Epupa Falls

Epupa Falls is in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia.

Get in

The small settlement of Epupa is situated on the Namibian side of the Kunene River directly at the Epupa Falls. Apart from fly-in Safaris the only access is by road; There is no ship travel on the Kunene River. The regional road C43 leads directly to Epupa. There is also the district road D3700 from Ruacana but you need a 4x4 to use it.

Get around

See

• The Epupa Falls, of course.

Do

Buy

• There is a small curio market right next to the community camp site.
• Basic supplies are stocked by the 🌍 Arsenal mini market and bar. Basic supplies but no fresh produce. The beer is from the freezer, so either much too cold or much too warm, but at a fraction of the price charged by the bars inside the various camps. There are meat stalls right in front of the building where you can try goat meat (5 N$ per piece) and junkies (fried dough dumplings, 1 N$ per piece). Very tasty, very cheap, very Namibian. (updated Apr 2019)

Eat

There are two options to get lunch or dinner in Epupa: Visit one of informal the meat stalls in the settlement, or go to the upmarket camps that have a restaurant. These camps serve food also to day visitors but require prior booking, several hours in advance.

Drink

All tap water comes from the Kunene River. Apply your own judgment whether you are robust enough to drink it. The bars stock bottled water; expect to pay around 50 N$ per litre for it.

Sleep

Budget

• 🌍 Epupa Community Camp Site (Closest to the Falls). Camp site for purists. Old palm trees, braai stands, a common ablution block, and nothing else. Closest to the falls, literally meters away. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Motjikutu Epupa Campsite (700m upstream from the Falls). Very basic camp site directly on the river. (updated Apr 2019)

Mid-range

• 🌍 Kapika Waterfall Lodge (on the hill overlooking the river and the settlement). 10 double rooms without aircons or power sockets. You may charge your equipment in the lapa, though. The food is very good. Wi-fi is free of charge but hardly works. Nice view onto the Kunene from the restaurant and the small pool. There are also two small camping plots with shade nets, water and lights, no sockets. Too small and too close to ablution facilities to spend much time there. 1,500 N$ per person sharing for bed, breakfast and dinner. Beer from the can 45 N$. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Epupa Lodge & Campsite (Next to the Falls, you can hear but not see them). Chalets and camping spots, old shady trees, pool, restaurant, curio shop. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Omarunga Lodge/Campsite (On the Kunene River, about 200m from the Falls). Chalets and camping spots, old shady trees, pool, restaurant. A very noisy generator right next to the pool. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Epupa Camp (On the Kunene River, about 800m from the Falls). Community-run upmarket camping spots under old shady trees, with private ablution facilities and pool. (updated Apr 2019)

Connect

Cell phone connection is very patchy in this remote spot. Some phones might be able to connect to the Namibian network, but without advanced services like data or MMS.

Stay safe

The Kunene River has crocodiles and hippos. It is not safe to swim there. Directly at the Falls you will see people swimming or washing, as neither crocs nor hippos come close enough to risk dropping down the Falls. Just how close is close enough, nobody can tell. Outside the settlement it is not safe to even go near the river, as hippos are both aggressive and territorial and can easily outrun a human on land.