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Attractions, Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, History, Katutura, Trains

History

In 1840, the first settlement at Windhoek was established by the Orlam people, who were led by a man named Jonker Afrikaner. The Orlam were a mixed-race clan of people living in South Africa's Western Cape, who were descendants of indigenous Khoikhoi, Europeans, and slaves from India, Mozambique and Madagascar. Jonker led his people from their homes on the outskirts of the Cape Colony to escape servitude to the Dutch Boers, who were themselves migrating away from British rule in the Cape and thus taking over lands inhabited by the Orlam.

The site was chosen for its natural springs, which provided water for cultivation. Jonker and his followers built a church for a congregation of between 500 and 600 in what is today Klein Windhoek and for a while the town prospered with a population of roughly 1 500 ethnic Orlam people.

The settlement grew around trading with the coast and cattle-raiding excursions carried out against the Herero groups to the north. These cattle raids eventually resulted in Jonker's death, after which his followers dispersed and by the early 1870s, the settlement was abandoned.

The first recorded use of the name 'Windhoek' was used in a letter written by Jonker in 1844, but the reason for the name he chose is unclear. Some believe it was a reference to the area's similarity to Winterhoek, his birthplace in the Cape while others think it may be a literal translation from Afrikaans ("windy corner").

In 1884, Germany declared the entirety of what is today Namibia, with the exception of Walvis Bay, which was under British control, as a German Protectorate. By 1890, the borders of German South West Africa were established and a military unit, the Shutztruppe, under the command of Curt von François, was sent to maintain order. Von François chose Windhoek as the site for his garrison, which was strategically located between the tribal lands of the Nama (to the south) and Herero (to the north). In 1890, Von François designed and constructed the Alte Feste (Old Fortress), which served as the headquarters for the Stutztruppe.

In 1902, a railway was opened, connecting Windhoek to Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast and this led to sudden growth in the city's population. Mores settlers arrived from South Africa and Germany and indigenous people migrated from the outlying lands to seek work.

Windhoek was declared an official municipality in 1909, and during this time, many of its landmark buildings were built. The Christuskirche (Christ Church) was constructed between 1907 and 1910 and Windhoek's three castles, Schwerinsburg, Heinitsburg, and Sanderburg, were constructed between 1913 and 1919.

In 1915, with the end of World War I, a League of Nations mandate granted administration of South West Africa to the United Kingdom, with South Africa serving as acting administrator. During the following few decades, growth in the country essentially stopped.

After World War II, growth in Windhoek resumed until the late 1950s and early 1960s, when South Africa began implementing apartheid policies. In December 1959, protests over the apartheid policies turned violent and forceful resettlement followed. Most of Windhoek's black population were moved to areas north of the city centre, creating the townships.

Apartheid continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s with rigid enforcement of skin-color-based segregation policies. The privileged whites lived in the lush neighborhoods around the city centre, while blacks lived mostly in Katutura and those designated as 'coloureds' (mixed race) in Khomasdal.

Namibia gained independence as a country in 1990 and Windhoek has experienced modernization, development and growth ever since.

Attractions

While Windhoek should not really be considered a destination itself, it does have things to see and do if you have more than just a quick overnight, including some lovely old architecture, craft markets, museums, galleries, and more.

The city centre (Windhoek Central) and the neighborhoods of Eros, Klein Windhoek, and Ludwigsdorf are close to one another and offer the most to see and do.

Christuskirche ("Christ Church") is perhaps the most recognized building in Windhoek. Designed by Gottlieb Redecker and built from sandstone between 1907 and 1910, this German Lutheran church is considered part art nouveau and part Neo-Gothic in style.

Tintenpalast ("Ink Palace") is the former administrative headquarters of German South West Africa and today serves as the country's parliamentary building. The surrounding gardens are lovely and the views of the city are superb. Tours are offered several times per day on weekdays.

Alte Feste is the original fort built in 1890 to house the Shutztruppe, the first German army garrison stationed in German South West Africa. The fort is now part of a museum complex that includes the Independence Memorial Museum and the National Museum of Namibia, both situated next door.

The National Gallery of Art houses a permanent collection of Namibian art, reflecting the history and culture of the country. Various visiting exhibitions are also hosted here.

Just south of the city along the B1 road is Heroes' Acre, a monument commemorating the Namibian struggle for independence. Completed in 2002, the memorial includes a 25-foot tall wall panel, various statues, a 500-seat pavilion, and a restaurant.

Katutura

In the late 1950s, the South African government, which had administrative control over South West Africa, began implementing racial separation polices in Windhoek. Protests and boycotts in 1959 led to unrest and violence, after which the government forcibly resettled Windhoek's non-white residents from their homes in Klein Windhoek and other areas near the city center, to areas north of the city.

The first such settlement was Katutura, which in the Herero language means 'we have no permanent place'. It is in many ways, similar to the township of Soweto in Johannesburg. Tours of Katutura are a popular activity and many of the Windhoek city tours include a stop at this township.

Daan Viljoen Game Reserve

Located about 11 miles (18 kms) west of Windhoek is the wildlife-rich Daan Viljoen Game Reserve. Officially proclaimed in 1962, the reserve is characterized by desert hills and scrub vegetation typical of Namibia's central highland region.

Hiking is a speciality in the reserve and there are several well-marked trails, one of which takes 2 days, but most are much shorter. There are no lions, elephants, or buffalo here, so walking is perfectly safe. You will see wildlife though, as there are healthy populations of Hartmann's mountain zebra, greater kudu, oryx, and impala. Other species here include giraffe, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, and eland.

Birding in the reserve is good, especially for regional endemics such as Monteiro's hornbill, Rockrunner, white-tailed shrike, Rüppell's parrot, and rosy-faced lovebird.

Trains

TransNamib is the state-owned rail service operator in Namibia. The first rail lines were laid in 1895 to connect Windhoek to Swakopmund and the route was opened for operation in 1902. The German Colonial railway was linked to South Africa's rail network after World War I.  

Today, passenger rail service is offered between Windhoek, Swakopmund, Otjiwarongo, and Tsumeb (near Etosha). The StarLine service offers affordable, daily service to all major towns on these routes. The Desert Express is a luxury experience offering onboard accommodation and dining. Tour options include overnight weekend trips between Windhoek and Swalopmund, as well as 7- to 10-day excursions to the south or to Etosha.

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Attractions, Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, History, Katutura, Trains