Top unique things to do in Windhoek, Namibia

For the most part, Windhoek will be your starting base to explore the amazing country of Namibia. It is the capital to the 2^nd least densely populated country in the world. Nevertheless, Windhoek looks more like a calm provincial town rather than a busy capital city. This article focuses on providing you with the top things to do in Windhoek, Namibia.

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Visit Christchurch

• Price : Free
• Timings : 24h

This is probably the most iconic stop to make in Windhoek. Built in 1910, the church has a Lutheran Germanic architecture. Indeed, Christchurch is located at the junction between Fidel Castro Street and Robert Mugabe Avenue. In fact, following the independence, the government renamed many streets and avenues of the capital. Thus, they named many of them after leaders who supported the liberation movement.

NassPacker Tip: We recommend visiting the surroundings of the church just before sunset. You can then enjoy nice lights for photography. There is a free parking next to the church for those coming by car.

Top things to do in Windhoek: Visit the Namibian Parliament

Adjacent to Christchurch, you will find the parliament of Namibia. Indeed, the building called the Tintenpalast holds the chambers of the Namibian parliament, National council and National Assembly. The construction of the building used thousands of forced labors from the Herero and Nama tribes. Fortunately, the garden fronting the building is today a much happier place with locals using it as a prime location for picnics and outings.

Visit the Independence museum

• Price : Free
• Timings : 9am-5pm (Monday to Saturday)

Located in the same roundabout, the building features a post-socialistic architecture. Indeed, North Korea helped in designing and building the museum. It celebrates the history of the fighters that ended the apartheid rule in 1990. The independence museum of Namibia focuses on the anti-colonial resistance. Therefore, they dedicated each floor to a certain period of the freedom struggle. The last floor offers viewpoints overlooking Windhoek. In addition, you will find in front of the museum a statue of Sam Nujoma. He was the 1^st president of Namibia (1990-2005) and founder of the SWAPO ruling party.

Top things to do in Windhoek: Shop at the Namibia Craft center

• Price : Free
• Timings : 9am – 5:30pm (Monday to Friday) / 9am-1pm (Saturday)

One of the other top things to do in Windhoek would be to visit the Craft center. Indeed, it is a meeting place for local artists who come to expose their work. Thus, if you want to purchase local art pieces and art crafts, this is the place to be in Windhoek. Besides, nearly all products are made in Namibia while the rest would be sourced from other parts of Africa. All in all, the Namibia Craft Center is a nice place to finish a trip and stock up on souvenirs and gifts.

Top things to do in Windhoek: Enjoy local food

Eventually, you will probably be looking for a great place to enjoy local food. You can head to the Roof of Africa. Indeed, the hotel/restaurant features an outside terrace and an interesting indoor design.

Additionally, Urbancamp also is a nice gathering place for both locals and tourists. In fact, it has great food options. It is as well the perfect camping spot to start or finish a Namibian road trip.

Price : 190 NAD (12.8 USD) per person for camping / 499 NAD (33.5 USD) for a tent with beds.

Stock up on supplies before a great Namibian RoadTrip

Chances are, if you are in Windhoek, that you are either starting or finishing you road trip. Here, you will find lots of grocery options. Indeed, the capital is a great place to stock up on food and supplies for your wild adventure within the emptiness of Namibia.

NassPacker Tip: We recommend planning well about the food. In case you are left with unopened food at the end of your trip, do not throw them away. Unfortunately, there are people in need that would very gladly accept your donations. You can easily find them across the streets of Windhoek.

NassPacker Tip: Avoid buying big quantities of raw meet or eggs. They may be taken away from you when entering some National Parks. There are strict veterinary regulations put in place by the Namibian Wildlife Authorities.

Rent a 4×4 and start your Namibian adventure

Eventually, one must bear in mind that most car rental options will be in Windhoek. In fact, with dozens of companies offering car rentals in Namibia, it is very important to make the right choice to avoid any surprises. The country is very vast, with lots of emptiness and many adventurous roads. Therefore, we strongly recommend renting from a reputable company and making sure to have all the necessary insurances included.

Read the NassPacker ultimate guide to renting a car in Namibia.