Namibia Day 15 - Capital City

Its our last day in Namibia... we decide to take the scenic C28 road to Windhoek from Swakopmund, rather than the tarred B2... Its actually a shorter distance - but on dirt roads so possibly longer. We stop to admire some Welwitschias close to the road - possibly the ugliest but most fascinating plants in this area. The plant itself consists of only two leaves, which grow very large and lay on the surface, often getting quite damaged and shredded. The stem is below the ground. Many of these plants are in excess of 1000 years old.

After what seems a very long drive, through the extremely precarious Bosua pass, known as the steepest pass in Namibia, we finally arrive in Windhoek. It appears to be a normal African city, but we watch out for the "roaming gangs" warned by the guidebook. Apparently they are known to stop cars in broad daylight and steal everything from them. We pass through the city and head in the direction of the airport. Here we find our lodging for the night, the Vineyard Country B&B...  The four of us are camping, and its best best campsite so far: a private, lockable modern clean bathroom, covered table area and excellent braai facilities.

Once we have settled in, we are hungry for a late lunch. We find a little 'beer garden' close by, called Andy's Biergraten, and it ends up being a large and jolly place, with a bar area and lovely outdoor areas to sit. We share some weissbiers, schnitzels and currywursts, which are all delicious!

Next we head into town, and explore the area around Robert Mugabe Avenue... Here we find the Tintinpalast (Ink Palace) and Parliament Gardens; and the Alte Feste, which is a fortress and museum. We explore inside the museum, it includes a rock art section, and some info on the history of Namibia.

 

It seems most of the museum has moved into the newly built National Museum of Namibia, which is a strangely modern and somehow Chinese looking building... There are even Asian guys fixing the tiles in the entrance hall... Entry to the museum is free, but it requires a ride in an elevator to at least the second floor. From here there are three floors of exhibits, focusing strongly on the independence of Namibia.

 Afterwards we cross the road and explore the Felsenkirche, a beautiful church.

Later that evening, we head to Joe's beerhouse, a Windhoek institution. The place is huge, with multiple indoor and outdoor areas, decorated in a really funky way. We sit outside, and its a pleasant evening, the climate in Windhoek reminds us of Jo'burg. We order a variety of dishes, including eisbein, chickens and lamb shanks. Everything is delicious even though we wait for a while. The place is packed. Its an awesome last night for an amazing trip.

Tomorrow, we will go our separate ways: I will fly home with my mom, Werner and his folks will drive via Botswana, and my Dad will drive via Kgalagadi game reserve.

Namibia is an amazing country and I would highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure. I cant wait to return to explore the North!