Discover Windhoek

Windhoek shows different sides: city history in the permanent galleries of the City Museum, plant life in the National Botanical Garden and Namibian arts and crafts at the Namibia Craft Centre. There is also Daan Viljoen Game Park to the west of the city. These different themes offer you some points of reference as you consider which experiences should be the focus of your trip—and which location would suit your holiday apartment.

Windhoek’s history at the City Museum

The Windhoek City Museum focuses mainly on the city’s history. Its five permanent galleries cover a range of themes: Windhoek before the colonial era and during the German period, life in the Old Location, voices from the past, Windhoek today and Wild Windhoek. Historical perspectives are thus combined with insights into the city and its surroundings.

This range is useful for planning if you do not want to limit yourself to a single historical period. The gallery themes span earlier eras through to present-day Windhoek. The museum is therefore a cultural focus in its own right, alongside the nature and arts-and-crafts themes you can find elsewhere in the city.

Arts and crafts and botanical discoveries

Namibian arts and crafts take centre stage at the Namibia Craft Centre. The retail platform features jewellery and carved tree roots, as well as 40 community-oriented craft businesses run by women. The published number of businesses and the products on offer may change over time. For visitors interested in handmade work, the Centre offers a different way to experience Windhoek than the museum’s historical galleries.

The South West Nature Reserve, also known as the National Botanical Garden, is in the heart of Windhoek. More than 200 plant species grow in the gardens, and 365 plant species are displayed in the Desert House. These figures may change over time. The garden is also home to a dense population of Windhoek aloes (Aloe littoralis), which are regarded as a symbol of the city. The diversity of plants and the aloe, which is closely associated with Windhoek, offer different botanical perspectives.

The garden has self-guided walking paths. Common plants are labelled, and bird and plant lists are available at reception; availability may vary. The Lily Walk draws visitors during flowering in April. This refers to the flowering period, not to a particular plant. These details also make the garden interesting for travellers who enjoy exploring nature through specific plants and signage.

Balancing city and nature in your travel plans

If you want to bring together different interests on your trip, you can compare the city’s attractions: history at the City Museum, plants and self-guided paths at the Botanical Garden, or arts and crafts at the Craft Centre. Your preferred focus is a useful starting point when choosing a holiday apartment in Windhoek. This lets you first decide which of these facets interests you most, rather than assuming you will want the same kind of activity every day.

Daan Viljoen Game Park lies 24 km west of Windhoek. It is a conservation area for a relatively large population of wildlife species typical of the Namibian highlands. The nature theme described there is therefore different from the plant collections at the National Botanical Garden: here, the focus is on highland wildlife; there, on plant species and labelled plants. The distance and direction give you a clear geographical reference point for planning.

A longer hike in the wider Khomas destination

In the wider Khomas destination, Düsternbrook and neighbouring farmers offer the Khomas Hochland Hiking Trail (KHHT). The route is either 100 km long and designed to take six days, or 54 km long and designed to take four days; it starts and ends in Düsternbrook. The distances and durations may change. Comparing the two options helps you see the difference in time required: six days for the longer route or four days for the shorter one. This hike provides regional context for Windhoek and is not the same as the self-guided walking paths in the Botanical Garden.

Windhoek therefore offers several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: city history, botanical diversity and arts and crafts, complemented by the Game Park’s location west of the city. If you are also considering longer hikes, the KHHT in the wider Khomas region offers another option, with two stated route lengths and durations. You can use these interests to guide your search for a holiday apartment.

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Return to the wider travel overview: Khomas.