A large percentage of Namibia ‘s inhabitants live in the Owambo regions of Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto. The major portion of the four regions consists of communal land where the majority of the inhabitants live from subsistence faming. Life on the vast plains of these essentially agricultural regions depends on the seasonal efundja, the floods that feed the rivers and oshonas. The flat landscape is typified by big spreading Marula trees and sporadic stands of the tall makalani palm. Sap is tapped from the growing tip of the stems of these palms and let to ferment into a potent drink called palm wine. The fruit of the makalani palm takes two years to mature and has a white, bony kernel. Referred to as vegetable ivory, the hard kernel is suitable for carving into small ornaments, jewellery and curios.