The Standard Sunday Magazine
Date: 27.03.2016
Page 10
Article size: 699 cm2
ColumnCM: 155.33
AVE: 0.0
I arrived in Windhoek as the
Although the city is largely the
Windhoek's main attractions in­
golden glow of the sunset re­ springboard for wildlife, desert, clude the National Museum, Chiris­
flected on the city's skyline. beach safaris in the rest of Namibia, tuskirche or the Christ Church and
With its population of it is worth a visit in its own right. The the once segregated Katutura suburb
322,500, Windhoek is ranked among city still bears reminders of German where under the then South Africa's
the smallest national capitals in the colonisation in language, architec­ strict apartheid 1950s policy only
world — it ranks 150th from the list ture and gastronomy which include whites could live in.
of 243.
traditional dishes, bread and beer.
Today, people from all races and
At first sight, Windhoek is one
In some parts, there are so many cultures live together harmoniously
African city which has the look of a Germans you can be forgiven for in Katutura as they do in the rest of
provincial town. It has a few high rise thinking you are in Berlin.
the city.
buildings but then, Namibia gained
Namibia's national monuments,
Windhoek is a laid­back city
independence on 21 March 1990 and during the day with locals enjoying which are mainly in Windhoek, are a
has more years of challenges and de­ cafe culture.
constant reminder of the long strug­
velopment ahead.
I sat in one such cafes to enjoy gle for independence and the end
Call it an accident or a strike of watching people walking on the pe­ of apartheid. Many have been pre­
meticulous German colonial plan­ destrian precincts and vendors sell­ served as a reminder of the country's
ning, the Namibian capital is located ing their wares. Together they possess bloody history while others celebrate
at the geographic heart of the country
independence.
and is surrounded by rolling moun­ a wonderful sense of national pride
tains in the east, west and south.
in the new Namibia.
VARIOUS MUSEUMS
At the Heroes Acre, one is con­
stantly reminded of the 86­year­old
Father of the Nation and Namibia's
First President Dr Sam Nujoma's
words "The blood of all these sons
and daughters of Namibia watered
the tree of our liberty and will always
be remembered by present and fu­
ture generations of the Republic of
Namibia."
and the Railway Transport and Tele­
covered in 1908.
1. The sprawling
Miners used to collect these glit­ Namib Desert
tering stones by the handful and did attracts many
Namibia has not yet been invaded not allow others to pick them. Today, adventurers,
by mass tourism like its famous neigh­
2. Windhoek is
bour South Africa, its former colonial these are highly protected areas. Na­ a growing city
mibia shares not only the inhospita­
power. Namibia was first ruled by the
with many years
Germans who committed a genocide ble and desolate 1,570 kilometre­long of development
against the tribal Herero people and Namib Desert with some of the big­ ahead.
gest sand dunes but also the colourful 3. Former
set up concentration camps.
communications Museum — Trans­
Namib Museum.
coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
The British intervened in 1915 by
President Sam
Another place worth visiting in
2002, the monument covers over 732 asking South Africa to take over the Swakopmund, a dusty wind­swept Nujoma's tribute
country. By then, thousands of Ger­ seaside town on the Skeleton Coast to an unknown
hectares and houses 174 graves of mans had settled there and their en­
Opened by Dr Nujoma in August
fallen war heroes and heroines.
351 kilometres from Windhoek. It is
Also worth visiting is the Christ suing generations continue to live in
also known as Namibia's playground
Namibia.
Church built in 1907. It is the oldest
and a holiday destination for tourists
A truly wealthy country, Namibia and locals seeking an escape from
Evangelical Lutheran Church. It is
has been gifted with diamonds. For
the hot weather of the interior where
built in the neo Roman style using
Italian marble at the entrance; it has many centuries, a force of nature temperatures can shoot up to as high
brought diamonds from South Africa
bronze bells, stained glass windows by washing them down the Orange as 36 degrees Celsius.
Swakopmund resembles a small
and an altar that was donated by the River to the sea along the area which
German town in the tropics with
people of Germany.
forms today's border between the two its palm tree­lined streets, seaside
The Roman Catholic Church, built nations.
promenades, galleries, museums and
in 1903, is another attraction which
eateries.
has been constantly maintained and BIGGEST SAND DUNES
Those seeking adrenaline­indue­
modernised.
The gems were carried from the
The old prison building which was mouth of the river to the north along ing adventure can go to the desert
built in 1907 and used as a gaol until Namibia's coast where they were dis­ surrounding Swakopmund and enjoy
1963, is seen by many visitors as an in­ covered at the turn of the 20th Cen­ sand­boarding, quad­biking, para­
sailing and other guided activities.
teresting place. It had 35 single hold­ tury.
They can also join dolphin cruise at
ing cells and five communal ones.
Pensioner lorge recalls his father the nearby Walvis Bay or explore the
There are various museums in­
telling him stories of how diamonds beautiful lagoon. You must make it
cluding the Alte Festa Historical Mu­ lay under his feet as he walked with
seum, The Owela Natural History Mu­ his friends in some places around a point to travel to other parts of the
seum depicting traditional village life Luderitz town where they were dis­ country to enjoy a truly fascinating
part of Africa.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
soldier at the
Heroes Acre,
4. Christus
Church in Wind­
hoek.
5. Windhoek is
well known for
its cafe culture
where locals
meet regularly,
[PHOTOS:
SHAMLAL PURI/
STANDARD AND
HARALD SUPFLE,
L.DANIZ, CITY
OF WINDHOEK/
COURTESY]
The Standard Sunday Magazine
Date: 27.03.2016
Page 10
Article size: 699 cm2
ColumnCM: 155.33
AVE: 0.0
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
The Standard Sunday Magazine
Date: 27.03.2016
Page 10
Article size: 699 cm2
ColumnCM: 155.33
AVE: 0.0
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
The Standard Sunday Magazine
Date: 27.03.2016
Page 10
Article size: 699 cm2
ColumnCM: 155.33
AVE: 0.0
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya