Like other homelands in South West Africa, the Kaokoland Bantustan was abolished in May 1989, at the beginning of the transition of Namibia towards independence.

The land is generally dry and rocky, especially to the south, where it borders on the Namib Desert; nevertheless, it has several rivers as well as falls.

South Africa also applied to Namibia the principles of apartheid, including the creation of distinct Bantustans (homelands) for different African ethnic groups.

While the Herero people later experienced German rule and drastically changed their lifestyle as well as their costumes, the Himba retained much of their traditional, nomadic and pastoral habits.

In recent times, contacts between Himbas and Western tourists are becoming more and more common, especially in the most easily accessible regions of Kaokoland (e.g., the surroundings of Opuwo).

Its longer legs, bigger feet, and incredible ability to withstand periods of drought all gave valid reasons to think so.

On a typical day, desert elephants travel up to sixty kilometres over rocky, difficult terrain between feeding areas and waterholes.

Other species found in Kaokoland include oryxes, kudus, springboks, ostriches, giraffes and mountain zebras.

After the end of the bush war, Kaokoland has become a common tourist destination in Namibia, due to its proximity to the Etosha National Park (to the south), the unspoiled nature (with several spots suitable for activities such as rafting and trekking), and the opportunity to visit traditional Himba villages.