This German colonial capital (pronounced
VIND-hook, meaning Windy Corner), situated at an altitude of 5,400 ft/1,650 m in the central highlands of the Khomas Region, is the commercial center of Namibia. Very clean and rather small, Windhoek is pleasant to walk around (the altitude keeps it cool), provided that you're alert to pickpockets and other opportunistic crime. It's a fairly green city with lots of parks and gardens. It offers the best shopping in the country. The city's colonial past is reflected in its distinctive German architecture. Among the many architectural reminders are the Christuskircke, the German Lutheran Church that dominates the city's skyline, the 1912 Cape Dutch railway station and many of the government buildings. (Many of the structures are
jugendstil buildings.) You'll find strudel and an Oktoberfest celebration, too. Most people go to Windhoek to begin and end their tours of Namibia.
Nearby is Daan Viljoen Game Park, where visitors are free to walk around. Another popular nearby excursion is to Gross Barmen, the country's best thermal springs and resort area.