Windhoek, Namibia

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If you come to Namibia by plane, it's most likely that you will land in Windhoek, as a number of foreign airlines operate here. In that case, it's advisable to spend a day or two in this capital city and immerse in its laid back atmosphere.
Windhoek is located in central Namibia 1680 m above sea level and is surrounded by hills and mountains. Its population is almost 300 thousand people, which makes it a small capital by world standards.
The city's architecture is mostly colonial, which gives it a German feel. The most interesting buildings are probably the Houses of Parliament and Christuskirche - a Lutheran church in the middle of big traffic.
Windhoek is a good place to do shopping - either as food supply for your trip if you start here or when you want to buy some souvenirs to take home.
With some good restaurants and bars it's one of the few places in Namibia where you can enjoy nightlife in the literal meaning of the word. For a very nice place to sample traditional food (or German, f.e. Eisbein) and drink beer, I would recommend Joe's beer house - very popular with travellers. Apart from drinks and very big portions of good food it also has an interesting collection of artifacts displayed all over the place. So if you have an evening to spare, go to Joe's in Nelson Mandela Avenue. (You may need to book in advance there.)

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia, it the point of entry by the international airport, here there are the business centre as well as the tour agencies where you can get your 4WD or safari tour. Its also the best place to do your supply shopping before going on the road.

With 15 000 inhabitants, Namibia's capital of Windhoek is the biggest city in the country. The attractive town lies at an altitude of 1650 metres in a beautiful valley bordered by the Eros Mountains in the north and the Auas mountains in the south. Towards the west, stretches the Khomas Highland to the Namib and the coast.
Windhoek combines the modern city architectural style with that of the German colonial era.
The city is - for an African town - still very clean and a bit provincial, although the atmosphere does have cosmopolitan flare as well.
The influence of the German language and culture is, in many ways, still present. There are German restaurants where one can have traditional German dishes, bread and beer, and even celebrate the German carnival. Although English is the official language, one can use German just about anywhere.

Windhoek is Namibia's capital, a modern city nice to walk in and easy to explore by foot, clean as the cleanest and a little provincial despite being the capital.

The city has some German colonial buildings and pastel-coloured modern buildings. White and pastel blue where the colours I remember of the city.

I did founded very safe, I did walk alone and didn't had any bad feeling, of course with the same precautions you will have in any other city.

Libraries, malls, churches, a big post office, internet cafes, a work point ....

The center of the city is along Independence Avenue, where you will find taller buildings, but in the rest you will find buildings of 2 floors hight ...

Windhoek is Namibia's capital. It is the biggest city in the country. It sure is a pretty town, beautifully situated in a valley, and it combines the architecture of a modern city with numerous buildings in the style of the German colonial era.

You can still feel the influence of the German language and culture is in many sectors - which felt VERY strange to me!! You can eat at German restaurants, have German bread and beer and even celebrate the German carnival. It is surprising, that you can get by in German almost everywhere, although the official language is English.

Well, the truth is that Windhoek isn't exactly a MUST SEE type of destination for all of the nifty things to observe and do. But, assuming that you fly into Namibia, chances are really good that you MUST SEE Windhoek as you pass through the capital's airports.

Windhoek isn't a bad place to start and end a trip to Namibia. There are several nice hotels, and some good places to eat. It's also THE place to get yourself set up with a rental car or a guide.

So, you really must see Windhoek to enjoy a visit to Namibia. And for a day or two, you'll find enough to keep you busy.

The German Lutheran church in Windhoek is a lovely church which I used to visit many times years ago.

Most trips arriving by air to Namibia would start in Windhoek. A pleasant, leafy town with some good shopping.