Windhoek

The pleasant little capital city of Windhoek lies almost exactly in the center of the country and is surrounded by the Khomas Highland and the Auas and Eros Mountains. It is much more European than African in feel, with lots of colonial architecture, sidewalk cafés, and friendly bars. Settled by the Germans in the 1890s, it's an easy town to explore on foot, and there are several places of interest near one another—and only a few easy hills to climb. The city has a population of about 200,000 and growing and it's home to the country's brewing industry—a holdover from its days as a German colony.