Situated
in Namibia's central highlands, Windhoek, the capital, is an attractive
city surrounded by clusters of hills and the impressive Auas and Eros
mountains. The height above sea level of 1650m is only slightly less than
that of Johannesburg, South-Africa, or Denver, the 'mile-high' city in the
United States. The climate is typical of a semi-desert country, with hot
days and cool nights.
Tree-lined Independence Avenue with its fountains and walkways provides a pleasant ambience of tranquility and leisure to the heart of the city, with its continental-style sidewalk cafes and beer gardens. Zoo park in mid-city, adds to the relaxed atmosphere with its lawns, spreading trees, shrubs and flowers. The city is considerably enhanced by stately historic buildings in the German architectural style of the turn of the century. Imposing modern buildings in the central business district echo the historical forms, shapes and colours of this architectural heritage. Old buildings which lend a singular charm to the city include the historic seat of government which is known as the Tintenpalast, meaning Palace of Ink, and the Christuskirche with its graceful spire which provides the city with a striking landmark. The white-walled Alte Feste which was once a fort and now a museum, reflects the history of the country. Three German-style castles designed by architect Willi Sander in the early 1900's add a romantic touch to the city.
Places of interest
The
National Museum of Namibia has three main locations in Windhoek the capital city; the Museum Acre with the bulk of collections, research
laboratories, offices and stores, the Owela display center with
ethnography and natural history displays, and the Alte Feste display center
with history displays and collections. The National Museum is custodian of
national cultural and contemporary history, anthropology, archaeology and
diverse natural history collections with a strong research and education
emphasis. Namibia is the most arid country in southern Africa, and much of
its fauna is uniquely adapted to its environment. The natural history
collections at the National Museum of Namibia are the national
repositories for zoological specimens (some 1.5 million specimens), and
serves as a resource for biological systematic.
