The Ovahimba, are indigenous peoples with an estimated population of about 50.000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland) and on the other side of the Kunene River in Angola. The Ovahimba are a semi-nomadic, pastoralist people, culturally distinguishable from the Herero people in northern Namibia and southern Angola, and speak Otji-Himba, a variety of Herero, which belongs to the Bantu family within Niger–Congo. They are remarkably famous for covering themselves with otjize paste, a cosmetic mixture of butterfat and ochre pigment, to cleanse the skin over long periods due to water scarcity and protect themselves from the extremely hot and dry climate of the Kaokoland in Namibia and Cunene in Angola, as well as against mosquito insect bites. Otjize is considered foremost a highly desirable aesthetic beauty cosmetic, symbolizing earth's rich red color and blood the essence of life, and is consistent with the Himba ideal of beauty.