Reiterdenkmal - Namibia

The Reiterdenkmal was financed privately and designed by Berlin sculptor Adolf Kürle. The equestrian statue is 4.5 metres (15 ft) tall and made from bronze. It was created in Berlin and shipped to German South-West Africa in 1911. After its arrival in Swakopmund it was transported by train to Windhoek.The plinth is 5 metres (16 ft) tall and consists of approximately 180 granite rocks from Okahandja.It has a plaque mounted on it that remembers the German soldiers and civilians that died in the Herero and Namaqua War of 1904–1907, as well as in the Kalahari Expedition in 1908. The translation of the inscription is:
    Remembering and honouring the brave German warriors that died for emperor and empire to save and protect this land during the Herero and Hottentot uprisings between 1903 and 1907, and during the Kalahari Expedition in 1908. Also remembering and honouring German citizens that died from the hands of the indigenous. Fallen, missing, died from accident, succumbed to their injuries or sickness: Of the Protection Force: 100 officers, 254 non-commissioned officers, 1180 soldiers, of the marine: 7 officers, 13 non-commissioned officers, 27 seamen. Killed during the uprising: 119 men, 4 women, 1 child.

German South-West African Governor Theodor Seitz inaugurated the monument on the 53rd birthday of German emperor Wilhelm II on 27 January 1912.

Although the monument is unusual in that it displays a corporal on horseback, Namibian historian Andreas Vogt incorrectly claims that nowhere else in the world is an ordinary soldier sculpted in that manner and that the honour of being displayed on a horse is only extended to "highest nobility like emperors, kings and princes". German historian Joachim Zeller points out that traditionally equestrian statues symbolise imperial rule and power, and that this is how the function of the Reiterdenkmal has to be interpreted.

!!!!This is Namibia!!!!!!

 The Popa Falls are defiantly not the biggest falls you can find in Namibia but they do provide an absolute beautiful setting for a sun-downer boat cruises or islands dinners. The sound of the Popa Falls at only a few hundred meters from the lodge is the ideal soundtrack while relaxing in the Spa or enjoying dinner.

 Although you may think that mini-bus taxis, buses and bakkies are the modern means of transport in an ever-expanding Africa, on the dusty roads of the Namibian interior, far from crowded cities and the hustle and bustle of the 21st century, it is also the donkey cart that is one of the quintessential Namibian forms of transport.

The Namib Desert consists of massive mountains of sand, dunes that ‘walk around', fossilized driftwood, skeletons, ancient granite mountains, doleritic plains, San cave art, shipwrecks, the marvelous Welwitschia, elephants, and gemsbok, These are a few of the spectacular phenomena one can find in the Namib Desert. The Namib, the world's oldest desert, lies on the south west coast of Africa, mainly in Namibia.
 

 The Himba are an ancient tribe of tall, slender and statuesque herders. Since the 16th century they have lived in scattered settlements, leading a life that has remained unchanged, surviving war and droughts. The tribal structure helps them live in one of the most extreme environments on earth.

  

An adult welwitschia consists of two leaves, a stem base and roots. That is all! Its two permanent leaves are unique in the plant kingdom. They are the original leaves from when the plant was a seedling, and they just continue to grow and are never shed. They are leathery, broad, strap-shaped and they lie on the ground becoming torn to ribbons and tattered with age.

Namibia is a very diverse country with an array of habitats and vegetation. It is also one of the few countries where animals still roam freely mostly unrestricted by human influence. The country has a great mix of desert, semi- desert and savannahs. As you travel further north in Namibia towards Etosha National Park, you will find a place that offers visitors a complete contrast of wide open grasslands, a massive pan that covers 4731km² and large camel thorn trees mixed with Mopani trees. This diverse vegetation accounts for the abundance of wildlife that thrives in the park.

Monuments and Historical Buildings in Windhoek, Namibia

Most monuments in Windhoek, the Namibian capital, are located within walking distance from each other. Please allow a couple of hours for the walking tour. Monuments in Windhoek, opened during colonial times, commemorate mostly events from German or South African side.

Christuskriche

Windhoek railway station (Mandume Ndemufayo Av.)
The southern wing and central building was built in 1912. In 1929 the northern wing was added.

