Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
A Desert Mirage

In the Kaokoland, on both banks of the Kunene River, resides the Himba, the nation's last surviving nomadic pastoral tribe. This resilient tribe thrives amidst the challenges of war and drought, uniquely sustaining themselves on a diet solely consisting of meat. Observed from a distance, the Himba people appear like mirages in the desert landscape. Their skin, adorned with ochre, radiates a copper hue—a protective measure against the harsh sun. The strong winds swept sand across the dunes, creating an illusion of the Himba seemingly floating above the sandy terrain.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2021
Date Uploaded: 10.2024
Photo Location: Namibia
Copyright: © thibault gerbaldi