The Epupa Falls (also known as Monte Negro Falls in Angola

Angola

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

) are created by the Kunene River on the border of Angola and Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

, in the Kaokoland

Kaokoland

Kaokoland is an area in Northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region. It is one of the wildest and less populated areas in Namibia, with a population density of one person every 2 km², that is 1/4 of the national average. The most represented ethnic group is the Himba people, that accounts for...

 area of the Kunene Region

Kunene Region

Kunene is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia and home to the Himba ethnic group. Compared to the rest of Namibia, it is relatively underdeveloped...

. The river is 0.5 km wide and drops in a series of waterfall

Waterfall

A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...

s spread over 1.5 km, with the greatest single drop being 37 m. The name "Epupa" is a Herero

Herero language

The Herero language is a language of the Bantu family . It is spoken by the Herero people in Namibia and Botswana...

 word for "foam", in reference to the foam created by the falling water.

Despite being difficult to reach (a 4WD vehicle is recommended to reach them from Opuwo

Opuwo

Opuwo is the capital of the Kunene Region in north-western Namibia. The town is situated about 720 km north-northwest from the capital Windhoek, and has a population of 5,100...

), the falls are a major visitor attraction in Namibia, because of the largely unspoiled environment, with fig trees, baobab

Baobab

Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....

s, makalani palms, and colored rock walls framing the falls.

The Epupa Constituency

Epupa Constituency

Epupa is a constituency in the Kunene Region of Namibia. Its population is 12,816. Epupa is also the location of the Epupa Falls, located on the Angolan-Namibian border. Epupa means "Falling Waters" in Otjiherero.- References :...

 is named for the falls.

The Ruacana Falls

Ruacana Falls

Ruacana Falls are waterfalls located at on the Kunene River in Northern Namibia near Ruacana. The waterfall is high and wide in full flood....

 in northern Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

are located 135 km upstream.