The Locomotive (the Illing) (in front of railway station)
A narrow-gauge locomotive (gauge 600 mm) has been mounted on stand in front of the station after running between Swakopmund and Otavi from 1904 to 1939. The engine was built in Germany in 1903 and assembled in Swakopmund.  

 

Owambo Campaign Memorial (near railway station)

 This memorial near the railway station was erected by members of the South African Army in memory of their comrades killed on the 6th of February, 1917 near Ehole (Oihole) in a battle against uprising of King Mandume Ndemufayo of Kwanjama. He was killed in action and his head was cut off.

 Kudu Monument (Independence Av.)
Erected in early 60's. Commissioned and donated by Mr. Behnsen, businessman and owner of firm Metje and Ziegler, Ltd. Commemorates a period when a disease struck kudu population and nearly wiped them out.

Zoo Garden (Independence Av., opposite of Gathemann restaurant)
Established in the beginning of the century. Changes were made in 1962 and the Garden was extended. The northwest corner of the garden with its open-air theater and pergola is of special interest, further the children's playground.

Altes Bezirksgericht (Goethe str.)
High Court building. Built in 1908. Remained in use till late 60's when the new High Court building was opened near Kudu Monument. Presently serves as a headquarters of Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Alte Feste (Old Fort) (Robert Mugabe Av.)
The oldest building in Windhoek (1890). The foundation stone of the fort was laid by Curt von Francois on 18 October 1890. The building was expanded and had some 54 rooms in 1912. Alte Feste served as a headquarters of Schutztruppe and from 1915 as a headquarters of South African troops. From 1935 was used as a hostel for Windhoek High School and from 1962 it is a museum.

War Memorial (Zoo Garden, Independence Av.)
The memorial bearing a golden eagle, which stands in the middle of the lawns, was erected by order of Governor Leutwein in 1897 in memory of those killed before 1897.

Springbuck Fountain (Zoo Garden)
At the corner of Peter Muller Street and Independence Avenue, adjoining the southern end of the Zoo Garden. The Fountain was a donation of the Chamber of Commerce.

Curt von Francois Statue (Independence Av., in front of Municipality)
This monument was erected in memory of Major Curt von Francois. Unveiled on the 18th of October 1965. The statue is almost 18 ft. tall.

Christuskirche (Robert Mugabe Av.)
The idea to build a church for the German Evangelical Lutheran congregation was voiced in 1900 but these plans had to be shelved during Nama and Herero uprisings. Construction was started in 1907.

Artillery and Kammer Gebaude (Hugel str.)
These buildings are probably two of the earliest in Windhoek, apart from Alte Feste.
Built in mid 1890 for artillery division of Schutztruppe as an ammunition strore and weapon repair shop.

Schmerenbeck-Haus (Independence Av.)
Opposite the Municipality. Built in 1893, after 1900 it was enlarged and a gabled roof was added.

Reiterdenkmal (Equestrian statue) (opposite of Christus Kirche)
Erected at the suggestion of the commanding officer of the Schutztruppe, Col. Ludwig von Estorff. The memorial commemorated German soldiers and civilians killed in Nama and Herero uprisings (1903-1907 and 1908). It was unveiled on 27 January 1912, the birthday of Kaiser Wilhelm.

Elizabeth-Haus (Storch str.)
Architect Gottlieb Redecker. Built in 1907 as a maternity home and named after Duchess Elizabeth zu Mecklenburg, wife of the President of German Colonial Company. Until the closure of the building as a maternity home in 1981, some 12 669 babies were born there.

Erkrath-Gathemann-Kronprinz Facades (Independence Av.)
The oldest building is former Hotel Kronprinz (1901-02). Gathemann building was erected in 1913 and expanded in 1926/7 and Erkrath building (1910) is the last to the right. Architect Wilhelm Sander.

