Facts About Windhoek |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Namibia |
| State | Khomas |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Area | 5,133 km2 |
| Population | 322500 |
| Lat Long Coordinates | 22°34′12″S17°5′1″E |
| Time Zone | UTC+2 |
| area Code | 264 61 |
| Language | English,Afrikaans,German,Rukwangali ,Silozi, Setswana ,Damara/Nama,Herero,Oshiwambo |
| Major Religion | Christian |
| Point of interest | Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, Tintenpalast, Christ Church, Windhoek, The Equestrian Monument, Alte Feste, Heroes’ Acre, Schwerinsburg, National Library of Namibia, St. Mary’s Cathedral (St. Marien Kathedrale in German, is a Roman Catholic church) |
About City :
Windhoek is the capital of the Namibia with a population of over 320,000. It is the third largest city in the world and was founded in 1840 by Jonker Afrikaner, the Captain of the Orlam who decided to settle here with his community. Multiple wars and hostilities in the later years led to the destruction of Windhoek and the city was founded in 1890 for a second time by the Imperial German army. Later in 1915, Namibia was captured by South Africa and remained under its rule until their independence in 1990.
Windhoek houses almost every government body, educational institution and national enterprise of Namibia. English is the national language of the country although Afrikaans is also prevalent here. Other languages include Oshiwambo, Tswana, Otjiherero, SiLozi, etc.
Geography :
Located on a sloping plain on the northern side of the Khomas Hochland (Khomas Highlands) in the Windhoek Basin valley, the city lies in a basin between the Khomas Highland, Auas and Eros Mountains. It is situated 650 km north of the Orange River about 360km from the Atlantic seaboard. Windhoek is 1,680 km above sea level. It is situated in the center of the country and is divided into over 30 suburbs.
How to Reach (Transport) :
About 42 km away from the city is the Hosea Kutako International Airport which is connected to numerous European countries and the USA. Closer to the city is the Eros Airport which mostly operates domestic flights. Windhoek is accessible via trains from various cities although the country has only one dedicated passenger train named Desert Express.
Cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg are connected to Windhoek via buses and the city also has an extensive road network. Inside the city, one can avail of local taxis or rent a car. Taxis may be flagged down on the streets although most of these taxis follow the system of “shared taxi”. Private taxis can be booked for those who aren’t keen on sharing taxis.
When to Visit :
Windhoek features a semi-arid climate, mostly dry, with temperatures as high as 37 degree Celsius during the day and then drastically falling to almost freezing temperatures at night. The rainy period is from January to April and from October to December, the city has “little rains” season. Days in winter are typically pleasing with a little sun and rain.
The best time to visit Windhoek is from May to October when the weather is pleasant and relatively dry.
Fairs and Festivals :
Windhoek is a mix of European and African culture and its festivals reflect its diverse and rich culture.
- Wild Cinema Film Festival, held in March or April is an International Film Festival which continues for ten days at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Zoo Park, Star Kinekor Cinema and the Goethe Centre.
- The WIKA Karneval, held in April is a traditional German carnival which has been celebrated in Windhoek for almost 50 years. It features exciting cabaret evenings and an all-night masked ball. The WIKA parade down the Independence Avenue accompanied by business floats is a must see attraction in this festival.
- The /AE/GAMS Arts and Cultural Festival, first held in 2001, is celebrated in the month of August. It is an opportunity for the local artists to showcase their talents and acts as proof of the various cultural aspects of Namibia.
- Unam Cultural Week, celebrated in September involves numerous cultural dances along with traditional food and costumes. Celebrations also include games, storytelling and an international gala.
- Windhoek Show takes place in the first week of October and is the biggest industrial and agricultural exhibition of the country. About 500 exhibitors spread out across the Windhoek Show Grounds and celebrations also include live music and a spectacular fireworks display.
- Soul Desert Festival, held in October or November is Namibia’s own spiritual celebration.
Other festivals include Namibia Travel Expo (May), Oktoberfest, Namibia Youth Expo (October), etc.
Points of Interest (Places to Visit) :
The points of interest in Windhoek are as follows :
- Christuskirche, one of the most visited buildings in Windhoek is an old church built by the German architects Tunshel and Wilke to house the Lutheran congregation in 1886.
- The National Botanical Garden of Namibia, established in 2000, spreads over 11 hectares and has a variety of trails. The park has a wide variety of native Namibian plants like the Aloe Littoralis which is also the symbol of the city.
- Alte Feste, originally built in 1890 now houses the National Museum.
- The Christ Church, opened in 1910 is a Lutheran church designed in the gothic revival style with elements of Art Nouveau. It is situated next to Parliament Gardens and Tintenpalast.
- The castles of Heinitzburg, Sanderburg, and Schwerinsburg built by William Sander, architect.
Other notable tourist activities include Heroes’ Acre, National Library of Namibia, Reiterdenkmal (Equestrian Monument), Zoo Park, Turnhalle, etc.
Accommodation :
Windhoek offers luxury hotels, mid range hotels, guest houses, bed & breakfasts and even hostels. Hotels like Kalahari Sands, Hilton Hotel, Hotel Heinitzburg and Windhoek Country club are luxury hotels equipped with casinos, bars, pools and even shopping centers. Mid range hotels include Jan Joker Accommodation, Hotel Casa Blanca, Jordani Bed and Breakfast and Galpinii Guest House. Cardboard Box Backpackers Hostel, Chameleon Backpackers Lodge & Guesthouse and Paradisegarden Backpackers are the cheapest options in the city.