DISCOVER NORTH-CENTRAL NAMIBIA

North-central Namibia, also referred to as the Four “O” Regions , has several attractions – many of them little-known and overlooked by visitors.


ONANDJOKWE MEDICAL MUSEUM
Namibia’s first medical museum, the Onandjokwe Medical Museum, was officially opened on 22 March 2013 in the original hospital building at Onandjokwe which dates back to 1911. The two permanent exhibitions depict the history of Onandjokwe Hospital and health during the liberation struggle and there are plans to expand the displays.


OLUKONDA
The Finnish mission at Olukonda was established on 29 July 1871 and the Mission House, the oldest colonial-era building in northern Namibia, was converted into a museum in 1995. Photographs and maps depicting the history of Owamboland and the Finnish Mission Society, as well as a variety of household utensils and traditional music instruments are on display. The foundation stone of the church, which was extended twice, was laid on 31 May 1888. The legendary missionary Martti Rataunen, his wife, Frieda, and three of their children, as well as three Ondonga kings, members of the royal family and prominent parishioners were buried in the nearby mission cemetery. A guided tour through a reconstruction of a traditional Ndonga homestead adjacent to the mission house provides a fascinating insight into the culture of the Ndonga people and their day-to-day way of life. The mission house, historic church and graveyard were declared a national heritage place on 2 November 1992.


UUKWALUUDHI ROYAL HOMESTEAD, TSANDI
The Uukwaluudhi royal homestead was moved to its present location in the mid-1960s. When a new palace was built for King Taapopi next to the traditional palace, it was decided to open the old palace to the public. Informative displays at the entrance provide an insight into various aspects of the Uukwaluudhi’s history and culture. Visitors can take a guided tour which provides a fascinating into the history of the Uukwaluudhi. Locally made handicrafts can be bought at the small craft shop. A small entry fee is payable.

OKANDAMBO, OKAHAO
When a new king had to be elected for the Ongandjera people in years gone by, the sacred kingship items (Oshimona sh oshilongo) were placed in an okaiga (clay pot) which was hidden under the water in a small shallow pan known as Okandambo. On the appointed day, candidates from the royal lineage would gather at the pan and search for the okaiga. Foresight was one of the qualities required from the king and the first contender to find the pot would become the King of Ongandjera. The pan is hardly visible today.


OMBUPUPU MAGICAL POND, OKAHAO
Ombupupu magical pond in the grounds of the Evangelical Lutheran Church is an important traditional site in Okahao. In years gone by, the low-lying area held water throughout the year and was believed to be the haunt of supernatural beings, known as iinomona. Water could only be obtained after asking the ancestors for permission. People from the king’s palace (ombala) would announce that they had been sent to draw water for the King’s dogs as a way of seeking the blessings of the ancestors. This practice ensured that the water in the pond was conserved and in the event of a drought, when there was no ground water elsewhere, people could obtain water from the royal pond.


OUTAPI
Set amidst a cluster of jackal berry (omwandi) trees, on the outskirts of Outapi, the Onelungo Ponds are inundated during the rainy season. Fish breed in the ponds and the fishing season could only start once a ritual had been performed. According to tradition, only one fish could initially be caught and had to be taken to the king’s residence where it was roasted. Once the roasted fish had been thrown back into the pond, the fishing season could commence. Rituals also had to be performed before any of the eenyandi fruits of the omwandi trees could be harvested. Local folklore has it that if someone fetched water from the ponds without performing the ritual, the basket would remain empty. The Onelungo Ponds were declared a national heritage place in June 2011.
Also of interest in Outapi is the Outapi War Museum, housed in a bunker of a former South African Defence Force military base, the cemetery of unknown PLAN soldiers who were killed in the pitched battles that broke out in the area on 1 April 1989. The site was declared a national heritage place in September 2011.