Windhoek Travel Guide

 
by Ramonq
 
  •   Windhoek
    by Ramonq
  •   Windhoek
    by Ramonq
  • Our first Sundowner in Africa!
      Our first Sundowner in Africa!
    by nigelw6443
  •   Windhoek
    by steveelem
  •   Windhoek
    by lotharscheer
 

Pro

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 Good base to explore Namibia 


Con

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 small, not too much to see 


In a nutshell

CelticWarrior profile photo

 Very quiet nice place to be... 

 

Explore Windhoek

Things to Do  

Windhoek train station.

Windhoek train station., Windhoek

 euzkadi Says:  Located in a beautiful Dutch-German colonial building, this train station was used during Imperial Germany's colonial rule of German South West Africa. The first railway line to reach Windhoek was the one from Swakopmund, built in 1902, in 1914 the line was etended to Walvis... 

Namibia is a hunter's paradise

Namibia is a hunter's paradise, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  Let's prefix this by stating that hunting is a very emotive subject. However, there is no escaping the fact that it is a well established niche tourism market in Southern Africa (particularly Namibia and South Africa), and one which has generated thousands of jobs, from... 

Pause to consider a half-forgotten war

Pause to consider a half-forgotten war, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  The Reiterdenkmal monument of a mounted Schutztruppe soldier, which commemorates the German-Herero war in the first decade of the 20th century.The German-Herero war were triggered by a Herero uprising against German colonial rule in 1904, and the resultant loss of life was... 

Visit the Alte Feste

Visit the Alte Feste, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  The Alte Feste (or 'Old Fort') in Windhoek sits on a small hill close to the Tintenpalast (the Namibian Houses of Parliament) and is a dinky sized little fort that looks like a set from a Beau Geste movie.It was built by the Germans in 1890 as a garrison for their... 

Explore central Windhoek on foot

Explore central Windhoek on foot, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  Walking around central Windhoek is safe and a good way to get the feel of the place with its very Germanic architecture. I personally don't think that it's worth taking a guided tour of central Windhoek, as most of the tourist attractions are clustered in the centre of town... 

Hotels  

Hotel Heinitzburg

 1 Review and 60 Opinions  We only stayed for one night sadly, as on our return to Windhoek we travelled on to a game farm. But... 

Windhoek Country Club Resort

 1 Review and 60 Opinions  This is a beautiful hotel In windhoek,with a golf course and so much more to do. Casino for those... 

Restaurants  

The Blue Frog at FNCC: Reasonable lunch

The Blue Frog at FNCC: Reasonable lunch, Windhoek

 Micha_from_Hoechst Says:  The place is situated at the Franch-Namibian Cultural Center in Robert Mugabe Avenue. It is open for breakfast French or English style from Mondays to Saturdays, for lunch from Monday to Friday. Wednesdays and Fridays the restaurant also serves dinner. Blue Frog is a good... 

Am Weinberg Restaurant: Fine dining

Am Weinberg Restaurant: Fine dining, Windhoek

 Micha_from_Hoechst Says:  The Weinberg is one of Windhoek's few upmarket restaurants - with not only the price being upmarket, but also the quality of the food. Food style is somehow German, but does certainly not follow the Schnitzel, Bratwurst & Bier stereotype. You will get game, pork and fish... 

Transportation  

THE TRAIN

THE TRAIN, Windhoek

 DAO Says:  Before you get really excited about travelling around Namibia by train, let me lower your expectations now. The train system is primarily designed for shipping freight and agricultural products. They travel VERY slowly and don’t go to many places. You may need more than one... 

International Buses

International Buses, Windhoek

 lotharscheer Says:  The ticket office and departure/arrival for Intercape buses to Cape Town (every day 10 am), Johannesburg, Livingstone (friday and monday 15 pm), Swapokmund (most days at 9am) and Oshikango (Angola border) is now at Bahnhof street, next to the train station.The... 

Beware of wildlife and livestock on the road

Beware of wildlife and livestock on the road, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  Forget the charming whimsy of this warning sign ... this is a serious risk if you're self-driving in Namibia (or in virtually all of Africa for that matter).The risks are threefold: people, livestock and wildlife. Fortunately Namibia is very sparsely populated and villages... 

Finding good detailed maps of Namibia

Finding good detailed maps of Namibia, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  (work in progress)If you're planning a trip to Namibia (or elsewhere in Africa) - especially one that will take you off the well beaten tourist track - it can often be difficult to get your hands on detailed and recent maps.This is why Maps 4 Africa is such a splendid... 

Cheap and Safe car service (driver)

Cheap and Safe car service (driver), Windhoek

 TorontoMike86 Says:  On our Namibian honeymoon we found a car service that was very reasonably priced and had an excellent driver named Se-dick. He was always on time or early to pick us up, and we would text him on short notice to take us to lunch etc. One time our flight arrived into Eros... 

