Must-see attractions in Botswana & Namibia

  • Kaiserliche Realschule

    Windhoek

    Windhoek’s first German primary school was built in 1908, and opened the following year with a class size of 74 students. Notice the curious turret with…

  • Outjo Museum

    Damaraland

    Originally called the Kliphuis or stone house, Franke House is one of Outjo’s earliest buildings and now houses the town’s museum. It was constructed in…

  • Mannyelanong Game Reserve

    Botswana

    Mannyelanong Game Reserve is an important breeding centre for the endangered Cape Griffon vulture, which nests in the cliffs. (In case you were wondering,…

  • Gathemann’s Complex

    Windhoek

    Along Independence Ave are three colonial-era buildings, all designed by the famous architect Willi Sander. The one furthest south was built in 1902 as…

  • Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim

    Swakopmund

    The single-storey Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim, on Lazarett St, was constructed in 1902 as a military hospital. In 1914 it was transferred to the Bavarian…

  • Port

    Walvis Bay

    With permission from the public-relations officer of the Portnet or from the Railway Police – beside the train station near the end of 13th Rd – you can…

  • Supa-Ngwao Museum

    Botswana

    Housed in the 100-year-old Government Camp, the Supa-Ngwao Museum includes a prison and a police canteen, and has moderately interesting small displays…

  • National Museum & Art Gallery

    Gaborone

    Botswana's National Museum closed in mid-2016 for a much-needed overhaul. Prior to the closure, the collection itself was fairly modest, with plenty of…

  • Owambo Campaign Memorial

    Windhoek

    At the entry to the train station parking area, you’ll see the Owambo Campaign Memorial, which was erected in 1919 to commemorate the 1917 British and…

  • Litfass-Saule

    Swakopmund

    In 1855, the Berlin printer Litfass came up with the notion of erecting advertising pillars on German street corners. For the citizens of early Swakopmund…

  • Green’s Baobab

    Botswana

    On the Gweta–Orapa track, 27km south of Gweta, is Green’s Baobab, which was inscribed by the 19th-century hunters and traders Joseph Green and Hendrik…

  • Locomotive No 41

    Namibia

    At the train station stands Locomotive No 41, which was manufactured in 1912 by the Henschel company of Kassel, Germany, and then brought all the way to…

  • National Art Gallery

    Windhoek

    This art gallery contains a permanent collection of works reflecting Namibia’s historical and natural heritage. The collection displays works by…

  • OMEG Haus

    Swakopmund

    Thanks to the narrow-gauge railway to the coast, the colonial company Otavi Minen und Eisenbahn Gesellschaft (OMEG), which oversaw the rich Otavi and…

  • Naulila Monument

    Damaraland

    This monument commemorates the 19 October 1914 massacre of German soldiers and officials by the Portuguese near Fort Naulila on the Kunene River in Angola…

  • Roman Catholic Mission Museum

    Namibia

    At Sambiu, east of Rundu and 30km along the Okavango River road, is a Roman Catholic mission museum, which exhibits crafts and woodcarvings from Angola…

  • Motloutse Ruins

    Botswana

    Near Solomon’s Wall are the Motloutse Ruins, a Great Zimbabwe–era stone village that belonged to the kingdom of Mwene Mutapa. There's not a whole lot to…

  • Walvis Bay Museum

    Walvis Bay

    The town museum is located in the library. It concentrates on the history and maritime background of Walvis Bay, but also has archaeological exhibits, a…

  • Living Desert Snake Park

    Swakopmund

    This park houses an array of serpentine sorts. The owner knows everything you’d ever want to know – or not know – about snakes, scorpions, spiders and…

  • Kaiserliches Postampt

    Namibia

    There are a few examples of German colonial architecture, including the 1910 Kaiserliches Postampt, the old post office. There's an information office…

  • Lighthouse

    Swakopmund

    This operational lighthouse, an endearing Swakopmund landmark just off Strand St, was constructed in 1902. It was originally built 11m high, but an…

  • First Bridge

    Okavango Delta

    Blink and you'll miss it. First Bridge is more useful than interesting – depending on its state of repair, an alternative track alongside may serve the…

  • Cemetery

    Namibia

    In the town cemetery, off Okavango Rd, you can wander the graves of several Schutztruppe soldiers who died in combat with local forces around the turn of…

  • Solomon’s Wall

    Botswana

    Tuli Block’s most famous feature is Solomon’s Wall, a 30m-high basalt dyke cut naturally through the landscape on either side of the sandy riverbed.

  • German Evangelical Lutheran Church

    Swakopmund

    This neo-baroque church was built in 1906 to accommodate the growing Lutheran congregation of Dr Heinrich Vedde – it still holds regular services.

  • Alte Kaserne

    Swakopmund

    The imposing, fort-like Alte Kaserne was built in 1906 by the railway company, and now houses the Hostelling International Youth Hostel.

  • Museum

    Botswana

    There is a small, dusty museum at Main (Rhino) Camp with a handful of ethnographic exhibits and wall-sized quotes about the rock art.

  • Old German School

    Swakopmund

    The 1912 baroque-style Old German School was the result of a 1912 competition, which was won by budding German architect Emil Krause.

  • Church

    Namibia

    This church is at once an important landmark and a spiritual focal point for the local community.

  • Rhenish Mission Church

    Namibia

    A significant local landmark that dates back to the earliest German settlement here.

  • Herero Heroes Cemetery

    Namibia

    Houses the graves of fallen chiefs, killed in battles with the Nama and the Germans.

  • Bushy Corner

    Fish River Canyon

    An area of dense thorn scrub around 30km beyond Sulphur Springs.

  • Lookout

    Walvis Bay

    A good spot for getting an overview of the bird-rich ponds.

  • Turnhalle

    Windhoek

    The Turnhalle was built in 1909 as a training hall for the Windhoek Gymnastic Club, though in 1975 it was modernised and turned into a conference hall. On…

  • Old Magistrates’ Court

    Windhoek

    This old courthouse was built in 1898 for Carl Ludwig, the state architect, but it was never used and was eventually drafted into service as the…

  • Phuthadikobo Museum

    Botswana

    This small museum, in what used to be Mochudi's first school, has some interesting exhibits on Mochudi's history, although opening hours are best…

  • Kriegerdenkmal

    Windhoek

    Zoo Park's rather anachronous mate to the elephant column is the Kriegerdenkmal, topped by a rather frightening golden imperial eagle, which was dedicated…

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