Visit Windhoek, Namibia

Windhoek is located at an altitude of 1,646 metres in the country's Central Highlands.

The Auas Mountains lie to the southeast, Eros Mountains to the northeast and the hills of the Khomas Hochland to the west.

Lying more or less in the geographical centre of the country, the city and surrounding suburbs are spread out over a series of picturesque valleys. Although small for a capital city by international standards, Windhoek remains the political, economic and cultural centre of the country.

German colonial influence

Windhoek is certainly a place worth spending a day or two looking around before setting off for the rest of the country. The wide streets are lined with cosmopolitan pavement cafés. Look up and you'll see old German architecture in soft colours sitting alongside glittering office blocks.

Street vendors cluster under palm trees with arrays of wooden curios, shops have colourful displays of African art, twinkling Namibian diamonds and books on every aspect of the country from the Himba of the Kaokoveld to the ghost towns of Lüderitz. People are busy, but relaxed and stress seems an unusual concept here.

The traffic is minimal, air is clear and skies seem to be permanently blue.