Directory

Windhoek

What To See and Do

Windhoek is Namibia's capital and largest city (population ~250,000). It is located in the geographic centre of the country. This is the city where most safaris travelling through Namibia begin, and also the first point of entry into Namibia should you arrive by air. It's a clean, new-looking capital; even the old buildings look new, as there's almost no rainfall to make them decay. Like most southern African cities, Windhoek has a distinct life and culture that becomes more fascinating the more time you spend there. There are a few sights, good restaurants and lively bars. In short it is a great place to start exploring Namibia.

Things to see in Windhoek include the Parliament of Namibia, National Gallery of Namibia, street-side vendors selling handmade arts and crafts, The Museums of History, Natural Sciences, and Transport and Game parks within 30 minutes from the centre of town. The dictator street names are a sight! - Though Namibia isn't a dictatorship, there are a few dictators with whom Namibia's first President was quite friendly during the days of the struggle for independence. There are two in Windhoek, Fidel Castro St. and Robert Mugabe Ave. There's also The Christuskirche, an old Lutheran Church in the middle of a big traffic circle where Robert Mugabe Ave. and Fidel Castro St. meet, at the gates of the Parliamentary compound.