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
  • Tintenpalast
      Tintenpalast
    by GrumpyDiver
 

Pro

Ramonq profile photo

  Good base to explore Namibia 


Con

morgenhund profile photo

  small, not too much to see 


In a nutshell

CelticWarrior profile photo

  Very quiet nice place to be... 

 

Explore Windhoek

Things to Do  

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... 

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... 

Meet you at the Kudu!

Meet you at the Kudu!, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  The bronze kudu statue at the intersection of Independence Avenue and John Meinhert Street is one of Windhoek's best loved statues and is a popular landmark for people to meet.The story of its origins goes as follows (courtesy of the A-Z Online website):"A visiting sculptor,... 

Christuskirche - Windhoek's best known landmark

Christuskirche - Windhoek's best known landmark, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  Chances are that if you buy postcards of Windhoek, somewhere they will feature the Christuskirche!This Lutheran church is located on a traffic island in the middle of Robert Mugabe Drive. It has an elevated location as it is located up on the rise just west of Independence... 

Was a Government building ever better named?

Was a Government building ever better named?, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  The Tintenpalast is Namibia's Parliament building and dates back to 1913.The name is an amusing hangover from the colonial period, and translates to 'ink palace' in sly reference to the amount of paperwork churned out and the ink this consumed!The gardens are particularly... 

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... 

Hotels  

Hotel Heinitzburg

 1 Review and 41 Opinions  We only stayed for one night sadly, as on our return to Windhoek we travelled on to a game farm. But... 

Kalahari Sands Hotel

 1 Review and 40 Opinions  Amazing! That's how I'd describe the service and accommodation standards at this magnificent... 

Restaurants  

Gathemann: Scrumptious German/African cuisine

Gathemann: Scrumptious German/African cuisine, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  (work in progress)I have been travelling to Namibia for business and pleasure for the past 20 years, and I never pass up the opportunity to eat at Gathemann's!It serves wonderful German food with an African twist, and prides itself on using the best of local ingredients -... 

Joe's Beer Hall: An institution, a cliche and all round HUGE fun!

Joe's Beer Hall: An institution, a cliche and all round HUGE fun!, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  In terms of eating and drinking, Joe's Beerhouse on Nelson Mandela Avenue is a Windhoek institution: yes, it's a tourist trap, but it's executed to separate you from your money in such an endearingly 'tongue in cheek' manner that you won't mind one bit.The beer is icy, the... 

Nightlife  

CHEZ NTEMBA: INTERNATIONAL DISCO

CHEZ NTEMBA: INTERNATIONAL DISCO, Windhoek

 DAO Says:  Chez Ntemba prides itself as an international nightclub of the highest standard. A local lady told me that this is THE place in Windhoek to party. They have some nights where ladies in bikinis get in for free and get free drinks. Genius! They have loads of events, guest DJ’s... 

Transportation  

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... 

What's the easiest way to get to Namibia?

What's the easiest way to get to Namibia?, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  (work in progress)Namibia is a long way from anywhere, and doesn't receive mass tourism, so it isn't necessarily the easiest or cheapest place to get to. Nevertheless, some options are quicker and easier than others, so here are a few ideas on how to secure a reasonable and... 

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... 

Hiring the right vehicle to explore Namibia

Hiring the right vehicle to explore Namibia, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  If you want to explore Namibia in a flexible manner, then there's no doubt that hiring a car is the way to go ... and once you've got over your nervousness at the prospect of Driving In Africa (and on the left hand side of the road), you'll find it surprisingly easy, as... 

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:  (work in progress)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 like to wear!Namibian women's clothing is a wonder to behold, with each tribe having its own distinct dress... 

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS, Windhoek

 DAO Says:  NAMIBIA POLICE EMERGENCY 10111CITY OF WINDHOEK FIRE BRIGADE 211 111andMEDICAL:MediClinic Hospital in Windhoek 061-222687Roman Catholic Hospital: 061-2702911International SOS (private ambulance and medical evacuation) --061-230505 --081-129-6300 --112 from a local cell phone... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Unlike its neighbours, Namibia has Daylight Saving

Unlike its neighbours, Namibia has Daylight Saving, Windhoek

 CatherineReichardt Says:  (work in progress)One very happy memory I have of my time in Namibia is from 1994, when one of my contracts coincided with their implementation of Daylight Saving for the first time. The sense of excitement at this prospect was palpable, and the advertising was endearingly... 

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... 

Off The Beaten Path  

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... 

National Museum of Namibia

National Museum of Namibia, Windhoek

 GrumpyDiver Says:  Namibia is a relatively young country, and much of its modern history is only around 100 years old, when it was a German colony.The National Museum of Namibia is quite small and is located in the former German colonial fort, the “Alte Feste”. The displays cover off the... 

 
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The Place

Plan a Windhoek vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Windhoek locals

Experience Windhoek
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The People

48 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 Windhoek - Our own little hill "country" - I live and work in Windhoek, actually I was born here. So i'd like to share with you all I can about Windhoek and the things to do here. I perhaps need to mention here, that Windhoek isn't exactly... 

48 members live in Windhoek

 

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Questions and Answers

westybeast profile photo

Q:  hi - i have a few days in namibia next month . any decent museums and attractions , day trips and safe public transportation to... 

CatherineReichardt profile photo

A: Hi My, you are planning to get around!!! Windhoek is a nice town to live and work in - hard to think of it as a city - but there are limited attractions for a tourist,... 

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Top Windhoek Writers

1

QUIET AND ORDERLY

DAO profile photo

 The climate of Namibia can be harsh and journeys around this beautiful country can be challenging. Windhoek is an oasis of peaceful modernity and convenience. It is a great place to recharge the... 

2

Windhoek - Our own little hill "country"

Edla profile photo

 I live and work in Windhoek, actually I was born here. So i'd like to share with you all I can about Windhoek and the things to do here. I perhaps need to mention here, that Windhoek isn't exactly...... 

3

Windhoek, the capital of Namibia

Bigjones profile photo

 On the 05th of April, the temperature was about 20°C at 6 o’clock in the morning when we landed in the Windhoek’s airport. Our friend Heidi kindly picked us up at the airport and after a 40km-drive...... 

4

Windhoek

mvtouring profile photo

 I was very lucky, my friend flew me to Windhoek in his private plane to show me around and have lunch there. I was so excited as it was my first time in a small aircraft. I could not believe how green... 

5

Windhoek...

THLIN profile photo

 The city--Windhoek is located in the middle of the country, where the weather is great and the landscape is beautiful. City itself is not really big, which has only 240,000 population. In the... 

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