Felsenkeller Brauerei (Tal str.)
At the beginning of  the century there were four breweries in the country: Kronen Brewery in Swakopmund, Omaruru Brewery, Klein Windhoek Brewery and Felsenkeller Brewery in Tal valley in Windhoek. The demand for local beer was increasing rapidly and the brewery was expanded in 1912. After World War 1 a number of German citizens were deported back to Germany and smaller breweries had to close down. Omaruru and Klein Windhoek breweries were purchased by Herman Olthaver and Carl List. Hnasa Brewery joined the Consortium in 1968 when the South West Breweries were formed, renamed to Namibia Breweries after Independence.

"Old Location" or "Gammans" cemetery
Located next to Hochland road and the oldest know cemetery in Windhoek. The first identifiable grave is of Zacharias Kukuri who was buried on 18 April 1905. Ehrenfield Nganjako was the last person buried there on 4 November 1926.

Gibeon Meteorites (Post Street Mall)
Discovered by James Alexander in 1838.

Oudstryder an Bittereinder Memorial (Bismark str.)
The memorial was erected to commemorate "Bittereinders" of the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). A number of Boers where forced to flee South Africa and they settled in South West Africa (Namibia).

State House (Robert Mugabe Av.)
Previously served as the residence of the Governor. At present it is the residence of the President of Namibia.

Old cemetery and war memorial (Robert Mugabe Av.)
Located on the both sides of Robert Mugabe Av. The graveyard was closed in 1927. A "Cross of Sacrifice" was unveiled on 11 November 1981 as a memorial for the victims of WW 2.

"Tintenpalast" and Gardens (Robert Mugabe Av.)
The former German administrative building, "Tintenpalast" ("palace of ink") was built in 1913 at the cost of 414 888.84 Mark. In 1931 the Municipality of Windhoek undertook the laying out of the gardens in front of the building. During 1932 some 300 Olive trees were planted.

Three Castles of Windhoek
Schwerinsburg (Sperlingslust)
The tower of this castle was built by Curt von Francois during the time of construction of Alte Feste. In 1904 the army sold the tower to Wilhelm Sander, well known architect, who converted the place to a beer garden. In 1913 was bought by Dr. Hans Bogislav Graf von Schwerin, who engaged W. Sander to convert the tower into a castle. Presently a residence of Italian Ambassador to Namibia.

Heinitzburg
The castle was built by Wilhelm Sander in 1914 and bought 1916 by the Countess von Schwerin (born Heynitz). Presently used as a hotel: Heinitzburg.

SanderburgBuilt by Wilhelm Sander in 1916 as a residence for himself. Presently a private house.

a Taste of Namibian Cuisine

Namibian cuisine is the cuisine of Namibia. It is influenced by two primary cultural strands: 
Cookery practised by indigenous people of Namibia such as the Himba, Herero and San groups
Settler cookery introduced during the colonial period by people of German, Afrikaner and British descent.

Indigenous Cookery

 

In the precolonial period indigenous cuisine was characterised by the use of a very wide range of fruits, nuts, bulbs, leaves and other products gathered from wild plants and by the hunting of wild game. The domestication of cattle in the region about two thousand years ago by Khoisan groups enabled the use of milk products and the availability of meat. However, during the colonial period the seizure of communal land in Namibia helped to discourage traditional agriculture and reduced the extent of land available to black people. 

Settler Cookery

Namibia was settled by German colonists during the nineteenth century, and German influence on white Namibian cookery remains very strong. One example of German settler cuisine is Wiener schnitzel.

Discover Namibia's Past

Early in the 20th Century Namibia was a German Colony. After the 1st World War it became a League of Nations administered territory. Following the 2nd World War, South Africa administered Namibia, until independence in 1990.

Fun Facts.......
  * The first European to set foot on Namibia was Portuguese Diogo Cao in 1485
  * Bartholomeu Diaz stopped in Walvis Bay and Luderitz and on his way around the Cape of Good Hope
  *History tells that the Germans claimed South West Africa (as it was known) between 1884 and 1915
  *  In 1915, South Africa, being a member of the Britsh Commonwealth at the time occupied the German colony of South West Africa
    * South Africa ruled Namibia between 1915 and 1966
    *  Namibia fought for independence from South Africa during the period from 1966 to 1990
    * Independence was finally granted in 1990


Precolonial History of Namibia
Namibia has passed through several distinct stages over the years. If history is a subject you enjoy, you'll definitely enjoy discovering more about this country's past. At first glance the history of Namibia is relatively recent, however this is partly due to the fact that the pre-colonial history was never written down, but there is plenty archaeological evidence that shows that people inhabited Namibia at least 25,000 years ago. Namibia is a diverse country of hunter gatherers, traditional pastoralists, subsistence and commercial farmers, traders, miners and fisherman belonging to a variety of language and cultural groups.

