The Himba Tribe – The Red People of the Desert

In a world where everything changes at the speed of breath, there is a place where time has decided to stand still. There, amidst the red dust of northern Namibia, live the Himba people – the last true children of the desert.

Their bodies gleam in copper hues under the harsh sun, covered with the sacred clay otjize – a blend of red ochre, fat, and aromatic herbs. To the Himba, this colour is more than adornment – it's a shield against the sun, a symbol of the earth, of blood, of life.

Who are the Himba?

The Himba are a semi-nomadic tribe that has survived some of the harshest conditions on earth. They live in small round villages made of clay and branches, tend cattle, and follow the rhythm of nature as they have for generations past.

Every aspect of their life is deeply connected to the land: their hairstyles, jewellery, rituals – everything tells stories of belonging, pride, and connection to the world they were born into.

The Secret of the Red Clay

Otjize is their armour. A mix of red ochre and goat's milk butter that women apply to their skin and hair daily. Besides its aesthetic purpose, this clay paste protects the skin from the scorching sun and the dry desert air.

But the colour is also a ritual – a part of their identity, of their pride as the "red people" of the earth.

Himba Women – Keepers of Tradition

With their magnificent braided hair coated with otjize, dressed in leather skirts and adorned with handmade bracelets and necklaces, Himba women are living works of art.

They are the heart of the tribe. They keep the fire, tell the stories, and preserve the knowledge of ancestors and the land.

How do the Himba live today?

Despite the influence of the modern world, many Himba continue to live as they have for centuries. Of course, the challenges are vast – climate change, urbanization, and tourism leave their marks.

But meeting them is a lesson. A lesson in simplicity. In beauty. In survival without excess. In what it means to belong – not to markets, not to fashion, but to the earth and the stars.

How to Visit the Himba Tribe Respectfully

• Go with a local guide – They will provide connection, translation, and ensure respect for customs.

• Ask before taking photos – For the Himba, photography is a serious act. Sometimes in exchange for a symbolic gift or with explicit consent.

• Give something practical – Food, soap, clothes – instead of money.

• Be a quiet observer – Don’t disrupt their rhythm, don’t insist. Enter their world with silence and respect.

Himba – A Mirror to Another Way of Life

Meeting the Himba is meeting yourself – as you might be if the world had remained simple. Pure. Real.

This is not just an exotic snapshot. It is a chance to understand what it is to wear the Earth on your skin and your spirit in the sky.

Join Panic Frame & Travel and embark on a journey to a world where time has not yet forgotten what it means to be human amidst the earth, stars, and wind.