Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On 21 March, this national day is celebrated in grand style, with a parade and sports
events.
CARNIVAL
Windhoek Karneval (WIKA)
(
www.windhoek-karneval.com
)
The German-style carnival takes place in late April and
features music performances, a masked ball and a parade down Independence Ave.
Wild Cinema Festival
An annual international film festival that takes place in late spring and early summer.
CINEMA
Windhoek Show
(
www.windhoekshow.na
)
In late September or early October the city holds the Windhoek
show, with its roots in agriculture, on the showgrounds near the corner of Jan Jonker and
Centaurus Sts.
AGRICULTURE
/AE//Gams Arts Festival
Highlighting Namibian artwork, it's held in venues around Windhoek in October.
ARTS
Oktoberfest
True to its partially Teutonic background, Windhoek stages this festival towards the end of
October - beer lovers should not miss it.
BEER
GET YOUR BEARINGS
Set among low hills, Windhoek enjoys dry, clean air and a healthy highland climate, which means in winter the
nights are
cold
.
Central Windhoek is bisected by Independence Ave, where most shopping and administrative functions are
concentrated. The shopping district is focused on the Post Street pedestrian mall and the nearby Gustav Voigts
Centre, Wernhill Park Centre and Levinson Arcade. Zoo Park, beside the main post office, provides a green lawn
and shady lunch spots.
North along Independence Ave are the industrial expanses of Windhoek's Northern Industrial Area. To the west
and northwest are the high-density townships of Khomasdal and Katutura, which are slowly developing into
amenable neighbourhoods, but still have several pockets of serious poverty. In other directions, middle- and
upper-class suburbs such as Klein Windhoek and Eros Park sprawl across the hills that encircle the city, affording
impressive views.
