I will be going to Namibia for a hunt very soon. I will be in Frankfurt for two days and will arrive in Windhoek a day early.

I would greatly appreciate suggestions as to where to stay, and what to do with my extra time in both Namibia and Frankfurt.

Regards, PG

PG, try the Pension Palmquell in Windhoek.

Nice clean rooms, friendly staff, good food if you choose to eat in and secure.

Stu

Here'a a nice place to stay and it's only a few blocks from Joe's Beer house.

Roof Of Africa

PG,

In Windhoek I've stayed at Hotel Villa Verde, Roof of Africa and Safari Court. I will only be staying at Safari Court in the future. Only about $20/night more than the other two and far more comfortable. They also offer a free suttle service into downtown that runs every 30 minutes.

As for Frankfurt I only had a 14 hour layover so I did not see Frankfurt. Instead I got a day room at the Holiday Inn Airport Frankfurt North, which is outside of Frankfurt, but comfortable nonetheless.

Good luck on your trip.

Jorge400

PG,

We will traveling through Frankfurt on our way to Namibia next year. We are planning on getting a day room at the Sheraton which adjoins the airport. We are then going to take the train from the airport to Central Frankfurt to do some sighteseeing. Good public transport to get you just about anywhere in the city.

Don

Thanks all. My PH says no problem coming in early. He will pick me up and off to the ranch.

Don, Ouray is great. We like the trails. Plan on being there in Aug.

Regards, PG

Try Casa Piccolo, run by Claudia Horn. Very hunter friendly, immaculate rooms and 5 minutes from Joe's

I second the Sheraton at the airport in Frankfurt -- comfortable, and convienient. Just remember, grun shild in German is how the locals will tell you to get back to the hotel -- wandered around lost for hours trying to figure out what "green shield" was (it's a green circle w. a g inside it.)

Casa Piccolo is a nice clean pension. Around Windhoek the majority of the souvenier shops and attractions can be walked on Independence Avenue from Sam Nuhoma Drive to about John Meinert turn east to Robert Mugabe then south to Fidel Castro then back to Independence.

To see another Windhoek, drive to the north and northwest fringes of town. Don't get out of the car. This is where the poor and recent refugees have built shanties. Between every 3 or 4 shacks are shebeens (illegal drinking and gambling establishments). This is not what many western visitors to Africa want to see but I think it should be seen to understand what might be in store for Namibia.

Hilltop House is also very nice and (this is important) close to Joe's Beerhouse. We stayed there our last night in Namibia.

A nightmare to find if you're driving yourself, though--it's in a maze of one-way streets. Take a cab.

You might consider staying at the Mainz Hilton which is not that far from the airport in Frankfort. The hotel is located on the Rhine which allows the opportunity to take a day cruise thru the gorge and see all the castles and vinyards not to mention all the small towns and villages along the route. We left the boat at Koblenz and took the express train back to Mainz. The hotel is walking distance to the city center and Mainz is great for walking about. We ate at the Heilig Gheist restaurant and the Flelapper for dinner and both were very good. The Heilig Gheist is a converted 750 year old church. We avoid the downtown areas of most of the huge cities and found Mainz delightful.

quote:

Originally posted by PG:
I will be going to Namibia for a hunt very soon. I will be in Frankfurt for two days and will arrive in Windhoek a day early.

I would greatly appreciate suggestions as to where to stay, and what to do with my extra time in both Namibia and Frankfurt.


Regards, PG

PG,

I note that your outfitter can pick you up early, still plenty of value in a stay in Windhoek of a day. Perhaps to organize it at the end of your hunt.

Plenty of good suggestions on where to stay in Windhoek. If you want a good meal rather than the decent food and hectic atmosphere of Joe's, go to the Gourmet Restaurant (used to be the Gourmet Inn)that is now in the middle of town (can google it). Food is excellent and meal is quiet. It's especially good if you want to treat your outfitter/professional to something special. Make reservations.

Now, for what to do. A walk around downtown Windhoek can start at the Kalahari sands arcade. In the basement is CNA books where you buy your copy of MAGNUM, a fine hunting/guns monthly. Just a few doors down Independence Avenue, same side of the street is Katerina Karl where you find very high end game and karakul fashion. Go along and across the light and just on the left there is NAKARA that has much cheaper game leather done in anything you care to wear as well as briefcases etc. Carry on and you'll find some curio shops and a good shop with the various semiprecious minerals of the region. You are about where the Gourmet Restaurant is located. Might just have lunch there if you are not on for dinner. It's upstairs in the Kaiserkrone (?) Center. A little arcade is off the the left with some interesting shops including a very fine silversmith/jeweler. Go on down and across the street is Adriaan Meyer jeweler and a block or so further on on the right is an OK, but not great gunsmith (can't recall the name) where you may find MAGNUM in CNA is out. Cross back over and carry on across a light or two and you are at the business traveler/touristy hotel with a nice beer garden, Thuringer Hof.

Alternatively, depending on where you will be hunting, you can go to Etosha Pan and spend the night up there at, say, Okakuejo Gate that has a lodge and places to sleep. Your outfitter can take you up there and then carry on to deliver you to your flight the next day.

Regards, Tim