An international airport in the middle of nowhere

An international airport in the middle of nowhere, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  In the Olden Days, when I first started visiting Windhoek, the flights landed at the charmingly named Eros airport, just on the edge of the CBD. It could be a little hair raising on the final approach - particularly if there was a thunderstorm brewing - and it was only a... 

Shopping  

Wernhill Park Mall: A good place to stock up for your trip

Wernhill Park Mall: A good place to stock up for your trip, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  From a tourist's point of view, Wernhill Park Mall is probably the most convenient place in Windhoek to stock up for your trip, as it is fairly central and offers a good selection of shops and ample parking.The anchor stores are most likely to be of interest: Pick'n'Pay for... 

Local Customs  

"And this dress will cost you triple to launder"

"And this dress will cost you triple to launder", Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  I love countries where people wear traditional dress - be in Bavaria or Namibia - not just to entertain the tourists, but just because it's what they choose to wear!Namibian women's clothing is a wonder to behold, with each tribe having its own distinct dress code. And none... 

Warnings and Dangers  

A word of warning on altitude and climate

A word of warning on altitude and climate, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  (work in progress)Windhoek is part of the Khomas Hochland (Highlands) and is unexpectedly high at 1650m - or just under a mile in old money - above sea level. This is high enough for those used to living at - or close to - sea level to detemine a difference in oxygen... 

Avoid Independence Avenue in rush hours

Avoid Independence Avenue in rush hours, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  Windhoek may look like a sleepy place - and most of the time it is - but in rush hour, the main arterial routes do clog up with traffic. This is particularly true of the main street, Independence Avenue (formerly Kaiserstrasse).This wouldn't usually be a major problem except... 

Tourist Traps  

THE DEMANDED DONATION - NATIONAL MUSEUM

THE DEMANDED DONATION - NATIONAL MUSEUM, Windhoek

 DAO Says:  The National Museum of Namibia is FREE. That’s right – no admission fee. You go to the reception desk and they issue you with tickets. They then say, VERY LOUDLY – “DONATION!?” I am used to people trying to get money from me in the street, but not at a National Museum. I... 

Off The Beaten Path  

SOSSUSVLEI

SOSSUSVLEI, Windhoek

 DAO Says:  If you want a good campsite at Sossusvlei (Sesriem campsite) you need to book in Windhoek and/or ahead of time. Otherwise you only get cancelations or have to sleep in your car.Namibia Wildlife ResortsPO Box: P/Bag 13378, Office: Independence Ave., Windhoek, NamibiaAlso... 

Gibeon Meteorites

Gibeon Meteorites, Windhoek

 GrumpyDiver Says:  One of the most unusual displays of meteorites I have ever encountered are the Gibeon Meteorites, which are on display on the Post Street Mall, downtown Windhoek. They are named after the town of Gibeon, near where they were found.Anywhere else in the world, these pieces... 

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Explore Deeper into Windhoek
Windhoek Hilton Hotel: Business Hotel meeting international standards
Hotels
Kalahari Sands Hotel
Hotels
What's the easiest way to get to Namibia?
Transportation
Hiring the right vehicle to explore Namibia
Transportation
Unlike its neighbours, Namibia has Daylight Saving
Warnings and Dangers
Rivendell Guest House
Hotels
Gathemann: Scrumptious German/African cuisine
Restaurants
Joe's Beer Hall: An institution, a cliche and all round HUGE fun!
Restaurants
Namibia Wildlife Resorts: Booking accommodation in national parks
Hotels
Cardboard Box Hostel
Hotels
Meet you at the Kudu!
Things to Do
Christuskirche - Windhoek's best known landmark
Things to Do
Was a Government building ever better named?
Things to Do
Klein Windhoek Guesthouse
Hotels
National Museum of Namibia
Off The Beaten Path
Wildlife viewing a stone-throw from Windhoek
Off The Beaten Path
It can get wet
Warnings and Dangers
Villa Verdi Guesthouse Hotel
Hotels
Luigi and the Fish: The seafood equivilent of Joe's Beerhouse
Restaurants
Gathemann Restaurant: A classy establishment in the heart of the city
Restaurants
Joe's Beerhouse: Best place to get introduced to game
Restaurants
Thuringer Hof Hotel
Hotels
Casa Piccolo: A nice B&B in a nice part of town
Hotels
Driving in Namibia - Driving in Windhoek
Warnings and Dangers
Take advantage of Namibia's excellent roads
Transportation
Hotel Pension Uhland
Hotels
CHAMELEON BACKPACKERS & GUEST LODGE: THE BACKPACKERS FOR NON-BACKPACKERS
Hotels
THE SINK EXPERIMENT
Things to Do
Taxi in Windhoek
Transportation
Hotel Pension Moni
Hotels
SPEED CAMERAS
Transportation
Map of Windhoek