NAMIBIA: CENTRAL AREA

Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, nestles among rolling hills, bounded by the Eros Mountains in the east, the Auas Mountains to the south and the Khomas Hochland in the west. It is a meeting place between Africa and Europe, the modern and the old. In the capital’s main street, well-preserved German colonial buildings are in sharp contrast with modern architectural styles, while Herero women in their traditional Victorian dresses mingle with executives dressed in the latest fashions.

Located centrally, Windhoek is the starting point of an adventurous holiday for many visitors to the country and an ideal base from where to explore the rest of the country. The city’s restaurants offer a variety of meals, ranging from international and continental cuisine to German dishes such as Eisbein with Sauerkraut and African delicacies such as mopane worms. Windhoek offers a wide choice of accommodation options, ranging from four-star hotels and homely pensions to backpackers’ establishments and campsites. In the rural areas beyond the city’s limits there are also a number of lodges and guest farms.

Overlooking the small central business district is the landmark Christuskirche, the Alte Feste (old fort), the oldest building in Windhoek, the Reiter Denkmal (Equestrian statue) and the historic Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), the seat of Namibia’s Parliament.

Okahandja, 70 km north of the city, has among its attractions the Ombo Ostrich Farm, the historic Rhenish Mission Church, two informal craft markets where Kavango wood carvings can be bought, and the graves of Herero leaders. The annual procession of the Red Flag Herero, towards the end of August each year, is one of the most colourful cultural events in Namibia. Gross Barmen Resort, southwest of the town, is famous for its thermal springs. The water in the resorts thermal bath has a temperature of about 40° C, the open-air pool temperature is around 29° C.

Von Bach Dam, just south of Okahandja, is popular with yachting, waterskiing and angling enthusiasts.

Situated some 90 km south of the capital, Rehoboth owes its existence largely to the thermal spring surfacing here. The hot spring resort and the nearby development on the shores of the Oanob Dam are especially popular over weekends. Stretching from the Windhoek valley westwards is the Khomas Hochland, an upland region of rolling hills dissected by deep river valleys. The Daan Viljoen Game Park, 24 km west of the city, offers an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Visitors can explore the park on foot (there are two walks and a two-day tail) or by way of a short circular drive. Game to be seen include gemsbok (oryx), kudu, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and impala, while good birding can also be enjoyed.

Still further west, the table-top Gamsberg mountain dominates the eroded escarpment which is traversed by several mountain passes linking the interior and the Namib Desert. The far-reaching vistas from the summit of Spreetshoogte, en route to Solitaire and Sossusvlei, are among the most spectacular.

The small settlement of Dordabis, southeast of Windhoek, is the centre of the country’s karakul weaving industry. Also of interest in the area is Arnhem Cave, the longest cave system in Namibia with a total passage length of 4 501m.