open-air homestead preserves traditional practices such as building clay-and-dung huts, tending the sacred "holy fire" that connects ancestors and the living, and showcasing craftsmanship like pottery, wood carving, leather-tanning, and blacksmithing—each activity led by members of the community. Guests have the opportunity to participate in daily rituals, food preparation, bush walks to learn medicinal plant use, and energetic song and dance performances—activities designed to be educational and immersive. Specialized programs offer hands-on experiences such as Ovahimba body-painting or even traditional wedding ceremonies, with guided interpretation available in English.