Kongola: Arts and Crafts and Mafwe Culture

Arts and Crafts in Kongola

A cultural landmark in Kongola is the Mashi Craft Centre, which showcases handmade goods from the surrounding communities: baskets, mats, pottery and wood carvings. This variety gives arts and crafts a tangible form and makes it a distinct topic alongside excursions in the surrounding area. For travellers interested in everyday culture, the appeal here lies in the objects and their artisanal origins.

A 2008/9 edition of Conservation and the Environment in Namibia describes necklaces made from Mbono seeds on display at Mashi Crafts in Kongola. The seeds were ground and boiled in oil to make a lotion for the skin and hair. This historical example thus links a piece of jewellery with a specific use for the seeds.

Cultural Experiences Nearby

The Living Museum of the Mafwe is 17 km north of Kongola on the D3502. The programme includes a guided walk through the village, a short bush walk, singing and dancing. A half-day programme offers insights into various everyday activities and the chance to take part. This distinguishes the shorter activities from a visit lasting half a day. If the museum visit is a firm part of your plans, confirm that it will be running on your preferred date.

For guests of Namushasha River Lodge, a short walking trail follows the river from the lodge to the Heritage Centre. Unlike the museum programme, the focus here is on the riverside route. Include the trail in your plans as part of a stay at the lodge.

Caprivi in the Wider Travel Context

In the wider destination of Caprivi, long-distance routes complement local cultural themes and visitor attractions. The Trans-Caprivi Highway crosses the Zambezi Region, leading from central and northern Namibia towards the Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The Four Rivers Route runs from Nkurenkuru in the northeast through the Zambezi Region to Victoria Falls. Their different starting points and destinations provide regional orientation distinct from local experiences in Kongola.

Nkasa Rupara National Park is also part of the wider destination of Caprivi. Most of the park consists of reed channels, lagoons and termite mound islands. Its name refers to seven chiefs who ruled over the Mafwe in the eastern part of the Caprivi Region from 1864. The landscape and the history behind the name offer two different perspectives on the park: its natural features and its historical connection to the Mafwe.

Choosing Where to Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment in Kongola, a helpful starting point is the distinction between local cultural attractions and excursions in the surrounding area. Plan according to whether you mainly want to explore the arts and crafts in town or include the museum programme 17 km north; the riverside trail is part of a stay as a guest of Namushasha River Lodge.

Discover more destinations: Lionga, Katima Mulilo, Photo, Sangwali and Luzibalule.

Return to the wider travel overview: Caprivi.