Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
side honours the Pistolet-Pulemyot Shpagina (PPSh), the Russian-made automatic rifle
that played a major role in the conflict.
From Uutapi, turn south on the D3612 to the village of Otsandi (Tsandi). At the eastern
edge of the village, turn west down an unnumbered track and continue 20km to Ongulum-
bashe. Be advised that this area is considered to be politically sensitive - you will need
permission to visit the site from the Swapo office in Uutapi.
ONGANDJERA
If you're feeling especially patriotic, you can visit the town of Ongandjera, which is the
birthplace of former president Sam Nujoma. The rose-coloured
kraal
that was his boy-
hood home is now a national shrine, and is distinguished from its neighbours by a promin-
ent Swapo flag hung in a tree. It's fine to look from a distance, but the
kraal
remains a
private home and isn't open to the public.
Ongandjera lies on the D3612, 52km southeast of Uutapi near Okahao. It's also access-
ible via the C41 from Oshakati.
RUACANA
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The tiny Kunene River town of Ruacana (from the Herero words
orua hakahana
- the
rapids) is the jumping-off point for visiting the Ruacana Falls. Here, the Kunene River
splits into several channels before plunging 85m over a dramatic escarpment and through
a 2km-long gorge of its own making. The town was built as a company town to serve the
320-megawatt underground Ruacana hydroelectric project, which now supplies over half
of Namibia's power requirements.
Sights
Ruacana Falls
At one time, Ruacana Falls was a natural wonder, though all that changed thanks to An-
gola's Calueque Dam, 20km upstream, and NamPower's Ruacana power plant. The little
water that makes it past the first barrage is collected by an intake weir, 1km above the
falls, which ushers it into the hydroelectric plant to turn the turbines. On the rare occa-
sions when there's a surfeit of water, Ruacana returns to its former glory. In wetter years,
it's no exaggeration to say it rivals Victoria Falls - if you hear that it's flowing, you cer-
tainly won't regret a side trip to see it (and it may be the closest you ever get to Angola).
WATERFALL
