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Namibia's capital Windhoek is often described as a city with a ‘continental’ atmosphere. This can be ascribed to its architecture – historical buildings dating back to German colonial rule – as well as to its cuisine, culture, dress codes and educational institutions. With a population of around 250-280,000 people it often appears to have a laid back and easy feel about it. Situated at 1700m above sea level it is surrounded by mountains.
At the same time Windhoek has the colour, sounds and tempo of a modern African city. Pavement displays of African drums and woodcarvings from the north contrast with elegant shops offering sophisticated Swakara garments and Namibian gemstones set in individually designed pieces of jewellery.
While some shops display clothing, silver and glassware imported from Europe, others stock casual and colourful clothes from West Africa.
Because of the area's plentiful hot springs, Windhoek was initially known as Ai-gams (spelt /Ais //Gams to indicate the click sound), a Nama word meaning "firewater", "steam" or "smoke", and Otjo-muise, a Herero word meaning the "place of steam".
The Nama captain, Jan Jonker Afrikaner, gave the town the name it carries today. In the early 1840s Afrikaner settled where the most powerful spring reached the surface. It is thought that in a moment of nostalgia he named the place after Winterhoek, the farm in the Cape where he was born. During the German colonial administration the town was called Windhuk, which later became Windhoek.
Getting around is pretty straightforward and many shopping malls, banks, restaurants are centrally based or an easy taxi ride away. It's easy to buy all that you need in preparation for your trip.
Public transport consists mainly of public taxis, while a bus service takes local passengers between Katutura and Khomasdal to Windhoek and its various suburbs, however, the public transport system is limited.
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