My nephew will have about 24 hours between flights in and out of Windhoek.

Any suggestions on things to do and/or restaurants?

Thanks!!

Joe's Beer House should not be missed.

ABSOLUTELY!
Went three times the last time I was in Namibia and really enjoyed it. In town, go to the open air market for souvenirs, just remember to bargain with the vendors.

You must always bargain with the vendors that is half the fun. I remember in Vic Falls the vendors would chase you down the street making a better offer, they just don't give up. Joe's Beer House is a must!

Check out Holtz Safariland.

Gotta go to Joe's Beer House! So many game meats to try, and so many beers!

There are multiple hunting outfitters less than an hour from Windhoek. Go hunt some more.

Joe's +1

A drive around the presidential palace was pretty cool and impressive!

Another vote for Joe,s

Joe's is a must.

Johan Viljoen (former SAP) used to have a place called House of Gems, which I think was a must visit if you have female members of the family. He had wonderful Tanzanite and Tourmalin jewelry, as well as diamonds and other stones and some lower priced local stuff as well. Johan was a wonderful host, always brought you in for coffee before you even began to talk business, but unfortunately he passed away a few years ago.

However, the last time I was there (2007) I met his daughter who was becoming prominent in their business. I'd check and see if they are still around. If so, it's definitely worth a visit.

Joes and the open air market, there are also a few nice dry good stores where the market is to buy stuff like zebra place mats, napkins, etc for the spouse. Watch your pockets and belongings while you are there,,,,,

Tell him to abide by even the most basic laws. My son and I almost got arrested for jay-walking.

Been to Joe's twice. Just give it an OK, maybe a 7 out of 10? If you haven't been there it's worth the visit. Guess it's kinda a "hunters" place, food OK with lots of different meats to try. Service was just average both times I was there.

There is a mineral museum downtown and several areas to shop for gifty type items. I stayed on the outskirts of town, at B & B type places. Quiet, comfortable, good eats and nice folks running it.

Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member

My wife and I spent a day walking around and touring all of the government buildings, including their supreme court building. We were treated like VIPs. Walked past the presidential palace and were told to keep on walking and not to take pictures by guards with automatic rifles. We also did the open air and street vendor shopping and had lunch at a very good restaurant overlooking much of Windhoek (can't recall the name, however). Make sure that you get pics of of the names of all of the interesting streets named after dictators! An enjoyable time!

If you'd like a really fine evening meal, go to NICE (Namibian Institute of Culinary Education), a training academy for top notch chefs with its own restaurant. Best to take a cab but they do have a car park.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Been to Joe's twice. Just give it an OK, maybe a 7 out of 10? If you haven't been there it's worth the visit. Guess it's kinda a "hunters" place, food OK with lots of different meats to try. Service was just average both times I was there.

There is a mineral museum downtown and several areas to shop for gifty type items. I stayed on the outskirts of town, at B & B type places. Quiet, comfortable, good eats and nice folks running it.

Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member

I agree with Larry. I would go and check the place out. I've been there several times. Our food was just OK last year. Service was slow. Maybe they were having a bad day.

Many good points here. I went and watched some court proceedings (as a lawyer I can't stay out of a courtroom if one is presented). The kudu statue out front is impressive.

I've wandered the open air markets and am surprised by the comment about pickpockets. It seemed a lot safer than Paris or Rome in that regard.

As far as pictures, I have a nice one (taken with a telephoto from behind a tree) of a squad of Namibian infantry setting up a crew served machine gun on a hill overlooking the park in front of the old German fort, with a whole class of school children traversing the park right under the gun. Unusual, at least for my American friends.

Agree that the B&B approach works well. I've stayed at a place called Onganga (translated: guinea) a couple of times and it is nice. Family run and real nice folks. Walk in safe in the office for rifles, etc. Nice restaurant and bar on site.

Windhoek is a nice town. Explore it and enjoy it. I wouldn't roam around after dark. But, from the first time I visited until the last it has changed. A lot more Chinese and a lot more motorcycles.

a lot more Chinese?? that really surprises me- NOT!!!!! hell, it seemed 1/3 of the stores in Katima Mulilo were Chinese...

Joes Beerhouse was so-so with food and service..

Holtz Safariland is worth a visit..

Rosenthals is by far the best gunshop, very polite staff and quite a few fine safari rifles to look at..

I even found .475 NE Woodleigh bullets...in Africa..

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
a lot more Chinese?? that really surprises me- NOT!!!!! hell, it seemed 1/3 of the stores in Katima Mulilo were Chinese...

If you want to see a Chinese "take over" visit Rundu. That place is in the middle of nowhere and there are many HUGE Chinese owned stores that seem to sell everything that china produces. Really quite amazing.

Katima Mululo.... Now that is a strange place! It is truly as far out as you can get and being a border town you would think that it would be dangerous as heck, but it is really quite safe.

I have spent a lot of time there. It is a hard place to get away from as it is interesting and the beer and biltong is so cheap... I remember one particular night I headed out to a African bar at midnight(alone). I was the only paleface there. I do remember how I got home that night(barely) but I still can't believe I made it in one piece. I guess God really does look after drunks and fools.

Jason - I can see everything China produces at my local Wal Mart in Albuquerque, (50 miles) don't need to go any further.

