Discover Rundu: Markets and Mbunza Culture

Discover Rundu through its markets, local sales outlets and Mbunza culture. The area around the town is also home to a wetland trail, which began as an eco-tourism project. These experiences have different focuses: local products and regional food and drink take centre stage at the markets, while the nearby Living Museum of the Mbunza presents traditional culture. This can help you decide which themes you want to shape your trip.

Markets and shopping in Rundu

At Rundu’s open markets, visitors can discover local products and try regional food and drink. This gives a visit to the market both a culinary focus and a glimpse into everyday life, without requiring you to commit to particular dishes. If you enjoy looking at a range of local products and discovering regional fare, the market is one of Rundu’s specific points of interest.

Another option is the Mbungura Woodcraft Co-operative in Rundu, where products are offered for sale. Together with the markets, this highlights the difference between discovering a variety of products and finding goods for sale at a co-operative. Which of these stops appeals to you more may influence how you choose to spend your time in Rundu. This guide does not go into specific goods or the current selection; its focus is on the different ways to discover local products and sales outlets.

Mbunza culture at Lake Samsitu

About 14 kilometres west of Rundu, on Lake Samsitu, lies the Living Museum of the Mbunza. It is described as a traditional Kavango village, a traditional cultural school and a community enterprise for the Kavango people. The museum showcases and preserves the Mbunza’s fishing and farming culture. Its location nearby adds a distinct cultural focus to the attractions in Rundu.

The traditional presentation covers various aspects of everyday life: traditional cooking, fire-making, basket and mat weaving, bush walks and fishing, as well as blacksmithing, pottery and drum-making. The range therefore extends from activities related to food and materials to crafts and music. Visitors interested in different aspects of traditional culture can gain a multifaceted impression. The Living Museum may therefore appeal to travellers looking for something different from a market visit or a sales outlet in town: its focus is on presenting and preserving culture.

A proposed wetland trail

In the Rundu area, KOAR has begun an eco-tourism project for a wetland trail together with the Rundu Town Council and the Kavango Regional Council. The trail is intended to give visitors and residents access to the Rundu Wetlands near the town. Information boards and markers on trees and shrubs are planned along the route. The proposed trail adds another perspective to trip planning: rather than a market visit or cultural presentation, the focus is on the wetlands and the information planned along the route. It remains a project with features that are still planned.

Which holiday apartment suits your interests?

When choosing a holiday apartment in Rundu, you can start by considering which experiences interest you most. If you mainly want to explore the town’s markets and sales outlets, Rundu itself is the natural starting point for your search. If you also want to visit the Living Museum at Lake Samsitu, you can add a cultural destination nearby. The wetland trail is another option, still described as a project. These distinctions can help you tailor your accommodation search to the experiences you want from your trip, without grouping every stop into a single outing.

If your travel group has a range of interests, the markets, traditional culture and planned wetland project can each provide different opportunities for discussion and discovery. When choosing your holiday apartment, compare which of these themes matter most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Mahango, Ndiyona, Divundu, Bagani.

See the broader travel overview: Kavango.