Windhoek: City History, Plant Life and Handicrafts

Windhoek brings together several distinct themes for a trip: city history, plant life and handicrafts. If you’re looking for a hotel in Windhoek, these themes can help you decide what to prioritise during your stay. The Windhoek City Museum, the National Botanical Garden and the Namibia Craft Centre each represent a different focus; the Daan Viljoen Game Park adds a nature reserve west of the city to the mix.

City history at the Windhoek City Museum

The Windhoek City Museum is primarily devoted to exhibiting Windhoek’s history. Its five permanent galleries cover Windhoek before the colonial era and during the German period, life in the Old Location, voices of the past, present-day Windhoek and Wild Windhoek. This selection combines historical periods with themes of urban life and the present day, rather than focusing on just one era.

Plant life at the National Botanical Garden

The South West Nature Reserve, also known as the National Botanical Garden, is located in the heart of Windhoek. The garden is home to a dense population of Windhoek aloes (Aloe littoralis); this species is the symbol of the city of Windhoek. The Lily Walk attracts visitors when the flowers bloom in April. The gardens of the National Botanical Garden include more than 200 plant species; the Desert House displays 365 plant species. Species counts may change over time.

The National Botanical Garden has self-guided walking trails. Common plants are labelled, and bird and plant lists are available at reception; their availability may vary. The trails, plant labels and lists offer different points of reference: the labels identify common plants, while the lists cover plants and birds. This lets you connect the garden’s botanical focus with the subjects that interest you most.

Namibian handicrafts at the Namibia Craft Centre

The Namibia Craft Centre provides a marketplace for Namibian handicrafts, including jewellery and carved tree roots. It comprises 40 community-oriented craft businesses run by women. The number of businesses and the selection may change over time. The figure of 40 refers to businesses; jewellery and carved tree roots are examples of the products on offer. This brings together two distinct aspects: the products sold through the marketplace and the community-oriented businesses that the Centre comprises.

A nature experience west of Windhoek

Daan Viljoen Game Park lies 24 km west of Windhoek. It is a protected area for a relatively large population of wildlife species typical of the Namibian Highlands. Compared with the National Botanical Garden, the park offers a different kind of nature experience: the garden focuses on plant life such as Windhoek aloes and self-guided walking trails, while the park is home to wildlife species typical of the Highlands. This makes it possible to see a botanical destination in the heart of Windhoek and a protected area west of the city as two distinct themes.

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For the broader travel overview: Khomas.