Windhoek

A blend of innovative modern design and old German colonialism, Windhoek is Namibia's capital city and lies in the heart of the central highlands in an airy basin surrounded by rolling mountains.

It's a laid-back, funky and eclectic place: as capital cities go, this is one of the safest and most relaxed in Southern Africa and a perfect place to start or finish a Namibian holiday. It's a logical stopover for those heading north to the Etosha National Park or east to the Namib-Naukluft Park and the towering dunes at Sossusvlei. A good road runs from Windhoek to the resort town of Swakopmund with its enticing array of adventure activities.

For a country with such a small population there has been a surprisingly complex and intertwined history. In Windhoek you will see people from the fairest blond to the darkest black and everybody in between. Many of the women are quite stunning with an amazing assortment of intricate hair styles from long fine plaits to a weave of curly twirly ringlets - and it's not unusual to see out-of-towners in traditional dress.

In the centre of town is a pedestrian precinct with bustling shops and market stalls, whose wares are displayed on the ground. The strong 'cafe culture' of the town makes for great 'people watching' and there is such diversity that you can sit there all day.

It gets quite hot between December to February, but because of its high altitude, humidity is low and nights are pleasantly cooled by a light breeze.

The summer rains can be heavy but the evaporation rate is extremely high so it does not stay damp for long.

Winters can get very cold at night with some frost in low lying areas, but the days are warm, sunny and cloudless.

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