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Windhoek Travel Guide

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Windhoek [1] is Namibia's capital and largest city (population ~200,000). It is located in the geographic center of the country at an elevation of 1,600m. This is the place where most safaris travelling through Namibia will start from, and is also where you will normally arrive if you come to Namibia by plane.

Contents

Understand

The name is a Dutch word meaning "windy corner," perhaps because it is a "windy corner of the desert." Windhoek was the administrative centre of the country under the German and South African regime and became the capital after independence.

Given the relatively small population, Windhoek has a disproportionate number of multi-lane roads and highways. The residential areas still largely reflect the apartheid zoning restrictions: the township of Katutura in the north is black; the township of Khomasdal in the west is primarily mixed-race people (who call themselves 'coloured') while the suburbs are primarily white.

Get in

By car

The B1, which runs north-south and the B2 (Trans-Kalahari) which runs east-west through Namibia are the primary land routes into Windhoek. Northern towns served by the B1 include Oshakati, Otjiwarongo, and Okahanja. Southern towns include Rehoboth, Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz. From the west the B2 connects Swakopmund and from the east it connects Gobabis.

By combie

This is the easiest way to get to Windhoek for people without a car. Combies run from everywhere in Namibia, and through some combination of different routes, one can always find their way to Windhoek.

By plane

If you're arriving in Namibia by plane you'll most likely be landing at Hosea Kutako International Airport. See the Namibia page for details on that. There are flights within Namibia connecting various cities, but this is not a common way to get around the country.

Windhoek also has a municipal airport called Eros. This is quite close to downtown and is very handy for business travellers (and anyone else). The only international flights arriving at Eros are from Cape Town and Johannesburg. There is currently debate in the Government of denying all but Air Namibia landing rights at Eros. Air Namibia [2] is a perfectly good airline, but this may restrict your choices if you want to fly into Eros.

By train

The train in Namibia is extremely slow, not really a good option. It runs south from Windhoek all the way to Cape Town, west to Swakopmund, and north to Tsumeb. The northern route is currently being extended to Oshakati.

Get around

Most hotels and hostels are centrally located close to downtown, so you can easily walk to most shops, restaurants, clubs and sights.

There is no public transit in Windhoek, but there is a handy system of taxis which are similar to combies in South African cities. Taxis primarily run between the townships and the main industrial/commercial areas of the city. Routes are not fixed like a bus route or the combie routes in South Africa. This gives some added flexibility, but also means that fares between given destinations may not always be the same. You can get in or get out wherever you want along the 'route.'

To catch a taxi just flag it down by holding your arm out and waving your hand down towards the ground. It's a casual gesture, so don't stick your arm straight out like a sign post, and don't wave your arm around like you're calling for help. The fare for destinations that are on the 'route' or close to it is $5 NAD, and for destinations more "out of the way" it is $10 NAD. 'Custom' destinations will be $15-$20 NAD.

Tell the driver where you want to go when you get in, or before you get in. Sometimes if the destination is too far off their route they will tell you they're not going there so you'll just have to wait for another taxis. This can be common at rush hour. It will take some time to figure out what these informal routes are.

See

Robert Mugabe Ave.
Robert Mugabe Ave.
  • Parliament of Namibia Formerly the legislative assembly during the apartheid days, this is now the home of the National Assembly. There is also a new building next door for the National Council. [3]
  • National Gallery of Namibia
  • Dictator street names 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 (and still is). There are two in Windhoek, both downtown: Fidel Castro St. and Robert Mugabe Ave.
  • Christuskirche In the middle of a big traffic circle where Robert Mugabe Ave. and Fidel Castro St. meet, at the gates of the Parliamentary compound. The old Lutheran church.

Learn

The University of Namibia (UNAM) is located in Windhoek. There is also the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre where you can take classes in everything from French to photography.

Buy

There is a craft market in Post Street Mall in central Windhoek, though prices are quite high. For cheaper prices, go to the craft market in Okahanja, which is about an hour north of Windhoek. You can hitchhike to Okahanja or catch a combie.

There are a number of arcades and small shopping centres in downtown Windhoek. Between them you can find pretty much anything you need. There is also a larger mall called Maerua Park in the south end of the city, easily accessible by taxi.


Eat

  • Abyssinia Veld St. Excellent Ethiopian food, a choice to sit and eat in the traditional manner, or western-style. Somewhat expensive, but well worth it. The chef/owner often comes around to chat and ensure that everyone is satisfied.
  • Cattle Baron Maerua Mall, oposite cinema. South Afrian Steakhouse Chain. Enjoy the farely best meat in this place for a perfect price. Try to get a seat in the lounge and have a drink before and after the meal.
  • Pick'n Pay Wernhill Center. For those who want to cook on their own, this is a supermarket with everything you need, right in downtown.

Drink

  • Funky Lab (Hidas Centre, Klein Windhoek) Among locals very popular on Wednesdays, Friday and Saturdays. Crowded on the weekends. Nice Drinks and Draft, mostly locals here. Go to Chez `n` Temba oder La dee das afterwords.
  • Luigi and the fish (Klein Windhoek, on the way to the airport). An nice Restaurant and bar, many travellers here. Best place to warm-up for La Dee Das (Club).
  • Joes Beer Garden A trip to Windhoek is incomplete without visiting this unique beer garden!!! It is always packed with locals and travellers. It has an excellent menu and reservations must be made in advance.
  • The Wine Bar Located on a hill overlooking Windhoek with fantastic sunsets, perfect for that romantic occasion. The staff give excellent service and have good knowledge of the wines being serve. You may also purchase wine here.
  • Blitzkrieg Bunker Bar A loud rock and metal bar. Despite the risqué name, a perfectly friendly place with laid-back staff and a good crowd. Writing anywhere on the walls with a marker pen is not discouraged.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

  • Kalahari Sands 129 Independence Ave. Luxury hotel downtown with a casino and a small shopping centre.
  • Windhoek Country Club Luxury resort and conference centre in the south end of the city.

Contact

The area code for Windhoek is 61. When long distance within Namibia to Windhoek, prefix the code with a '0'. When calling Windhoek from outside Namibia do not put a '0' between the country code and the area code.

There are a number of well-equipped Internet cafes in Windhoek.

Cope

There is a laundry facility at the corner of Sam Nujoma Dr. and Hosea Kutako Dr. They charge by the weight of clothing and will usually have it done in two days. You can pay in advance for a fixed number of kilograms at a lower rate if you plan to be around for a while.

There is a grocery store downtown in the Wernhill Centre. Grocery stores in Namibia have just about anything you might want from back home. There is also a small outdoor market on the north side of Wernill next to the taxi rank.


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