Namibia History: The Scramble for Africa

Arguably the oldest inhabitants of the region are the Bushmen or San People, evident from the rock paintings and engravings at places in Damaraland like Twyfelfontein and the Brandberg. Today an estimated 35,000 Bushmen live in Namibia, with only a few of them continuing their historical and traditional ways of life. The Bushman share some linguistic features (such as the clicks) with the Damara and Nama peoples who established themselves in the area after them. Herero and Himba are the other distinctive cultures. The Herero can be see in flamboyant Victorian-style dresses and the semi-nomadic Himba are famous for covering themselves with otjize, a mixture of butter fat and ochre, which gives their skins a reddish tinge. The Owambo live in and around the northern parts of the country where farming is good and they can fish in the shallow waterways.

Namibia owes much of history to the Europeans

The first European to travel to namibia was the Portuguese Diogo Cao in 1485, who stopped briefly at the Skeleton Coast and raised a limestone cross there, on his exploratory mission along the west coast of Africa. This cross is nowadays known as Cape Cross and its historical importance is almost superseded by being home to a colony of over 100 000 Cape Fur Seals. The next significant visitor was Barholomeu Dias who stopped enroute at Walvis Bay and Luderitz on his way around the Cape of Good Hope. The Namib Desert was a formidable barrier and neither of these Portuguese explorers went very far inland!

The next important stage of Namibian History, was in 1793 when the Dutch Authority took control of Walvis Bay as it was a good deep water harbour. When the United Kingdom took control of the Cape Colony in 1797 they also took over Walvis Bay.

Namibia owes much of its most recent history to the infamous ‘Scramble for Africa’ that resulted in the 1878 British Annexation of the land surrounding Walvis Bay Harbour, the Afrikaner ‘trek boers’ escaping to the Cape Colony to the south and the proclamation in 1884 by Bismarck, of the protectorate of German South West Africa. During the First World War the South African forces gained control of German South West Africa and following the Treaty of Versailles continued to administer the areas as South West Africa. Resolution 435 of the United Nations in 1989 finally resulted in a peaceful independence for the Namibia people in 1990.

Rock Engravings of Twyfelfontein - Namibia

Taking the huge jump from the hunter-gatherer era thousands of years ago to the 21st century, we begin to appreciate the recognition and attention given to the Twyfelfontein engravings in recent times. This occurred while the country was going through wars, occupied first by the Germans and then by the South Africans, finally becoming independent as Namibia in 1990.

It is believed that the local people knew of the site and avoided the engravings, respecting the place as a holy area inhabited by the spirits of the deceased.
Word of the engravings reached the western world when Reinhard Maack mentioned the Twyfelfontein site in his 1921 report to the Administrator of South West Africa. A land surveyor named Volkmann had written to him, informing him of a remarkable group of rock engravings at a spring called /Ui-//aes.
In 1946 a farmer, David Levine from Mariental, moved onto the land. The family arrived by donkey cart, having followed an elephant track. Levine reported the engravings to the authorities in Windhoek and named his farm Twyfelfontein, meaning ‘doubtful spring’, which referred to his not being sure whether the spring would provide sufficient water for his animals and family. The name stuck and as the years went by more and more interest was shown in the engravings.

In 1964 Twyfelfontein was incorporated into a communal area for the Damara people as proposed by the Odendaal Commission. The Levine family left a year later. In 1971 the South West African Administration allocated the lands around Twyfelfontein as communal area for the exclusive use of Damara farmers.
In 1963, however, Rudolf Scherz had surveyed the site in detail, documenting over 2 500 individual engravings and paintings, and in 1968 an archaeological investigation was carried out by Erich Wendt to establish the age and cultural affinities of the rock art. Excavations at the site yielded dates of 3 450 and 5 850 years ago, confirming an archaeological affinity with late Holocene hunter-gatherers.

