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Windhoek & District Attractions |
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Windhoek is possibly the most attractive capital city on
the African continent having a population of about 200,00, which is small in comparison to the sprawling metropolises
of Pretoria or Lusaka, but Windhoek has its' own unique character. The
road system is well signed and easy to navigate. Clean streets with groomed
gardens, bistro cafes,
modern shopping malls, good restaurants and modern hotels. The country's
official language is English. However, Afrikaans and German are spoken
almost everywhere. You need a 1 day stay-over here.
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The Alte Feste is located on Robert Mugabe
Avenue and overlooks the city. This old German Fort now houses the
Namibia National Museum. Highly recommended and you should budget about
1 hour for your visit. The exhibits include archive photos from the
Herero Uprising of 1907, the history of the final liberation struggle,
the United Nations Transitional Period (1989-1990), Namibia's first
democratic election.
Time budget 1hr
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The Geological Survey Museum is located in
the Ministry of Mines and Energy building situated in Aviation Rd. This
is near Eros Suburban Airport and directly opposite the Safari Hotel
Complex. The museum is not well advertised or known of, but is well
worth a visit. Here you can see a fascinating display of Namibia's
Geological wonders, including the remainder of the Gibeon Meteorites.
The exhibition of dinosaur fossils and Massospondylus seen at the left.
Time budget 1 hr
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In the Post Street shopping mall, right in
the centre of town is where you can see the display of 32 of the Gibeon Meteorites. This is the
largest shower of extra terrestrial bodies known to have landed on the
earth. The meteorites have a high nickel content and one has been
sliced in half, so you can see the shiny stainless-steel like interior
Time budget 10min
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Heroes' Acre is a National Heritage Site and
is located about 5km south of the city on the B1. Namibia was under
occupation by foreign colonial forces from 1884 to 1990 and this is our
National Memorial to the Heroes and Heroines who struggled and fought
for our Independence, which was finally achieved on 21 March 1990. The
guided tours are most informative, and a visit here will give you a
better appreciation of beautiful Namibia and its people.
Time budget 2hr
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Okahandja & District Attractions |
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30 The Gross Barmen Hot Springs Resort is
located about 25km west of Okahandja. The mineral rich thermal waters
that bubble up from deep within the earth are said to have therapeutic
values. The complex makes for a relaxing stay-over. The indoor thermal
pool waters are maintained at 38-40°c. The outdoor
thermal pool has a temperature of about 30°c. There are accommodation
facilities including camp sites, shop, restaurant, bar etc.
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Okahandja is one of the cultural centres for
the Herero people of Namibia. Samuel Maharero, the Chief who declared
war, on 11 January 1904, against the Imperial German Colonizers of
Namibia was laid to rest on 23 August 1923 in Okahandja near to his
ancestors. Every year on the Sunday nearest to 23 August the Herero
people gather here in ceremonial dress and pay homage to the deceased
Chiefs. Time budget 1hr |
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Okahandja is the home to 2 of the largest
wood carver markets in Namibia. The Curio stalls can be seen an both the
south entrance to the town and to the northern side nearby where the B1
and B2 road. You can buy just about anything wooden here from attractive
polished fruit bowls to carved animals and even canoes. Be prepared to
do get involved in some heavy bargaining if you pay these vibrant
markets a visit. Time budget 30min+ |
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Otjiwarongo & District
Attractions |
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Otjiwarongo Crocodile Ranch. If you haven't
seen a Crocodylus niloticus for some time, then here is
your chance to refresh your memory, plus they have a restaurant here
that can serve you with a variety of dishes made from fresh Crocodile
meat. As for the live ones, well like in most other 'zoos' or even in
the wild, the adults just seem to bask in the sun and lay as still as
logs of wood - waiting for some careless being to wander their way. Time
budget 1hr
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37
Waterberg Resort: Set at the foot of the massive and
picturesque Waterberg Plateau, this is well worth a stay-over. There are
hiking trails and plenty of wild life and birds to be seen. There are
guided game drives onto the plateau. The views are spectacular. I wasn't
impressed with the lack of variety of game that I saw up there, but I
was surprised to see so many large Sable Antelope. It's a good place to
relax and 'get away from it all'. Time budget 8hr +
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Otavi & District Attractions |
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40
The Khorab Monument: This is at the place known as Kilometre 500
where on 9 July 1915 the German forces in South West Africa
surrendered to the Union Of South Africa's General Louis Botha thus ending
hostilities within the colony. It's difficult to find the memorial as
some of the streets in Otavi have no signs, so make use of the Map of
Otavi. Please see the directional map.
Time budget 1hr
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41
Gaub Cave located on the historical Farm Ghaub. The cave is not
'tourist friendly', however, the 'Cavies' amongst you will not want to miss
this-one. Be prepared for an amount of rock-hopping, so good boots are a
must. Not for the Claustrophobic. Guided Tours only and I recommend you
make a booking in advance. Time budget 2-3hr
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Grootfontein & District
Attractions |
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The "Old German Fort" in Grootfontein houses
an interesting Museum that have over the years accumulated and amazing
collection of old machinery. You can se how wagon wheels were made and a
host of other equipment that the early farmers used to build up this
country. There is a Himba exhibition along with mineral collections, and
even an old English Steam Roller that is in working condition. Time
budget 1-2 hr.
