But Windhoek is not without its own charms and natural wonders and offers a great weekend away. A city steeped in German and African influences, Windhoek provides an interesting array of architectural, cultural and market attractions.

Explore the city

Most of the city can be explored quite easily on foot. Begin your tour at Post Street Mall, where you will encounter the Gibeon Meteorite Exhibition. This large ‘sculpture’ incorporates 33 of the meteorites that fell around Gibeon (situated 300 km south of Windhoek) approximately 600 million years ago. This is believed to have been the heaviest shower of meteorites the world has experienced. Around 77 meteorites fell to earth with a total mass of around 21 tons. The remaining meteorites are scattered in museums around the world.

Windhoek’s most famous building, Christus Kirche, is also situated on Fidel Castro Street. This Evangelical Lutheran church was designed by Gottlieb Redecker and was built between 1907 and 1910. Embodying art nouveau and neo-gothic styles, the sandstone church was built to commemorate a period of peace between the German colonists and the indigenous people of Namibia. The Church is open weekdays between 7.30am - 2.30 pm.

Alte Feste in Robert Mugabe Avenue is one of the oldest buildings in Windhoek. It originally served as a military headquarters (1915), but now houses the main section of the National Museum. To the left of the Alte Feste, there is a statue of a mounted soldier to commemorate the German soldiers killed in the wars to subdue the Nama and Herero people – as yet there is no recognition of the indigenous people who died in this conflict.

However, the Heroes Acre (situated on the road to Rehoboth) commemorates those who paid with their lives in the struggle against colonialism. Inaugurated in 2002 by current President Sam Nujoma, this memorial houses 174 graves of fallen freedom fighters.

Cultural tour

While you are at Alte Feste, you can visit the National Museum (tel: 061 293 4362) to view the historic collection reflecting the events leading up to independence in Namibia.

The Owela Museum (tel: 061 293 4358) in Robert Mugabe Avenue houses the national history section of the museum. It has a comprehensive section on Cheetah conservation and a smaller section on the country’s traditional cultures.

The National Art Gallery (tel: 061 231 160), which can also be found in Robert Mugabe Avenue, is home to a permanent collection of Namibian art – both past and contemporary. The gallery also hosts a variety of visiting exhibitions. The Bushman Art Gallery (tel: 061 228 828) on Independence Avenue doubles up as a curio/gift shop. In the back the museum displays ‘bushmen’ tools, clothing, masks and Karakul carpets, while in the front, visitors can buy jewellery, clothing, and art works.

The Namibia Crafts Centre in Tal Street, is home to a collection of top quality arts and crafts from all over Namibia. There are 26 stalls which sell hand-embroidered textiles, batiks and Karakul carpets (which visitors can watch being woven), as well as jewellery, wood-carvings, sleeper-wood furniture, oils and candles.

Visitors who are interested in learning a little more about the local people can take a guided tour of the Katutura township.

Good Namibian hospitality

There are a number of great restaurants in and around Windhoek where you can stop for a light lunch, dinner or a beer. African Roots Restaurant in Sam Nujoma Drive offers delicious, but wholesome and affordable food ‘the African way’.

The quirky Joe's Beer House

The Homestead Restaurant, which is situated close to the city centre, offers a picturesque respite from city life with its bird-filled garden. It serves Namibian venison, fish specialties from the Atlantic Ocean and a number of vegetarian dishes and light salads.

For an eclectic German experience, pop into Joe’s Beer House on Independence Avenue to enjoy all the delights of a German beer garden.

If you plan on staying in the city, the Kalahari Sands Hotel in the centre of the city offers luxury accommodation., as well as a casino If you plan on golfing, the up-market Windhoek Country Club is situated adjacent to the local golf course and also boasts spa facilities.

Surrounded by nature

If you venture a short distance out of Windhoek, you will find a number of private game reserves and lodges well worth a visit.

Duesternbrook Cats Unlimited (tel: 061 232 572), which can be found 50 kilometres outside Windhoek, is home to leopards and cheetahs. Visitors are given the unique opportunity of observing and photographing these magnificent cats from close proximity on one of the game drives. They also offer scenic drives into the Khomas Hochland Mountains and horse riding safari trips. Guests can stay overnight at Duesternbrook Guest Farm.

Goche Ganas Nature Reserve (tel: 061 224 909), which is situated 29 kilometres outside the city, is home to 21 species of large game totalling 1600 animals. On one of the daily game drives you may encounter rhino, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, jackal, leopard, wildebeest, eland, oryx, kudu, springbok, steenbok, ostrich and warthog. You can also visit Gocheganas Wellness Village which comprises of a curio shop, a gym, a restaurant and a spa.

The Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, 30 kilometres west of Windhoek in the Khomas Hochland Mountain range is the perfect destination for bird watchers. With over 200 species, the bird life is prolific and the chances are good that you’ll see Monteiro’s Hornbill, the Damara Rockjumper or the elusive Orange River Francolin. The reserve is also home to a number of large mammals (antelope, zebra, baboons and ostrich) and guests can take one of the hiking trails through the rugged landscape.

Okay, so perhaps a weekend won’t give you sufficient time to explore all of these fantastic destinations, but you can be sure that you won’t get bored!

For more info...
• Visit the Namibia Tourism Board.