Jan
11
A trip to Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and has recently emerged as a popular vacation destination. Namibia itself is one of the most popular destinations for German tourists in Africa, partly because it used to be a German colony in the late 1880s. Namibia boasts desert-like weather and is endowed with incredible natural beauty. Visitors are drawn to Windhoek as a starting point to explore the rest of Namibia. Windhoek is served by two airports: Hosea Kutako International Airport and Eros Airport.
Flights to Windhoek
Hosea Kutako International Airport is the only international airport in Namibia and handles roughly 400,000 passengers a year. Visitors can find connections from here to London, Frankfurt and Munich, as well as to destinations in Africa such as Johannesburg, only a two-hour flight away. Hosea Kutako International Airport lies roughly 30 miles outside of Windhoek and is best reached by car. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Windhoek try Expedia.
Eros Airport is in fact the busiest airport in Namibia and handles regional traffic and some charter flights. Eros Airport is situated much closer to the city than Hosea Kutako. Although there is a public bus service in Windhoek, visitors are better off hiring a car and a driver for the length of their stay. The roads in Namibia are quite good and driving here is reasonably straightforward.
Windhoek
Sightseeing in Windhoek
Windhoek is a cosmopolitan city that blends both African and European cultures in a charming way. The best way to experience the city is by taking a guided day tour. There are numerous colonial buildings such as Christuskirche, which was built by the Germans in 1886, and St Georges Cathedral, which dates back to 1924. The State House and Old Supreme Court are also good examples.
Most visitors come here to enjoy the numerous game parks in Namibia. These can easily be reached from Windhoek. The game parks in Namibia include animals such as elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions and cheetahs. Most game reserves have accommodation as well. The closest game park to Windhoek is Daan Viljoen Game Reserve. Other reserves include: Caprivi Game Park, Mahango Game Reserve, Mamili National Park, Mudumu National Park and Etosha National Park.
Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Windhoek has a vibrant nightlife and boasts some excellent restaurants and bars. Expats flock to Che N’Temba, the most popular club in Windhoek, or Joe’s Beer House. For most local flare, try the Funky Lab or Taj Pomodzir, which plays music from Zaire and Zimbabwe.
There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Windhoek. For backpackers, there are many reasonably priced eateries, a well as the usual fast food restaurants. If you want to try some game dishes, head to Gathemann Restaurant on Independence avenue. For a taste of local and regional African cuisine, try out Restaurant Africa on Robert Mugabe avenue.
Fun by day - shopping and activities
There are several arcades and small shopping centres in the city centre of Windhoek. In the southern side of the city, you will find a larger shopping centre, Maerua Park, which has a range of shops and restaurants. For crafts, head to the Craft Market on Post Street mall or the one in Okahanja, an hour north of the city.
Daytrips
Welsh-sounding Twyfelfontein, meaning ‘doubtful fountain’, is within reach of Windhoek and worthy of a daytrip if you are stuck for things to do. It is somewhat of a famous spring for Namibia and was named by a farmer. Prehistoric rock paintings and engravings are also close by to boot.
Also featuring rock paintings, the Brandberg massif has thousands of them, of which the renowned White Lady is 2,000 years old. You will need to walk from the road to the painting and it is best seen when accompanied by a guide. The walk is about an hour to the Tsisab Ravine.
The Matterhorn of Africa, or the Spitzkoppe, is one of Namibia’s more eerie sights, a spectacular island of granite peaks set within a large grassy plain. You can see the peaks for miles around and they wouldn’t be amiss in an Arizonan national park.
Must-see attractions
Christchurch (Christuskirche) is Windhoek’s most interesting landmark, a German Lutheran church on Peter Muller Street. The church sits in the middle of a busy roundabout and is a mixture of neo-Gothic and Art Deco styles.
Post Street is Windhoek’s most interesting street for those who enjoy exploring. It is in the centre of town and has plenty of fine attributes, chief of which is the Gibeon Meteorite display. Some of the rocks on display here are huge while others have been made into jewellery.
Another of Windhoek’s downtown areas worth looking at is Dictator Street, where certain streets have been named after dictators who were friends of Namibia’s first president. Keep and eye out for Fidel Castro Street and Robert Mugabe Avenue.
Another Windhoek must-see attraction is the Alte Feste, a picturesque whitewashed structure which used to be Windhoek’s main fortress. Today the fortress is a museum depicting Namibia’s colonial past.
Best time to go
Windhoek’s semi-desert climate sees very hot days in the summer months (December to February) and cool nights, owing to the relatively high altitude of the city and its mid-land positioning. The best time to go to Windhoek is somewhere between April to June (late autumn), although anytime between March and October is fine. Rainfall is lowest and temperatures are mild during this time of year.
Rainy day suggestions
Namibia, and in particular Windhoek, is dry most of the year, but on the odd occasion that it does rain visiting the National Gallery is a good idea. It is Namibia’s finest art gallery and one which displays the history and heritage of the country well. You’ll find the National Gallery on the corner of Robert Mugabe Avenue and John Meinert Street.
Another must-see on a rainy day is Tintenpalast, Windhoek’s parliament building. It is one of the finest buildings in the city, and indeed the country.
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