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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 Swako
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Altes Amtsgericht
Swakopmund brims with numerous historic examples of traditional German architecture. Designed by Otto Ertl, the gabled Altes Amtsgericht building was constructed in 1908 as a private school. However, when the funds ran out, the government took over the project and requisitioned it
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Moordkoppie
The historical animosity between the Nama and the Herero had its most emphatic expression at the Battle of Moordkoppie (Afrikaans for ‘Murder Hill’) on 23 August 1850. During the battle, 700 Herero under the command of chief Katjihene were massacred by Nama forces. Half of the vict
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German Fort & Museum
Historical settler history is depicted here through some fascinating black-and-white photos. The Himba, Kavango and Mbanderu collections of artefacts and photographs are also interesting, as is the history of research into the area’s rock paintings. It’s a huge museum; put a couple
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Alte Gefängnis
Swakopmund brims with numerous historic examples of traditional German architecture. The impressive 1909 Alte Gefängnis was designed by architect Heinrich Bause, and if you didnt know it was a prison, youd swear it was either an early East German train station or a health-spa hotel
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Panveld
Forming an arc east of Tsumkwe is a remote landscape of phosphate-rich pans. After the rains, the largest of these, Nyae Nyae, Khebi and Gautcha (all at the southern end of the arc), are transformed into superb wetlands. These ephemeral water sources attract itinerant water birds –
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Rock Engravings
Most dating back at least 6000 years to the early Stone Age, Twyfelfontein’s rock engravings were probably the work of ancient San hunters, and were made by cutting through the hard patina covering the local sandstone. In time, this skin reformed over the engravings, protecting the
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Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim
Swakopmund brims with numerous historic examples of traditional German architecture. The single-storey Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim was constructed in 1902, and was first used as a military hospital. In 1914 it was transferred to the Bavarian Womens Red Cross, which named it after its
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Turnhalle
The Turnhalle was built in 1909 as a practise hall for the Windhoek Gymnastic Club, though in 1975 it was modernised and turned into a conference hall. On 1 September of that year, it served as the venue for the first Constitutional Conference on Independence for South West Africa,
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Deadvlei
Although its much less famous than its neighbour Sossusvlei, Deadvlei is actually the most alluring pan in the Namib-Naukluft National Park – its arguably one of Southern Africas greatest sights. Sprouting from the pan are seemingly petrified trees, with their parched limbs casting
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The Mole
In 1899, architect FW Ortloffs sea wall - better known as the Mole - was intended to enhance Swakopmunds poor harbour and create a mooring place for large cargo vessels. Unfortunately, Mr Ortloff was unfamiliar with the Benguela Current, which sweeps northwards along the coast, car
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Railway
During the winter, rail services between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are often plagued by windblown sand, which covers the tracks and undermines the track bed and sleepers. This isn’t a new problem – 5km east of town on the C14, notice the embankment which has buried a section of nar
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Aha Hills
Up against the Botswana border, the flat landscape is broken only by the Aha Hills. Given the nearly featureless landscape that surrounds them, you may imagine that these low limestone outcrops were named when the first traveller uttered, ‘Aha, some hills.’ In fact, it’s a renditio
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Christuskirche
Windhoek’s best-recognised landmark, and something of an unofficial symbol of the city, this German Lutheran church stands on a traffic island and lords it over the city centre. This unusual building, which was constructed from local sandstone in 1907, was designed by architect Got
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Mahango Game Reserve
This small but diverse 25,000-hectare park occupies a broad flood plain north of the Botswana border and west of the Okavango River. It attracts large concentrations of thirsty elephants and herd animals, particularly in the dry season. With a 2WD vehicle, you can either zip throug
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Tintenpalast
The former administrative headquarters of German South West Africa have been given a new mandate as the Namibian parliament building. As a fitting homage to the bureaucracy of government, the name of the building means ‘Ink Palace’, in honour of all the ink spent on typically exces
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Jetty
In 1905, the need for a good cargo- and passenger-landing site led Swakopmunds founders to construct the original wooden pier. Over the years, however, it was battered by the high seas and damaged by woodworm, and in 1911, construction began on a 500m iron jetty . When the South A
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Sandwich Harbour
Sandwich Harbour, located 56km south of Walvis Bay in Dorob National Park, historically served as a commercial fishing and trading port. Some historians suggest that the name may be derived from an English whaler, the Sandwich, whose captain produced the first map of this coastline
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Zoo Park
Although this leafy park served as a public zoo until 1962, today it functions primarily as a picnic spot and shady retreat for lunching office workers. Five thousand years ago the park was the site of a Stone Age elephant hunt, as evidenced by the remains of two elephants and seve
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Kuiseb Canyon
Located on the Gamsberg Pass route west of the Khomas Hochland, Kuiseb Canyon contains the ephemeral Kuiseb River, which is no more than a broad sandy riverbed for most of the year. Although it may flow for two or three weeks during the rainy season, it only gets as far as Gobabeb
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