Windhoek

The Namibian capital, Windhoek, is located in the centre of the country. It consists of a blend of African and European cultures with friendly locals. Namibia gained independence in 1990, it has since been characterised as having a good sense of freedom and pride in itself. It is recognized as one of the safest and cleanest cities in Africa. It is situated among spectacular rolling hills, bounded by the Eros Mountains in the east, the Auas Mountains to the south and Khomas Hochland in the west. For many visitors, Windhoek is often the starting point of an adventurous holiday that will not be easily forgotten. The city has a variety of restaurants serving international and continental cuisine to traditional German dishes and African delicacies.

Attractions

The main shopping area in Windhoek, know as the Post Street Mall, is the place where 31 of the original 77 Gibeon meteorites are displayed. The meteorites are mounted on steel columns and are the remnants of the meteorite shower that occurred in southern Namibia, southeast of Gibeon. The Gibeon meteorite shower is the largest known shower of its kind in the world. The meteorite display adds special interest to the Mall and is well worth a visit.

The Alte Fest, also known as the Old Fort, is the oldest surviving building in Windhoek. It is here where the National Museum of Namibia is housed. Here you can learn about the history of Namibia, about how the country gained its independence and the discovery of diamonds. One of Windhoek’s most famous statues, the bronze Equestrian Statue, stands just in front of the Alte Fest. Another added attraction of the Alte Fest is the restaurant next door which serves one of Namibia’s favourite dishes, omaungu caterpillars.

The Christuskirche is one of Windhoek’s most photographed building and is located almost next to the Alte Fest. It was built around 1910 and holds a number of plaques in memory of German soldiers who died during war in Namibia.

Another place worth visiting is the Parliament building, known as the Tintenpalast. The building was built in 1913 and is set in beautiful, serene gardens overlooking Windhoek.

The Heinitzburg Castle is situated on the hillside next to Windhoek and has a spectacular view over the city. Now the castle is now used as a hotel, it is also a great place to enjoy breathtaking Namibian sunsets over the city. Heinitzburg Castle is not the only castle in Windhoek, there is also the Schwerinsburg Castle which is the home of the Italian Ambassador to Namibia, and another smaller castle known as the Sanderburg Castle.

The Daan Viljoen game reserve is just 25km west of Windhoek and is a popular destination for a day out. The park is located on stunning hills and contains a range of animals including baboons, birds and a variety of antelope.

Shopping

Independence Avenue is the main street in Windhoek, formally called Kaiserstrasse. It starts in the south of the city and stretches up north to the former town Katutura. Along this street you will find many boutiques, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. The main shopping area is known as the Post Mall. Here you will find many shops quite similar to those you would find in Europe. You can also find souvenir shops selling traditional African and Namibian memorabilia. There are also small shops that specialise in game biltong such as kudu and oryx, for those of you who want to be adventurous with your food.

Nightlife and Eating Out

Windhoek has a limited night life scene, there are however some good restaurants and occasional nightclubs. Unlike most capital cities, most of Windhoek’s nightlife takes place outside the city centre in the suburbs. Areas such as Khomasdal and Katatura have a lively nightlife over the weekend where parties last non-stop for the whole weekend. These areas are less safe than the city centre however, so local guidance is recommended. Windhoek is home to Namibia’s brewing industry, so there are many places to enjoy a nice, cold pint of beer.

The most popular nightclub in Windhoek is the Che N’Temba. Here you can experience the local culture and have a good night of dancing. Other good places to visit for a night out include the Tower of Music where you can hear live local music, and Joe’s Beer House, which is a pub and restaurant with a great atmosphere.

There is a huge variety of restaurants in Windhoek, you can be sure to find something to suit your taste and price range. You can find anything from the usual fast food restaurants like Nando’s and KFC to restaurants that serve traditional African cuisine. You can also find many places that serve German food and most café’s serve traditional English breakfast along with a proper cup of English tea. If you want to try some of the traditional African and Namibian cuisine there are a number of excellent restaurants for you to visit:

Joe’s Beer House, located on Nelson Mandela Avenue, is a bar and restaurant serving German and Namibian food. It is very popular with locals and tourists and has a great atmosphere. They serve a range of game dishes including the bushman’s platter, consisting of chicken, kudu, zebra, crocodile and ostrich.
Gathemann Restaurant, located on Independence Avenue, is a long established restaurant with a large menu including many game dishes.
Gourmet’s Inn, located on Jan Jonker Street, serves many traditional Namibian cuisine including game and ostrich dishes.
Restaurant Africa, located near Alte Fest on Robert Mugabe Avenue, serves dishes from different parts of Africa including the Namibian delicacy, omaungu caterpillars.

Tourist Information

Windhoek Tourism Information, Independence Avenue, WindhoekTelephone +264 61 290 2092Email: ghe@windhoekcc.org.na

Airport

Windhoek has two airports; Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport is located 45km east of the city and Eros Airport located on the outskirts of the city and is smaller aircrafts.Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport handles over 400,000 passengers a year and is located 45km east of Windhoek. It is the only international airport in Namibia and has one runway without capacity limitations. It is a 2 hour flight from Johannesburg but it also directly connects to London Gatwick, Frankfurt and Munich on a bi-weekly basis.

Eros Airport has many take-offs and landings each day, with about 12,000 flights each year. Eros has not developed into a large airport due to limitations such as runway length, noise and airspace congestion, so is mainly used for light aircrafts.