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42 Hoba
Meteorite. It weighs-in at over 60 ton, is approximately 3 meters square and
about 1 meter in depth. It contains about 82% iron and 16% nickel. It fell to
earth about 80,000 years ago, and is the largest known-of metal meteorite in the
world. When it came-in to land it didn't cause any crater to be formed, so it
probably had a very low tragectory and 'bounced' to its final landing site on
the Farm Hoba. National Heritage Site. Camping Available. Time budget 1hr
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44
Baobab Tree (number 1063) is located on the Farm Keibeb, which
is about 60km north of Grootfontein on gravel roads. If you haven't seen
a Big Baobab tree, and want to, it's well worth the effort. Baobab Trees
play an important roll in African legend and daily life. The tree's
various parts can be used for medicinal and food purposes, and it's an
awesome sight when you see 'your first Baobab' towering over the
surrounding bush. Time budget 1hr
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Tsumeb & District Attractions |
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43 Lake Otjikoto.
It is an unusual geological feature, being a limestone cap about the
size of a foot-ball filed that collapsed into the massive and deep water
filled karst-cave system that runs for quite some distance under the
ground in this area. It is into this lake that, prior to surrender, the
Germans dumped the their weapons and Field-Guns in 1915. There's a small zoo,
restaurant and lots of interesting collections at this site. Well worth a visit.
Time Budget 1-2 hr
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Tsumeb Museum: This is at the eastern end of the Main Street.
The majority of self drive tourists don't know about the Museum and
pass it by, and it really is a 'Must See'. This is where you can see some of the Kaiser's Cannons
that were recovered from Lake Otjikoto and refurbished by the Old TCL Mine. There is
also an excellent mineral sample collection from the TCL MIne De Wet Shaft plus many
other items of interest. Time budget 1-2hr
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Etosha National Park |
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Etosha National Park. 2007 was the 100 year
anniversary of the Park. The 3 rest camps: Okaukuejo, Halali and
Namutoni have recently been upgraded by Namibia Wildlife Resorts and all
reports we have received from visiting tourists have been very positive.
Returning visitors have praised the improvements and service, so this is
good news. Etosha is vast and unspoiled and rates at the forefront of
Africa's premier game parks. It's a must see.
Time budget 2days+
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Outjo District Attractions |
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35
The Vingerklip, or Rock Finger is located in a now dry section of the
Ugab River Bed. Formed by water erosion over a period of about 20
million years when the ancient Ugab was a powerful river with a high
volume rate of flow that over time washed the softer material away. What
remains of the sedimentary layers can clearly be seen in the side-walls
of the Vingerklip, which protrudes some 35 meters above a conical debris
mound. Time budget 1hr
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Khorixas & District Attractions |
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32
Twyfelfontein is not a town. It is a large Sandstone rock face with a
shelf, on which can be found an unusual group of rock-formations etched
by the desert winds. Twyfelfontein is also the location of the largest single
display of Bushman
Rock Engravings in the world. Over 2,500 depictions of animals,
humans and strange and mystical glyphs on 200 rock slabs plus rock paintings. It
is a National Heritage site and is subject to Guided Tours only.
Time budget 1-2 hr
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33
The Burnt Mountain: Unusual Geological phenomena. In
prehistoric times organic material accumulated on the bottom of a
lake bed. This was later covered by sedimentary deposits and buried.
During the Break-up of Gondwanaland hot magma pushed upwards and
when coming into contact with the organic material baked it. The
remaining rock is quite colourful in certain sunlight conditions.
Time budget 30min
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33
Organ Pipes: Unusual Geological feature similar to the
Giant's causeway in Northern Ireland. About 125 million years ago when Gondwana
was dividing into Africa and South America the earh's crust in this
region was subjected to a great up-thrusting of molten
rock which formed into polygon shaped pipes owing to surrounding
constrictions. Time budget 30
minutes.
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34 Petrified Forest. The site is where a
forest of ancient Cordaites Trees some 45 meters in height were
deposited after having been torn up during a great deluge of water and
being carried here some 260 million years ago. The trees were buried
under sediments and eventually fossilized. The fossilized bark, wood grain
and even tree rings can be seen. The detail of the fossilized wood is both clear
and colourful. A National Heritage Site with Guided Tours Only. Time
budget 1-2 hr |
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Uis & District Attractions |
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31 The
White Lady of Brandberg: A National Heritage Site. Guided tours only. It
takes a 45 minute hike to reach the Maack Shelter where the mural is
situated. This painting remained the most controversial piece of Bushman
Rock Art for several decades, and was erroneously named The White Lady
Of Brandberg. The mural is a fascinating piece of
ancient art giving us an insight to Bushman culture over 2000 years
ago. Time budget 2-3hr
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Henties Bay & District
Attractions |
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Cape Cross: This is where, in January 1486, the Portuguese Explorer Diogo Cão
erected a Padrao (Stone Cross) on a high rocky outcrop to mark the furthest southerly point that
Europeans had reached. There are 2 replica crosses at the site, the
original cross was taken by the Germans in 1893 and is in Berlin. Cape Cross is
also home to the world's largest Cape
Fur Seal colony on any mainland. Visiting Hours 10h00 to 17h00
Time Budget 1hr
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Swakopmund & District Attractions |
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There's plenty to do and see in and
around Swakopmund. Unless you have been here before, and within the past
ten years, you need to plan a three day minimum stay to make your
visit worthwhile. Swakopmund is fully geared up to make your stay a
pleasurable and interesting one, plus there's plenty of activities, such
as sky-diving, camel riding, horse riding, hot air ballooning etc. It's
all here. |
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Please check these links to our Namibia-1on1
site where you will find plenty of information about Swakopmund and its
surroundings.
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Walvis Bay & District
Attractions |
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Walvis Bay is Namibia's Premier Port and
centre of our fishing industry, but this town has also geared up for
tourism. The Wetland Bird Reserve is home to about 60,000 of Southern
Africa's Flamingos. The Lagoon has proved itself to be one of the best
places in the world for speed wind & Kite surfing with many records
captured here. Take a Dolphin & Seal cruises in the lagoon and get
served some of the locally grown Oysters with champagne.
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Local Area Map and Directions for:
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