Locally Brewed Beer
Windhoek produces some of the best beer in Africa. Tour the Namibia Breweries plant, attend Oktoberfest, or journey to the edge of Katutura for a daring mopani worms and traditional beer pairing.
Windhoek unfolds over the sultry plains of Namibia, offering up endless blue skies, glorious starry nights, and an unforgettable journey into the urban heart of one of the most magnificent landscapes in Africa. Windhoek is home to over 500,000 people and the cosmopolitan capital of Namibia. Notable attractions include Alte Feste, Daan Viljoen Game Reserve and Heinitzburg castle.
With cheap flights to Windhoek you have a chance to discover unique desert landscapes, drink hair-raisingly good beer, and be enchanted by a wild tapestry of cultures. Windhoek is home to Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), which is 35-minute drive from the city centre. Hosea Kutako International Airport serves South African Airways and Air Namibia. Non-stop flights to Windhoek depart from Johannesburg and Cape Town, while popular connecting flights to Windhoek depart from Durban. Flight duration from Johannesburg to Windhoek is approximately 2 hours.
Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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Windhoek produces some of the best beer in Africa. Tour the Namibia Breweries plant, attend Oktoberfest, or journey to the edge of Katutura for a daring mopani worms and traditional beer pairing.
Try traditional kapana in Singles Quarters and browse colourful Herero crafts, or marvel at the historical magnificence of Alte Feste (circa. 1890) and the 600-million-year-old Gibeon meteorites.
Be awed by the surreal and spectacular compositions of Windhoek, a glimmering urban oasis of green and pearlescent hues sunken into the blistering hickory plains of the wild Namibian outback.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
Country | Namibia |
---|---|
Currency | Namibian Dollar |
Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 1 NAD |
Language | Oshiwambo dialects / Afrikaans |
Hub Airport | Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) |
Airline | Air Namibia |
Time Zone | GMT + 2 |
Travel Adaptor | Type D & M |
Windhoek experiences a hot semi-arid climate, with two distinct seasons: dry (May to October) and wet (November to April). Average temperatures range from 31 degrees Celsius in summer to 6 degrees Celsius in winter. The most rain falls in December. The best time to visit Windhoek is from May to late-October. These months offer ideal conditions for activities, sight-seeing and game viewing in the national parks. This is peak season, so be prepared for denser crowds and higher rates. Oktoberfest takes over the city towards the end of October. Other notable events include: Enjando Street Festival (March) and Windhoek Karneval (late-April). For cheap flights to Windhoek, the best time to visit is between December and March.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low °C | 17°C | 17°C | 15°C | 13°C | 10°C | 7°C | 6°C | 9°C | 12°C | 14°C | 16°C | 17°C |
High °C | 31°C | 29°C | 27°C | 26°C | 23°C | 22°C | 22°C | 25°C | 27°C | 29°C | 30°C | 31°C |
Rainfall (mm) | 70 | 110 | 50 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | 40 |
Lost in the desert, but magnificently ablaze with cosmopolitan energy and cultural symbiosis, Windhoek is a place of extraordinary urban vigour and feverish soul.
A trip to Windhoek is a soul-stirring journey into a world where the rules do not apply. Local Herero women clad in Victorian-style dresses stroll through the streets and locals spend afternoons mingling on Eveline Street – a cultural lifeline of colourful shebeens, thumping music and braai stands.
Take a self-guided history tour of the city and explore notable attractions such as Christuskirche, Tintenpalast, Parliament Gardens, Alte Feste and the Independence Memorial Museum.
Visit the National Art Gallery for a glimpse into the local art scene; catch everything from open mic nights and karaoke to poetry readings and comedy at The Warehouse Theatre; join a drumming circle at Joe’s Beerhouse; or go wildlife spotting at N/a'an ku se Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary.
And don’t forget to try the biltong!
Windhoek beckons with a beer and cheery “Hallo!” and “Ongiini?”
Compare and book your cheap flights to Windhoek with popular flight routes from Cape Town to Windhoek online at Travelstart.
South African passport holders do not require a visa to visit Namibia. You will need to ensure your passport has a validity of at least 6 months and has empty pages for entry stamps. If you are visiting from abroad, you will need a tourist visa (although some countries are exempt from obtaining visas). Visas are valid for 90 days.
Visit the VisaHQ website for more information and to find out if your country is exempt from obtaining a visa.
Namibia is one of the safest countries in Africa. However, it is still recommended that you take certain precautions and use common sense as you would in any other unfamiliar city. Travel insurance to cover theft and medical expenses is recommended.
Remain vigilant and avoid flashy displays of wealth and carrying large sums of cash, valuables and important documents, as pick-pocketing does happen. Avoid driving outside of the city at night as wildlife and stray livestock pose a serious hazard. Townships should be avoided at night. Familiarise yourself with the local laws and customs before arriving.
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if you are travelling from an infected area. Malaria is a risk in certain parts of Namibia, so the necessary precautions should be taken to avoid infection. Immunisation against hepatitis A & B, typhoid and rabies are recommended. Other routine vaccinations include MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, polio and influenza.
Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Windhoek |
---|---|---|---|
Meal inexpensive restaurant | R 90.00 | R 100.00 | R 100.00 |
Domestic beer (0.5 litre draught) | R 22.00 | R 20.00 | R 16.00 |
Cappucino (regular) | R 19.00 | R 20.00 | R 20.00 |
Taxi 1km (normal tariff) | R 10.00 | R 12.00 | R 10.00 |
Packet of cigarettes (Marlboro) | R 35.00 | R 35.00 | R 40.00 |
Windhoek is a large, sprawling city, so accommodation options are varied and available in abundance.
The suburbs of Ludwigsdorf, Suiderhof and Pioneers Park offer an exceptional selection for those wanting to experience the easy-going rhythm of Namibia, while Windhoek Central offers easy access to restaurants, transport and the nightlife. If it is your first time in Windhoek, staying in the city centre is recommended.
Accommodation in Windhoek ranges from ritzy safari hotels and lavish resorts offering glorious panoramic views, decadent spa facilities and sprawling golf courses, to charming guest houses and affordable hostels. Expect world-class facilities and exceptional hospitality.
Windhoek is a pedestrian-friendly city, so walking is one of the best ways to explore the city. However, private taxis are a great option for cross town trips or when temperatures are sweltering. A number of agencies operate within the city. Taxis can be organised through your hotel reception.
If you plan to venture out of the city limits, car rental offers superb freedom and flexibility. Kiosks for reliable car rental agencies such as Bidvest, Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty can be found at Hosea Kutako International Airport.
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