Windhoek & Central Namibia hotels and tours

Shopping in Windhoek is fun and easy, and made even simpler by being able to park close to the shops. The best shopping is found along Independence Avenue and the pedestrian zone of Post Street Mall. Besides the cafés, restaurants, and speciality stores selling knick-knacks, you can observe locals as they bustle about their daily activities, and tourists as they try to bargain hard for that wooden giraffe.

The shopping in Post Street Mall is excellent and many bargains and souvenirs can be found in this extensive mall.

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Use this Windhoek and Central Namibia Shopping Guide to get an idea of the local shopping scene in the area. We have also listed some recommended shops. Whilst shopping you should also try out the local cuisine in one of the Windhoek and Central Namibia restaurants. Our Namibia Shopping Guide provides more information on shopping throughout the country.

Windhoek and Central Namibia Shopping Guide

Local Handicrafts

One of the capital's largest handicraft and curio displays can be found in Post Street Mall. Street traders set out their wares on blankets in front of the shops near the Gibeon Meteorite Fountain, which contains actual meteors from the famous meteor shower at Gibeon. At the street stalls here you will find a wide selection of baskets, beads made out of ostrich eggshells, porcupine quills, seeds and nuts. Several nearby shops specialise in gemstones, jewellery, leather goods, pottery, textiles, painting, sculpture, prints and, of course, wood carving. Carpets made from Karakul wool are also a distinctive African craft. You can also find sellers of basketwork, carvings and Herero dolls on Fidel Castro (Peter Müller) St near the Grab-a-phone kiosk, opposite the Kalahari Sands on Independence Avenue.

Camping Gear

It is easy to hire camping gear in Windhoek, with Cape Union Mart and Cymot Greensport offering a comprehensive range of quality equipment for hiking, camping, cycling and vehicle outfitting. The minimum rental period is three days and you must return it here at the end of your trip.

Bookshops

If you would like to read about Namibia, a good selection of books can be found in most tourist shops. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a general English book store then the Book Den on the top floor of Wernhil Park is your best bet. The chain store CNA also sells books and magazines but generally they only stock best sellers. The New Bookcellar (previously Bücherkeller) on Fidel Castro Street has a good range of German novels and tourist books in both English and German.

The Namibia Crafts Centre

Another important stop to pick up Namibia-inspired handicrafts is the Namibian Crafts Centre located at the South-west Brewery building. From hand-painted textiles to a carved hippopotamus, every artefact, its creator and origin is established and documented. Stop for a break at the cafe here, known for its healthy snacks and lunches.

Gemstones

Despite the fact that there are a huge variety of minerals and precious stones mined in Namibia, most of the semi-precious stones seen in curio shops on Independence Avenue are imported from around the world. You can still find some quality gemstones but you need to know what to look out for.

Leather Products

You will see a lot of exotic leathers that originate from ostrich, game and karakul. Karakul leather is used for jackets, wallets, handbags and belts while kudu leather makes sturdy shoes. Interestingly, seal leather is also used for shoes, and they are soft, water-resistant and very comfortable. The best quality of leather products can be procured from shops in the city centre on Independence Avenue. Okapuka Tannery located 20 km north of Windhoek is worth a visit if you would like to watch the process of making leather.

Okahandja

About 70 km north of Windhoek is the town of Okahandja which has two large, open-air curio markets on each end of town. The market at the southern end is larger. There is an extensive display of handcrafted Namibian works of art by Okahandja woodcarvers.

Pharmacies

You can find a number of pharmacies throughout the city with a range of goods and drugs equal to anything you'll find in the USA or Western Europe. Many are open seven days a week.

Shopping Places

Post Street

This is the main pedestrian drag and has a number of street vendors that sell various curios, although many of them are the same as you'll see in other African countries such as beaded wire animals, wooden bowls, raffia woven pieces of cloth, hand painted table cloths, woven grass baskets etc.

One of the more talented vendors is a gentleman called Tindo who will make beaded, wire curios to order.

Kapanga is another local artist to look out for, producing some interesting linocut images of Etosha and Namibian scenery.

Over the last 15 years, most Namibians have had to learn the art of bartering due to tourist insisting that this is a standard method of exchange within Africa. They are definitely better at it than they used to be but it is still not really part of their cultural background. There are often large disparities in the deals you can strike, so it is worth asking around before purchasing anything.

Address : Post Street, Windhoek

Anin

This small shop specialises in a variety of good quality, hand-embroidered linen products including bed and table linen as well as cushion covers.

"Anin" means bird in Nama, the local dialect that is spoken by the majority of women involved in this cottage industry. Birds are incorporated in many of the unique designs that Anin produces hence the name. The business was started by Heidi von Hase in 1987 and empoys around 300 women, most of whom come from around Hoachanas area, south-east of Windhoek.

Address : Bougain Villas 78 Sam Nujoma Drive Klein Windhoek

Phone : +264-61-256410

Fax : +264-61-256747

Email : info@anin.com.na

Website : http://www.anin.com.na

Namibian Craft Centre

This has greatly grown and improved over recent years and houses a large variety of goods catering to the tourism market as well as a couple of gallery spaces and daytime eateries. In the main building you have beaded, wire artefacts; embroidered linen; wooden curios; handmade crockery; jewellery; a varierty of toys; baskets; and locally made and designed clothing. However, it is also worth investigating the newly developed courtyard area which has a number of other interesting shops.

The Omba Gallery is situated in the main building and has regular exhibitions of local artists and artisans. Studio 77 also showcases local artwork.

Address : 40 Tal Street Windhoek

Phone : 061 242222

Fax : 061 242222

Bushman Art Gallery

An extensive range of African curios, antiques and souvenirs.

Address : 187 Independence Avenue, Windhoek

Phone : ++ 264 (0)61 228828

Fax : ++ 264 (0)61 228971

Email : bushart@iafrica.com.na

Website : http://www.bushmanart-gallery.com/main.html

Nomad

Well laid out shop with a good range of African curios and souvenirs.

Address : Shop 21, Town Square, Post Street, Windhoek

Phone : ++ 264 (0)61 259674

Fax : ++ 264 (0)61 259674

Email : nomad@mweb.com.na

House of Gems

The best shop for gems and run by very friendly staff. House of Gems has a wide variety of precious and semi precious stones varying from some stunning tourmalines, of which Namibia produces some of the best qaulity, to large vats of inexpensive polished stones.

The street that the shop is on is slightly off the main shopping area of Windhoek. If walking along Werner List Street, be a little more careful with your possessions.

Address : 131 Werner List Street, Windhoek

Phone : ++ 264 (0)61 225202

Fax : ++ 264 (0)61 228915

Email : naegele@iafrica.com.na

Penduka

Meaning "wake up", Penduka is a women's project set up in the old township area of Katutura, near Goreangab Dam. They mainly sell a variety of hand-embroidered linen. Hand-made glass beads are also produced using recycled glass which are then made into jewellery. This project was an initiative to provide income for deaf adults.

Address : Penduka, Goreangab Dam, Windhoek

Phone : ++ 264 (0)61 257210

Cymot

The largest camping store in Windhoek and centrally located on Mandume Ndemufayo, opposite Wernhil shopping mall.

Address : 60 Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue, Windhoek

Phone : ++ 264 (0)61 2957000

Fax : ++ 264 (0)61 2957100

Website : http://www.cymot.com.na

Shopping in Windhoek & Central Namibia