Windhoek
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Windhoek is Namibia’s capital and largest city. Surrounded by rolling mountains, Windhoek was the former colonial capital of German South-West Africa. While its population today is a diverse and cosmopolitan blend of cultures, Windhoek still retains much of its German heritage evidenced in language, architecture and cuisine. The city center has a European café-culture feel, relaxed and eclectic, with a pedestrian precinct, bustling shops and market stalls.
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Sights & Activities
Windhoek houses quite a few notable landmarks. The Alte Feste, or old fortress, finished in 1915, now houses the historical section of the National Museum, while the natural science and zoological exhibition is housed at the Owela Museum. Notable architecture includes Christ Church, a gothic revival Lutheran church finished in 1910, and Turnhalle, an historic neo-classical building built in 1909, among other structures used for various purposes still today. The three castles of Windhoek explore its history further – Sanderburg was finished in 1919 and has always remained a private residence; Heinitzburg was built in 1914 and is a premier hotel today; and Schwerinsburg is the largest, used once as a military post, and is today home to the Italian Ambassador to Namibia. Local life can be experienced with a visit to the Katutura suburb, formerly a township until 1989, now a lively and cultured neighborhood.
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How to Include Windhoek in Your Safari Itinerary
Windhoek is the entry point into Namibia, and may require one night to connect to the various safari regions of the country, depending on the arrival time. There are direct flights from Frankfurt, Germany, or many guests fly in from Johannesburg or Cape Town, South Africa. Windhoek is a jumping-off point for Namibia’s Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert, Damaraland where desert-adapted elephant and rhino roam, Etosha National Park where abundant large wildlife can be seen, Okonjima with its cheetah rehabilitation project, and the sequestered Hartmann Valley in the remote northwest of the country. From Windhoek, flights can take you to Victoria Falls, Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Cape Town in South Africa, or via Johannesburg to Kruger National Park or the Sabi Sand to experience a classic African safari replete with the “big five,” ample plains game, like zebra, giraffe and wildebeest, amazing African birds and varied terrains from desert to delta.