A Complete Guide to Windhoek
Written by Daryll Williams
Namibia’s historical capital city carries a charming mix of German architecture and modern skyscrapers, city slickness, and African rhythms. Located smack bang in the middle of the country, it’s a perfect stopover point for travellers no matter where they find themselves on their Namibian adventure.
Location
Windhoek is at Namibia's centre in more ways than one: apart from being the country's political hub, it also happens to sit in its geographical heart, making the city an easy stopover on the way to Namibia's spectacular natural attractions. Some of those include the Namib-Naukluft National Park, featuring striking Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, Etosha National Park with free-roaming indigenous animals, and the endless stretch of the striking Skeleton Coast.
How to get there
Getting to Windhoek is easy as it’s so well connected. Most travellers find it best to fly into Hosea Kutako International Airport, about 45 minutes east of the city centre.
Best time to go
We recommend visiting Windhoek during the driest months of the year – around June, July, and August. During this period you can expect clear sunny days with cooler temperatures, especially at night. Take an extra jumper just in case! This time of year is also best for wildlife viewing, especially at Daan Viljoen Park just outside Windhoek, as animals concentrate around scarce water sources.
What to do
Main attractions
Christuskirche
Windhoek's Christuskirche (Christ Church) is the city's unofficial symbol, a photogenic 1907 German Lutheran church built from quartz sandstone with white trimmings that overlooks the city. The church mixes neo-gothic and art nouveau architectural styles and is a great starting point for Windhoek wanderings.
Joe’s Beerhouse
Two things you can expect to consume mountains of in Namibia are game meat and beer. Any local will tell you that Joe's Beerhouse is the best joint in town for both of these things. Visit this boisterous open-air restaurant decorated with ropes, raw wood, kudu skulls and lanterns, where you'll drink craft beers and eat things you never imagined you would – think oryx carpaccio, zebra steaks and crocodile fillets.
The National Botanical Garden of Namibia
A 12-hectare nature reserve tucked away behind the Christuskirche, the National Botanical Garden of Namibia exclusively houses Namibian flora. Follow self-guided hiking trails, passing bottle trees and quiver trees, many species of wildflowers and native birds en route. The gardens also have a ‘desert house’, with rare and endangered succulents and desert plants.
The Craft Centre
This hive of tourist shopping contains a heap of small and large shops with a range of African arts and crafts on offer. There are few places in Windhoek where you can find such a great combination of food, and entertainment as at the Old Breweries Complex in the centre of town.
Check out 24 Hours in Windhoek for a list of must-see activities to do when only have 1 day to spend here.
Wildlife & Safari
Travellers use Windhoek as a launchpad for exploring Namibia's wilderness, as well as the sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the desert-adapted elephants of Damaraland and the moody Skeleton Coast. If you're just stopping over in Windhoek, though, visit the Daan Viljoen Game Park, a 20-minute drive from the city, to see kudus, zebras, springbucks, and more.
Accommodation
Basic
Dubbed the first of its kind in Namibia’s capital, Olive Exclusive is a luxurious retreat with an eco-friendly approach. The hotel’s design exudes African chicness with suites styled according to four of Namibia’s regions. Boasting ample amenities and ways to relax, this boutique hotel features a restaurant and a fully stocked bar.
UrbanCamp is a centrally located camping ground situated in the heart of Windhoek, close enough to the hustle and bustle of Windhoek, meaning bars and restaurants are a short walk away. Days may be spent enjoying the quiet shade of the trees or swimming in the sparkling pool. Choose between a garden tent, explorer tent, or a camping plot.
Under shady palms, you'll find the homely and comfortable Uzuri Guesthouse. Spacious en-suite double, twin and family rooms are set around a luscious and relaxing garden, featuring a sparkling pool and lounger chairs. Centrally located, Uzuri Guesthouse is a mere 5-minute stroll from lively shops and restaurants and is the perfect refuge after a day of strolling the streets of Windhoek.
Mid-level
Set atop a hill overlooking Windhoek and just a short drive from the centre of the city, is Olive Grove Guesthouse. The property combines every known convenience with supreme tranquillity to make visitors feel welcome and pampered. Here, you’ll find 5 standard rooms, 5 luxury rooms and 1 executive suite all featuring chic, minimalist décor, surrounded by warm Namibian hospitality.
Originally built as an art studio, Hilltop Guesthouse is reimagined as a comfortable place to stay, located atop a hill with great views over the surrounding suburbs and the mountains beyond. The guesthouse has 7 rooms, all stylishly decorated, and a pool area surrounded by large, shady trees. The guesthouse is a great choice if you’re after a quieter, more suburban stay, still close to a good selection of restaurants and the town’s major attractions.
Light, breezy and welcoming, thanks to its open-plan layout and panoramic windows, The Elegant Guesthouse shines in more than one way. Genuine Namibian warmth and authenticity pervades throughout the 18 en-suite rooms, and combined with the property’s walkable garden and small plunge pool, you’re bound to have an experience of a lifetime – comforted by the ever-present, anticipatory buzz of Namibia’s wild beauty.
Fancy
South-east of Windhoek, Goche Ganas Lodge offers a truly luxurious and private wildlife experience. With 6.000 ha of protected land and rooms overlooking the landscape, watch the wild animals from the rooftop restaurant, on a guided game drive or an immersive bush walk through the reserve. With access to the Wellness Village, balance action with tranquillity at the cave sauna, with a crystal bath or world-class massage.
While Etango Ranch Guestfarm is located close to the airport, this working cattle ranch remains a quiet, serene escape for travellers. The ranch carries an attractive African ambience and every convenience of modern living. You can expect to find 6 comfortably furnished en-suite guest rooms, a spacious lounge-and-dining room with a modest reading corner, as well as a separate bar offering a comprehensive choice of wines.
Located in Windhoek and named after the famous explorer Sir Francis Galton, Galton House makes for a relaxing stay in the capital of Windhoek. Impressive wildlife photography adorns the walls and the interiors channel a combination of modern minimalistic and understated chic décor. There are 9 rooms in total, as well as a communal dining room, swimming pool and garden.
Insider Tips
Make sure you have adequate sun protection (and a few hats), even in the winter months.
Bring a camera, because this is a place worth photographing. As Namibia’s urban heart, Windhoek is the country’s only true city and hosts a diversity of cultures, institutions, and organisations.
You're bound to feel inspired, so leave space in your luggage for souvenirs such as handmade textiles, carvings, baskets, and bowls. The Craft Centre is a good place to start browsing.
Rest assured that there are plenty of good pharmacies and decent hospital facilities in Windhoek so that you can always prioritise your health.
Although the rest of the country tends to tower over Windhoek in terms of renown, the city is the best place to experience a snippet of nightlife, a dollop of modern bustle, and a pocketful of world-class amenities and creature comforts. So what are you waiting for? Book a perfect African getaway with Viatu.
