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- Destinations
- Africa
- Namibia
- Windhoek
Windhoek
The small, Germanic capital of the country, Windhoek is an
attractive city situated in the Central Highlands and surrounded by
hills and mountains, occupying the geographical and economic heart
of Namibia.
The city centre is characterised by historic German colonial
architecture and imposing modern structures. Dominating the skyline
is the striking German Lutheran church, Christuskirche, a mixture
of Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic design, and the Titenpalast, or 'Ink
Palace', the parliament building from where the sparsely populated
country is governed. The railway station is a Cape Dutch edifice
dating back to 1912 and Independence Avenue is a pleasant
tree-lined place with fountains and walkways providing a relaxing
ambience among the modern buildings of the central business
district. The women of the Herero tribe, cattle herders of the
region, are very distinctive with their voluminous Victorian-style
dresses and colourful headgear.
The German influence is not only apparent in the architecture
and colonial style buildings, but is evident in the food and
locally-brewed beer. Polony and sauerkraut are available on the
menu among local dishes, including seafood from the west coast and
venison or game steaks from the hinterland.
Information & Facts
Climate
Windhoek has a semi-desert climate, with very hot summers and
mild winters. Temperatures tend to drop at night. Average
temperatures in winter (June to August) range from 43°F (6°C) to
70°F (21°C). Nights are cold but temperatures rarely dip below 32°F
(0°C). The most popular time to travel to Windhoek is between March
and October, in particular April to June, when rainfall is lowest
and temperatures are mild. On average, Namibia receives about 300
days sunshine a year, and drought occurs roughly every ten years or
so.
Getting Around
The city centre is compact and easy to negotiate on foot. Taxis
are available and can be ordered by phone; minibus taxis also
operate in the city, although drivers tend to be aggressive and
erratic. Do not get into an empty minibus, and avoid travelling in
one at night. Other than in rush hour, the traffic in Windhoek is
not too heavy and it is relatively easy to make one's way around by
car, particularly if you intend exploring outside of the city. The
train station is situated in the city centre and TransNamib offers
routes within Namibia, as does the tourist train, Desert
Express.
Language
English is the official language, but many people also
speak Afrikaans and German. There are also several indigenous
languages spoken, mainly in the rural areas.
Money
The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD) divided into
100 cents. Its value is equal to the South African Rand, which is
also accepted as legal currency in Namibia. Major credit cards are
accepted. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged
at any bank or bureau de change, though cash is more expensive to
exchange than travellers cheques. ATMs are available in larger
towns only.