Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Outside the museum, don't miss the somewhat incongruous collection of railway en-
gines and coaches, which together formed one of the country's first narrow-gauge trains.
This open-air exhibit is lorded over by a bronze statue known as the
Reiterdenkmal
(Rider's Memorial)
, which commemorates Schutztruppe soldiers killed during the
Herero-Nama wars of 1904-08. For history buffs, note that the statue was unveiled on 27
January 1912, which coincided with Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday.
MUSEUM
Owela Museum
(State Museum;
Click here
4
Robert Mugabe Ave; 9am-6pm Mon-Fri, 3-6pm Sat &
Sun)
The other half of the National Museum of Namibia, about 600m from the main
building, is known as the Owela Museum. Exhibits focus on Namibia's natural and cultur-
al history and it has been popular with readers; note it may sometimes close early.
Trans-Namib Transport Museum
( 298 2186; admission N$5; 8am-1pm & 2-5pm Mon-Fri)
Windhoek's beautiful old
Cape Dutch-style train station on Bahnhof St was constructed by the Germans in 1912,
and was expanded in 1929 by the South African administration. Across the driveway from
the entrance is the German steam locomotive '
Poor Old Joe'
, which was shipped to
Swakopmund in 1899 and reassembled for the treacherous journey across the desert to
Windhoek. Upstairs in the train station is the small but worthwhile Trans-Namib Transport
Museum outlining Namibian transport history, particularly that of the railway.
MUSEUM
MONUMENT
Owambo Campaign Memorial
( Bahnhof St)
At the entry to the train station parking area, you'll see the Owambo Cam-
paign Memorial, which was erected in 1919 to commemorate the 1917 British and South
African campaign against Chief Mandume of the Kwanyama Owambo. Heavily out-
matched by the colonial armies, the chief depleted all of his firepower and committed sui-
cide rather than surrendering.
National Art Gallery
GALLERY
