| ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK AND OWAMBO | RIGHT Annual Mahangu Festival
TOWNS NORTH OF ETOSHA Owambo’s two main centres, Oshakati and Ondangwa, are in the Oshana Region. These two bustling towns have the same informality and happygo-lucky character as urban centres throughout much of Africa. Their main streets are lined with a haphazard arrangement of residential houses and shops, and the traffic varies from donkey carts to the latest in luxury fourwheel-drive vehicles.
The Oshakati Omatala (open market) is the largest in Namibia and a big tourist attraction in the north. The Tulipamwe Sewing Project in the main street of Oshakati – marked by the vibrant pink materials on display – is a great place to learn about traditional Oshiwambo attire and buy yourself some unique clothing. The Ongwediva Trade Fair has been held annually since 1995. Apart from an array of local stands, it also hosts exhibitors from Botswana, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Situated across the road from Ongwediva Medi Park, Bennie’s Entertainment Park and Lodge is a popular meeting place that provides leisure activities in many forms. Afrika Stadt Haus is another good place to enjoy a meal or a drink. The town hosts two modern shopping malls, which feature the most popular fast-food restaurants, including a Silver Wolf Spur, and an assortment of retail outlets. Since independence, the OshakatiOngwediva-Ondangwa complex has experienced dramatic urban growth. The complex plays an increasingly important commercial role in the north and has considerable industrial potential. The Ondangwa SME Start-Up and Tourist Information Centre is a good place for visitors to find their bearings and gain access to information on the surrounding area. Call the Ondangwa Town Council at 065 24 0101 to be transferred to the centre. In close proximity to the town, at Olukonda, is the oldest building in northern Namibia, the Nakambale Mission House.
ANNELIEN ROBBERTS
Oshakati, Ongwediva, Ondangwa
A new concept for Namibia, the Ongula Village Homestead Lodge allows visitors to experience authentic village life at an Owambo homestead. Situated in the Omusati Region, west of the Oshana, is Uukwaluudhi Safari Lodge from which guests can further explore the Owambo culture through visits to the Uukwaluudhi Royal Homestead and Museum at Tsandi. Situated about 85 km from Opuwo, Uukwaluudhi Safari Lodge also offers the opportunity to learn more about the nomadic Himba people living in the area. Air Namibia conducts flights to and from Ondangwa, twice daily, seven days a week.
Mahangu Festival and Championship
The annual Mahangu Festival and Mahangu Championship, locally known as Oshipe, and held after the harvest in August/September, is hosted in the region of the Overall National Crown Champion, which includes all the northern and north-eastern regions, where mahangu (a kind of pearl millet) is the staple food for many. The festival creates a platform for mahangu farmers to share ideas, motivate each other, and engage in healthy competition while showcasing their products. Important topics of discussion include the improvement and modernisation of mahangu production by introducing new technologies and cultivation methods,
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and by improving soil fertility. The festival is organised by the Namibian Agronomic Board.
MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN OWAMBO Tourism in this vast flat region, typified by oshanas, makalani palms and herds of cattle, used to be virtually non-existent. However, these days it is steadily increasing. The area has a rich and interesting cultural and historical tradition, which can be explored by visiting some of the sites in the surroundings.
The town of Oniipa hosts the historical Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, built in 1911 by the Finnish Missionary Society. It is still in use today, serving as the primary health-care facility for the Onandjokwe District. The Eenhana Heroes’ Memorial Shrine depicts the history of the liberation struggle, and acknowledges the courage of the combatants of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the civilians who supported them. The main attraction at the Ombalantu Baobab Heritage Centre is a huge Baobab tree estimated to be around 700-750 years old. During tribal wars the tree served as a hiding place and was later also used as a post office and a chapel. The centre, located in Outapi, also offers camping sites laid out under the tree, a small kiosk, a craft centre and facilities for day visitors.
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