Further investigations and assessments were carried out in the 1980s by Kinahan and Kinahan. Documentation was carried out by Dowson in 1992, and detailed field records were made of the rock art in February 2005, documenting 2 075 identifiable images. This is considered to be a somewhat conservative number, underestimating the total tally of engravings and paintings by approximately five per cent.
The rock engraving site at Twyfelfontein is one of Africa’s largest and most important concentrations of rock art. Twyfelfontein was proclaimed a National Monument in 1952 and the National Heritage Council of Namibia (NHC) is now the legal custodian. At the time of its proclamation as a National Monument, the site received less than a hundred visitors per year. This has now increased to more than 40 000, making Twyfelfontein one of the more popular destinations for international tourists to Namibia.

Gobabeb-Namibia's World-Famous Desert Research Centre

Have you ever heard of the Gobabeb Research & Training Centre? Do you wanna know what it is all About? Here is some facts that will inform you all about the Gobabeb Research and Training Centre........Enjoy........

Gobabeb Centre

Dunes at Gobabeb Training Centre

*The Gobabeb Training and Research Center is an internationally recognized center for dry land training and research in Namibia
*Locted in the Namib Desert, 120km South East of Walvis Bay
*Gobabeb was founded by the Austrian entomologist Dr. Charles Koch in 1962. Since 1998 Gobabeb has been a joint Venture between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and the Desert Research Foundation Namibia (DRFN).*Gobabeb conducts research in the fields of climate, ecology and geomorphology. Further it tests, demonstrates and promotes Appropriate Technologies
*By conducting training courses Gobabeb aims to improve the public awareness and knowledge of dry land ecology and environmental issues. The station consists of permanent researchers, students, and interns, as well as short time visitors such as school and university groups, and tourists. Gobabeb also hosts film crews, journalists and artists.

Gobabeb Water Tank

*The name Gobabeb, spelt correctly as /Nomabeb, is a Nama/Topnaar word meaning ‘the place of the fig tree’. It refers to the large Ficus that grows in the Kuiseb riverbed below the station. This particular site was selected for building a research facility because it affords access to the three main habitats that occur in the Namib Desert: the dune sea, the gravel plains and the ephemeral Kuiseb River and its associated woodland.

The National Art Gallery of Namibia

History of NAGN.......

The National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) is situated at the corner of Robert Mugabe Avenue and John Meinert Street in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. Before independence in 1990, the coordination of visual art and crafts at a national level was carried out by the Arts Association of Namibia (AAN). From the time of independence in 1990, efforts were underway to create a National Art Gallery of Namibia.

VISION

To be the leading institution for celebrating, collecting, preserving, exhibiting and researching visual art and craft, as a component of our national identity, cultural heritage and human connectedness.

 

MISSION

To provide dedicated space and human capacity for the exhibition, appreciation, acquisition, conservation, preservation and research of visual art and craft. 

To encourage the formation of a Namibian, African and global consciousness of the value of visual art and craft for the continued development of humankind.

Namibia's Unique Rail experience - Desert Express

Desert Express was designed and built in Namibia and has been winding through our beautiful country since 3 April 1998.

   Burnt amber upholstery, rich golden-red woods and animal motifs are just a few ways to tastefully echo the landscape through which you travel. Desert Express consists of nine coaches, which are permanently linked via a draw bar. This train is highly modern, featuring all the convenience and luxury a traveler could ask for.
Namibia’s unique rail experience offers an overnight weekend get-away from Windhoek to our coastal towns –Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The Desert Express also offers a seven-day tour from Windhoek to Swakopmund, Etosha and back to Windhoek on selected dates. The tour includes: onboard accommodation, elegant dining and an excursion through Namibia’s magnificent landscape.

