We spent a week in Windhoek with our children - here are our favourite activities
For families, Windhoek is full of promise
The last thing I expected to do in Windhoek was fall in love. But after spending seven days in Namibia’s capital city, I was infatuated with the place.
Windhoek has everything you want in a holiday destination: good food, friendly people, and multiple attractions.
Our week-long holiday wasn’t the first time we visited but previous trips had been too short to get out and truly experience the city. Namibia’s capital had been calling to me. Almost everyone who visits will tell you they can’t get enough of it. Now I know why. We spent our week in Windhoek taking in the culture, eating at some of the well-known restaurants, and enjoying the adventure activities on offer.
Family-friendly restaurants
We arrive in Windhoek on a Sunday afternoon and I’m ready to explore. One way to do this is to get out and eat. What new culinary adventures await, I wonder!
But. A reality check grounds me forcefully.
I remember I have three children under the age of 10 who are desperate to run, play, and in no way desire any of the constriction a more adult establishment would demand. And that’s why we ended up at Spur. If you know anything about Spur, you know all are not created equal. Food, service, and the quality of the play area vary greatly. (The only constant is the level of cultural appropriation.) Some are deluxe while others are lacking in food and fun. Soon I discovered the Spurs of Windhoek fell squarely in the former category. The food was more than passable. My children enjoyed the play area and the restaurant was thrumming constantly.
Spur’s family-friendly branding is a huge part of its enduring appeal but there are other eateries that more than accommodate families with young children. Movenpick Hotel offers a restaurant with a playpark and for a small fee, you can use the pool. Our visit was in the heart of winter so the pool was freezing.
The Village Garden is that magical mix of healthy, tasty food and a kid-friendly setup. Located in the Village, the restaurant is set in a pretty garden with water features and trees. Our kids enjoyed the play area and trampoline.
Also based at the Village, Seoul Food deserves a special mention. Their Korean food is one of our family’s favourite meals. I honestly don’t have enough adjectives off-hand to describe how great the food is over here. Just know it’s good. It’s not explicitly marketed as a family restaurant and you won’t find play facilities, but there’s outside seating and my children didn’t feel too restricted.
Other noteworthy highlights:
Joe’s Beerhouse doesn’t have a playground but children can walk around outside. Book in advance.
Grove Mall also has a few restaurants, like Rocco Mamas, with a central outside play area
Panarottis turned out to be a huge favourite. I’m not a fan of the pizza, but but my kids loved going there (they made new friends in the play area every single time) and they loved the food
High-energy adventures
Children are an easy lot to please. Give them an activity that involves non-stop movement and they’re set.
Our adventure began at Urban Friction, a rock climbing facility inside Maerua Mall. Fortunately, our visit just happened to coincide with the school holidays, so the kids joined a week-long holiday program focused on rock climbing. It turned out to be the perfect way for them to challenge themselves in a fun and safe environment. The activity was well-supervised, and the instructors were incredibly patient, especially with our youngest. I dropped my children there for about three or four hours and they had the afternoon to test their strength and coordination on the outdoor walls.
Just a short walk from Urban Friction is Planet Aero, a trampoline park also located inside the same mall. This place was an instant hit with our children. They bounced and flipped through several - and I sure do mean SEVERAL - visits: I became a part of the furniture of the jump park at some point. Whether it was for an hour or a full afternoon, the trampoline park provided a fantastic outlet for their energy. The children of Windhoek are incredibly social - my children made a bunch of friends here too. You’ll be able to buy snacks and drinks at the park but I packed some sandwiches and fruit.
To wrap up the week, we added a little more adrenaline to the mix by visiting Windhoek’s go-karting track. Easy to navigate, it offered just the right amount of thrill for our family (Given the mother’s limited go-karting skills.) We arrived expecting a restaurant and larger play area but that project appears to be under construction. You’ll get drinks but will need to make an alternative plan for food. (We ended up going to…Planet Aero afterwards and grabbed some food at the mall.)
Historical and cultural landmarks
As with many Southern African countries - my home country (South Africa) included - history is often complex and always painful.
Learning about South Africa’s past doesn’t engender feelings of pride or patriotism. As South Africans, this journey down memory lane is a confusing, but necessary, trip that leaves you with many questions about humanity. Namibia’s history is just as turbulent as South Africa’s but the trauma is different in that they were first oppressed by German colonisers and then later by South Africa’s apartheid government. The Independence Memorial Museum presents this history through a series of pictures and exhibits.
You’ll have no trouble picking out of the five-storey building when you first see it. Designed by a North Korean company, the Independence Museum sits on a raised green slope. Each floor has a different theme and display. Given the source material, the visit is not an easy one. My children asked many questions. I tried to answer as best I could but some acts of cruelty can never be explained. You really get a sense of Namibia’s painful past and the work that’s gone into birthing a new national identity. If you’re visiting Windhoek, solo or with your family, a visit to the Independence Museum is a must.
While I enjoy art, I won’t claim to deeply analyse each piece. Still I make an effort to visit galleries with my children. There’s this feeling of a connection to the artist; reminding me we’re all part of the universal human experience. The National Art Gallery did not disappoint. The display of human creative expression was such a treat; bold colors, textures, and materials made the artwork accessible and engaging. What made the experience particularly special was how the children related to the stories behind the art. Many of the pieces reflect Namibia’s rich history and culture.
We didn’t manage to get to all the cultural sites during our short visit, but here’s a list of a few more:
Windhoek City Museum
National Museum of Namibia
Transnamib Museum
Bushman Art Gallery
Game drives
When you mention a holiday in Africa, most tourists already have a picture in mind and a lot of the time that image involves an abundance of wildlife.
In Windhoek, you won’t have to venture far from the city to find a game drive. Ours took place at the Daan Viljoen Game Reserve and we went with Wild Wind Safaris. They picked us up from our hotel and had a pack of snacks and drinks waiting for us in the vehicle. The kids spotted zebras, antelope, and even a few giraffes.
Disclaimer: we did the game trip during a prior visit to Windhoek.
Tips for visiting Windhoek:
Check for holiday programmes if you’re visiting during June or July
Be mindful of the weather. I love Windhoek’s weather and while winter days aren’t cold, most pools will be extra chilly this time of the year. Something to note if your kids love swimming like mine do
Book ahead for more popular restaurants like Joe’s Beerhouse