Windhoek

A low-key luxury train offering a wonderful 22-hour overnight scenic journey between Windhoek and Swakopmund.

Locals dub this unusual building ‘The Coffee Machine’, but within the Independence Memorial Museum you’ll find stirring exhibitions and archives covering Namibia’s journey from colonialism through liberation struggle to independence. Entrance is free, and the top-floor café has excellent views of the city.

Set in the Old Breweries Complex in central Windhoek, the Namibia Craft Centre offers souvenirs and handicrafts from across Namibia. Home to more than 40 craft enterprises – largely community- or women-owned – you’ll find everything from Himba jewellery to hand-woven Zambezi baskets. Look out for the excellent collection of Namibian art and music too.

More inner-city nature reserve than manicured garden, the 12-hectare National Botanic Garden of Namibia offers a selection of walking trails to explore. Useful information boards highlight key species, from endemic succulents to the enigmatic quiver tree. Open Monday to Friday. Free entrance.

No visit to Windhoek is complete without a stop at this offbeat eatery where the Windhoek lager is always cold and the enormous portions of grillhaxe (pork knuckle) fly out of the kitchen. Take a wander to admire the quirky décor between courses.

The rooftop Skybar at the Hilton Windhoek is the city’s finest sundowner spot, with glorious views and a particularly impressive gin menu, with a collection of Namibian craft gins infused with local botanicals.