The Desert Express offers the following:
Sleeper compartments  

24 compartments in total
One compartment sleeps two adults and one child
En-suite shower, toilet and wash basin
Air-conditioned
Cabins convert into a lounge by day and bedroom by night
A small safe is available for valuables

Spitzkoppe Lounge

Full bar services
Air-conditioned
Plush leather couches
Gift shop





Welwitschia Restaurant

Three-course meal
Exquisite wine list
Special dietary requirements (by prior arrangement)

Conference facilities

Accommodates up to 40 people in the conference layout
Accommodates up to 60 people in cinema layout
Projector and screen
DVD and VCR facilities
Five-CD shuttle
Sound system
Four TV monitors
Additional services


Excursions en-route
Desert Express can be booked as a charter train
Curios are available on-board
Separate accounts are available
Vehicles can be loaded on board and offloaded at your destination (by prior arrangement) 

Namibia's Shepherds Tree

The tree is found all over southern Africa and as far as Zambia, is the aptly named shepherds tree (Boscia albitrunca) also known as 'witgat' in Afrikaans. It is fairly easy to identify with its generally whitish trunk, and feeding animals give shepherds trees a distinctive browse line, making them appear to be clipped to an even height on the underside. It has a shady canopy of evergreen, highly nutritious leaves and they always occur singly.

The trees bear small, round, yellowish berries that are edible and sweet tasting. The leathery leaves are grey-green. Birds, kudu and giraffe are particularly fond of them and the roasted roots can be used as a coffee substitute. As with other trees, shrubs and plants, the branches are cut and fed to feed sheep and cattle in times of drought.

In some areas, farmers and locals will bend and tie down the branches, so that animals can reach them. Various parts of the tree are used to cure different ailments in traditional medicines. The shepherds tree is protected in Namibia.

 

Car Rental Namibia-Thrifty Car Rental

Thrifty Car Rental is a trading entity within Springs Car Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd, a division of The SAFY Group established in 1981.

 Thrifty's vehicles are replaced every 12 months with current models; this ensures that the vehicles are always less than 1 year old.

  

Currently Thrifty Car Rental has branches nationwide including representation at all major airports in South Africa and Namibia.

To cater for the needs of commercial light to heavy duty vehicles we have recently launched the Thrifty Van Rentals division

Marula Self Drive/Self Catering-Namibia

The Marula is a 9 day self-drive accommodated tour that visits the highlights of southern Namibia. Accommodation is in a combination of comfortable lodges, guest houses and self-catering establishments, taking into account the varying days of either long drives or the cross-country route which eventually leads to the Namib Desert. One particular species of Marula, Sclerocarya birrea, a member of the mango family, produces aromatic resin and some are poisonous and can cause severe skin irritations. 

Accommodation in Luderitz & Sossusvlei has been chosen for self-catering purposes. This is the perfect option for those early morning starts, picnic lunches and sundowner drives without sacrificing flexibility, value for money or a good night's sleep. Beginning in Windhoek there is a long drive on well-maintained tarred roads to Fish River Canyon,the 2nd largest of it's kind in the world. Stand at the edge on the main viewpoint and admire the stunning views. The Fish River is generally dry, but can change quickly into a raging torrent once the rains commence.

Some cross-country driving follows for the shorter journey to Luderitz, a former trading post, fishing and guano-harvesting town that exploded with the discovery of diamonds in nearby Kolmanskop in 1908. The ghost town is only a few km drive from Luderitz and was once a bustling little centre, providing shelter for workers from the harsh environment of the Namib Desert. It soon resembled a German town with large, elegant houses and a comprehensive array of amenities.

 Canyon and coast make way for dunes and desert as you head to Sossusvlei, one of Namibia's most spectacular sights and the country's 2nd most popular tourist attraction. It is a clay, almost circular, hard-surfaced depression that is virtually surrounded by beautiful sharp-edged dunes. Beyond lies a formidable sea of rolling sand, stretching in unbroken immensity all the way to the coast. During exceptional rainy seasons such as in 2011, Sossusvlei will fill with water, although usually it is dry.

Kidz Gear Namibia now on Namibia Reservations website

Do you want to have the luxury of travelling in Namibia with the least amount of luggage?
Kidz Gear Namibia assists you with a relaxing holiday without any hassle. They children’s products are of highest quality and safety standards as well as promising easy handling.
If you are looking for a specific item, you can gladly contact us with your wishes at info@namibiareservations.com or visit our website at www.namibiareservations.com/kidz_gear_namibia.html