Windhoek can easily be done on foot in around 3-4 hours. This pedestrian-friendly city is a hustle and bustle of sights, sounds and smells, so make time to explore, taste and savour these moments.
Below are tourist attractions in Windhoek:
Independence Museum
Start your circular route from, and end off at the shimmering golden Independence Museum in Robert Mugabe Avenue. The Museum is dedicated to the Namibian liberation struggle and will give you a good insight of what the city has to offer.
Alte Feste
A fort dating back to the 1890’s, is the oldest building in Windhoek and was used to provide accommodation to its soldiers. Inside this fort lies the most prominent landmark in all of Windhoek, the Reite Denkmal, which commemorates the colonial war waged by the German Empire against the Nama and Herero people between 1903-1907.
It stands proudly in ode to the soldiers who lost their lives in this war.
Municipality Building
Situated on Independence Avenue, you will find the statue of Curt Von Francois, the commander of the Schutztruppe (soldiers of the German Empire). He is also regarded as the city’s founder by some historians.
Windhoek Railway Station
Dating back to 1912, this historical museum displays an impressive vintage 1900 locomotive which operated on the old line between Windhoek and Swakopmund. The museum is definitely worth the visit.
The Namibia Craft Centre
Located in Tal Street, the Craft Centre is a tourist haven for local handcrafted and hand-woven textiles and jewelry and the ideal gifts to take home as souvenirs.
The market supports local craftsmen and low-income artists who are among the most talented you will see.
Some of the crafted goods are even sculpted according to ancient traditional methods and techniques such as the ostrich shell beads that make bracelets and other adornments which are wildly sought after by tourists.
Go on, pop in to the market and go wild! You’ll be supporting a good cause. Heads up: bargaining is not frowned upon, but when done, please do it in a polite and friendly manner.
If the vendors don’t budge, don’t push for them to lower their price. Simply move on to the next one.
You may be pleasantly surprised by their reaction to call you back and their willingness to re-negotiate so as not to lose a sale to a competitor.
Okapuka Ranch
This gem of a place lies about 30 km north of the city centre, nestled at the foot of the Otjihavera Mountains and spreading across 22 000km² making it the perfect day trip for those who are pressed for time.
A game drive takes about two hours but even with so little time, you are sure to spot some or even all of its magnificent inhabitants, the king of them all, the regal lions, hear the prancing hooves of Zebra, Giraffes and antelope, look out for the rhinos hiding in the grass (almost expecting them to say: “Boo!!”), and don’t forget the sneaky ferociousness of the crocodiles lurking in the waters.
My absolute favourite though, are the many species of birdlife that dominate the park. I close my eyes and can still hear their melodious chirping and hurried conversations and then watch them in awe as they take flight!
The Ranch has accommodation on site consisting of 18 thatched rooms, restaurants and bars or rather, watering holes for us thirsty two-legged creatures. So this makes it the perfect getaway or distraction if you’re on a quick business trip or even just a short much needed break from the craziness of the city.
