Windhoek is one of the most appealing of African capitals, surrounded by the Central Highlands with its rolling hills, acacia trees and dramatic ridges. The city is clean, safe and well-organised, with a colonial legacy that is reflected in its many German eateries and shops, and the widespread use of the German language.

You will almost certainly need one overnight stop here. It is a small city with a population of about 200,000 and thus the centre of the city can easily be explored on foot. A spare afternoon can be spent browsing the friendly street markets - perhaps buying jewellery, leather goods or African crafts. You also get to understand something of the cultural diversity of Namibia. As you walk the city streets, the different dress of passers-by gives a clue to the origins of each person.

Windhoek has an interesting mix of historical architecture and modern buildings, many of which are worth a look. Its Germanic roots are much in evidence with late 19th/early 20th century Germanic architecture such as the 1896 Christuskirche, the Tintenpalast, the Alte Fest (old fort) and the three castles of Schwerinburg, Sanderburg and Heinitzburg.