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| Self-drive excursions - Windhoek |
Namibia's
capital is the starting point for most visitors to the country. Situated on a
plateau at about 1700 m above sea level, Windhoek is an airy city with some 200
000 inhabitants. It is the seat of government, administrative centre and
showpiece of an aspiring, independent society. The city offers a surprising mix
of old and new, of respectable European ambience with an African
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Windhoek is totally suitable for a day trip - without spending the
night - as it takes only around 2.5 hours to get there. If you leave Rooisand
at 7h00 in the morning you arrive in Windhoek when the shops open. |
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Drive straight into Independence Avenue in the city centre. You can
leave your car in the parking garage next to the Kalahari Sands Hotel or on the
large open parking lot opposite the hotel. Both parking areas are
guarded.
From this position in the heart of Windhoek you can do the city
centre on foot.
«« Christuskirche, the Lutheran
church, is one the most photographed buildings and
« browsing in the Namibia Craft
Centre |
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Windhoek offers such a host of
attractions that we can only make some general suggestions. Please consult your
guidebook for more details.
There are numerous fine shops all over the
central section of Independence Avenue, including jewellery, leather goods,
souvenirs and arts and craft. You will also find bureaus de change (compare
rates and remember to bring your passport). The shopping mall on the ground
floor and in the basement of the Kalahari Sands Hotel has many attractive shops
as well.
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| The equestrian statue ... |
in
the Namibia Craft Centre ... |
one of the Gibeon meteorites |
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If you want to buy arts and
crafts directly from the artists, try the Namibia Craft Centre in Tal Street
(exit the Kalahari Sands complex in Independence Avenue and turn right; at the
traffic lights turn right again into Sam Nujoma Drive; at the next intersection
turn left into Tal Street). If you love colours and shapes you will want to
shop till you drop (get another suitcase in one of the shops stocking leather
goods… :-))) ).
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When
you turn left into Independence Avenue (towards north), you see Christuskirche
on top of the hill to your right. Alte Feste, the old fort next to the church,
houses a museum which is well worth a visit.
Back in Independence
Avenue, turn left into the pedestrian mall at the Clock Tower. After 200 m you
come to the Meteorite Fountain. The meteorites are part of the famous Gibeon
Meteorite Shower which came down several hundreds of thousands of years ago in
the area around Gibeon in southern Namibia.
Just before you reach the
fountain, look out for an archway on your left. It opens onto the outdoor
restaurant of the Kaiserkrone Hotel, a lovely spot for a leisurely lunch or
just a coffee or chilled drink. |
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If
you have a little more time to spend in Windhoek we recommend a four-wheel
sightseeing tour with Bwana Tours and Carsten Möhle. One of the
differences to most city sightseeing tours is that Mr. Möhle also takes
you to the predominantly "black" suburbs of Windhoek. Furthermore he is very
knowledgeable about the city's (historical) buildings and he can tell you quite
a few good stories about Windhoek.
Contact:
Email: namibia@bwana.de
Homepage:
www.bwana.de |
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If you spend the night in Windhoek, we recommend a sundowner or a
lavish dinner at Heinitzburg Hotel. From there you have a truly breathtaking
view over the entire city.
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