Why were the Ovambo able to farm as well as raise livestock?

The Ovambo people were able to engage in both farming and livestock raising primarily because they inhabited a more hospitable environment for crops compared to other regions of Namibia.1

Living in the northern part of the country, the Ovambo settled alongside the oshanas—a series of low-gradient, south-oriented dry watercourses that provide essential water to the region. This access to water, combined with the favorable climate, allowed them to develop as mixed farmers who grow crops such as corn (maize), millet, pumpkins, and melons, while also maintaining herds of goats and dairy cattle.21