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Livestock grazing behaviours play an important role on the health of animals and the rangelands, significantly impacting livestock production and human livelihoods. Grazing success relies on the intricate interactions between people, animals, and their rangelands. This relationship is particularly vital for pastoral communities, which often face challenges in developing environmental infrastructure. On the mountainous rangelands of Kunene in Namibia, dry seasons and drought reserves pasture areas are difficult to access. Small pockets of resources can provide essential fodder, and the ability to navigate mountainous terrain becomes vital, as pasture is often found at higher elevations. Up to now, our knowledge of the human-animal-environment relationships that shape such grazing practices is still limited. To address this gap, this study aims to investigating factors that influence cattle behaviour associated with mountain grazing. Data on cattle keeping and grazing practices were gathered with Himba pastoralists through semi-structured and narrative interviews. The findings indicate that Himba pastoralists are well aware of features of their cattle that are essential for mountain grazing. They do not only select specific traits in their cattle but also teach them new behaviours, such as foraging behaviour or navigation skills. The climbing performance of the individual animal is shaped by factors like breed, body condition, familiarity with the area, and mountain climbing experiences. Herders employ different techniques to train and assist cattle to climb, including establishing paths by removing rocks that may have caused fear due to past injuries or placing cattle dung along a track to guide the animals uphill. Himba pastoralists skilfully utilize the individual variability among their livestock, enabling cattle to learn from one another while actively shaping their grazing patterns through the instruction of new behaviours. The results specify the interrelationships between humans, animals, and environments and explain in detail how they contribute to an effective utilization of rangeland resources. The skills and knowledge of the herders, along with the skills of their cattle, enable the use of hardly accessible pasture resources, essential for the sustainability of pastoral systems in the mountainous regions of northern Kunene.