Don't walk around Albuquerque much after dark so no comparison on that issue.


Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
a lot more Chinese?? that really surprises me- NOT!!!!! hell, it seemed 1/3 of the stores in Katima Mulilo were Chinese...

If you want to see a Chinese "take over" visit Rundu. That place is in the middle of nowhere and there are many HUGE Chinese owned stores that seem to sell everything that china produces. Really quite amazing.

Katima Mululo.... Now that is a strange place! It is truly as far out as you can get and being a border town you would think that it would be dangerous as heck, but it is really quite safe.

I have spent a lot of time there. It is a hard place to get away from as it is interesting and the beer and biltong is so cheap... I remember one particular night I headed out to a African bar at midnight(alone). I was the only paleface there. I do remember how I got home that night(barely) but I still can't believe I made it in one piece. I guess God really does look after drunks and fools.

Another vote for staying at Onganga. Very nice accomodations.

quote:

There is a mineral museum downtown . . .

Are there places to watch paint dry and grass grow too?

Actually Namibia has an abundance of Geology, Gemstone, Mineral and Natural History to offer up to the visiting public. Example: From the Oldest Desert in the World to diamonds washing up on her beaches.

Darn I keep forgetting MJ is from the neighboring State just East of me, and it's just quite possible his cultural expanse is limited to Bull Shit and Hot Air.

Mike - they really do have "watching grass grow and watching paint dry places" just for your enjoyment if not interested in any of the above mentioned attractions. Have a great day.





Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

There is a mineral museum downtown . . .

Are there places to watch paint dry and grass grow too?

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Jason - I can see everything China produces at my local Wal Mart in Albuquerque, (50 miles) don't need to go any further.

But I bet you have never seen a "Flava Flav"(google him...) style hype man out in front of the Walmart trying to "rap" the customers in. I have seen that in Rundu. Pretty impressive place really.

They even have a place that promises "100% erection satisfaction". That might interest some of our membership!

Jason - You got me on those two things for sure.

Larry Sellers
SCI (International) Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Jason - I can see everything China produces at my local Wal Mart in Albuquerque, (50 miles) don't need to go any further.

But I bet you have never seen a "Flava Flav"(google him...) style hype man out in front of the Walmart trying to "rap" the customers in. I have seen that in Rundu. Pretty impressive place really.

They even have a place that promises "100% erection satisfaction". That might interest some of our membership!

Spent a day in Windhoek last week. Is a nice used, including hunting, book shop called Jones Book Exchange that I believe is on Streuben St. just a block off the main drag. Can walk on to Rosenthals gunshop from there.

Is a very high end leather fashion shop called KK just past the entrance to the mall that has the Kalahari Sands and Holz emporium. Brilliant work in leather and karakul. (Full disclosure -- owners are old friends of mine so tell them to keep 10% for Tim)

Among best food in town is carrying on down the main drag from KK, past superb jewelry shop on the corner, cross over, visit Nakara for less expensive leather and go a few dozen yards to Gathemann Restaurant. Very fine meal but pricy.

Regards, Tim

I love Windhoek.... lived there for three years. My favorite place to eat was O'Portuga - a very tasty Portuguese restaurant. The steak was great. I also enjoyed going to grocery stores looking at stuff foreign to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Mike - they really do have "watching grass grow and watching paint dry places" just for your enjoyment if not interested in any of the above mentioned attractions. Have a great day.

Great, since those both sound a far cry more interesting than an afternoon at the mineral museum.

Hey Mike, having yourself worked in the Energy industry, I thought someone like you would find a mineral museum quite to your liking!

Good suggestions here. Find a nice bed and breakfast, shop at the open air vendors (but don't forget the myriad of shops scattered through downtown - all the shopping you will need for the ladies back home), and then go to Joe's Beerhouse that night (get a bumpersticker). Yes the food and service at Joe's can be so-so at times, but you have to try it. My favorites there are snails and/or oryx carpaccio for and appetizer, and oryx fillet or zebra steak for a main course.

On another note about the Chinese. It's been 4 years since I have been to Namibia but I don't recall that many Chinese - even when we did our self-drive and doing all our own shopping and such. We only stopped off in Rundu for fuel and my fist glimpse of Angola but I've spent a handful of days in and around Katima Mulilo on two different occassions and don't recall seeing any Chinese. Have they increased since I was last there or did I just not notice?

Katima is a cool outpost town. I'd love to spend some more time there. Any of you that have spent any time in Katima Mulilo been to SAAF City?

George

My wife & I stayed at a B&B in Windhoek, "Roof of Africa", very nice & rea$onable, safe & secure. Only a few hundred meters down the road from Joe's Beer House. Buy some T-shirts at Joes.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Jason - I can see everything China produces at my local Wal Mart in Albuquerque, (50 miles) don't need to go any further.

But I bet you have never seen a "Flava Flav"(google him...) style hype man out in front of the Walmart trying to "rap" the customers in. I have seen that in Rundu. Pretty impressive place really.

I didn't have to go that far this morning, the Walmart in Montgomery TX was packed enough with the usual Walmart critters to remind me why I hate going there.

And next Sunday, in Windhoek, I won't have time to check it out - passing thru only!!!!