The capital and largest city of Namibia, South Africa, Windhoek, is where many tourists begin their journey. The growth and development of Windhoek have been influenced by the cultures of the Nama, Herero, German, Afrikaans, and British people. Before embarking on a safari into the Namibian wilderness, stop by the statue of nationalist hero Hosea Kutako in the gardens surrounding the Tintenpalast, the seat of the country’s legislature, or chow down on ostrich kebab or zebra steak at Joe’s Beerhouse.
The Afrikaans word windy corner is where the name Windhoek derives from. The word “Windhuk” is no longer spelled the way it was at the commencement of German colonial rule.
The region surrounding Windhoek was already inhabited by the San (Bushmen) thousands of years ago. The Orlam (generic term for descendants of the white, Dutch Boers and Nama women during the 17th and 18th centuries) settled in the area around 1850 as a result of the hot springs that can be found close to Windhoek.
Later, a stone chapel with seating for 500 people that doubled as a school was constructed by the Boers, Dutch settlers from the Cape Colony (South Africa). The warlike tensions between Nama and Herero soon led to the development of a town, but by 1873 nothing remained of the once-promising settlement.
German South West Africa became a German Protectorate in 1884. Although the English had claimed the coastal bay of Walvis Bay in 1878 and given it to the Cape Colony, they had no interest in the hinterland, leaving the German colonial powers free to carry out their own policies.
In terms of location, Windhoek is in the centre of Namibia. All transportation routes from north to south and from east to west cross here, as would be expected from a capital. The international airport is located 40 kilometers outside of the town because of its steep surroundings, while southern Windhoek only has a small airport.. Mountain ranges up to 2000 meters high surround Windhoek and severely restrict the town’s ability to grow. The elevation of Windhoek ranges from 1,625 to 1,725 meters above sea level.
In Windhoek, there are still a lot of buildings from the colonial era. The town’s immaculate condition is astounding. German restaurants, a few German street names, German beer, bread, and sausages are just a few examples of how the German colonial era has left its mark today. In particular, the German carnival is greatly embraced! Even though English is the official language in Namibia, there are some shops where one can converse in German.
The town has a lot of tourist attractions, including the Christuskirche, the Tintenpalast (the government building), the old fort “Alte Feste,” the German Rider Monument, and a number of museums and art galleries.
The majority of Namibian-owned or -operating businesses are headquartered in Windhoek. German-Namibian owners control numerous businesses. Due to this concentration, the town is continuously expanding by 12,000 people per year.
Rarely does a holiday to Namibia include a city tour of the nation’s capital, Windhoek. Windhoek is considered to be quite dull, and the town actually has little to offer in the way of noteworthy monuments or outstanding architecture. The guided city tours led by Bwana Tucke-Tucke are “something spectacular.”
The “something special” begins with the vehicle used for the city tour: a rattling 1964 Land Rover Oldtimer Cabriolet in a safari-colored paint scheme, which is probably illegal to drive in other countries around the world. It is a welcome sight in Windhoek and is a part of Namibia’s classic. The only way to truly experience Windhoek’s culture is in this car.
