What to see in Namibia

Windhoek

Located in the centre of the country, Windhoek is the capital of Namibia and has a population of 280000 inhabitants.

In its ordered grid pattern, the German aesthetic is combined with the African environment and the Central European legacy merges with the heart of Africa, echoing its varied traditions and lifestyles.

90 percent of the population is Christian, which is why the Lutheran church of Christ is the most symbolic building in the city. Its neo-Romanesque style and its refined modernist elements, give it a coquettish and fine appearance, as well as its neighbour, the Cathedral of Santa María, which is flanked by two towers.

In front of the first is the Reiterdenkmal or "monument to the knight", which is a large equestrian statue of granite representing a German knight of the colonial era. Next to it are the beautiful gardens of the Parliament and beyond is the Parliament itself.

The Alte Feste is the oldest building in the city. This fort was built by the Germans around 1890 to house the colonial military troops. Today it is part of the National Museum of Namibia, a highly recommended museum.

The main road, Independence Avenue, crosses the entire city. In it is the Post Street Mall, a modern shopping centre with shops of all kinds and on the way out the city, the travelling African vendors offer their jewellery and elaborate handicrafts such as tribal masks on their market stalls. On this road, you can find the Zoo Park, a meeting place for families who want to enjoy a quiet environment.

Katutura means in Herero "The place where no one can live" and is the neighbourhood that was displaced by the black population during apartheid in the 50s. It is the most traditional African area and also the most genuine and lively. It's the life, the colour and the soul of Windhoek. The businesses are varied, from markets to hairdressers and craft shops.

Local delights can be savoured in the city's many restaurants, such as exotic meats like kudu, springbok, oryx or ostrich served with beer brewed in accordance with the law of purity or "Reinheitsgebot" in German, which dates back to the 16th century and established only three ingredients to be used in beer brewing: water, barley and hops.

Visiting the capital of Namibia is a welcome discovery. Its clean environment, relaxed pace, the friendliness of its people and the multi-ethnic atmosphere makes it unique.