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ak - Okahandja, a dreamy and atmospheric little town situated 70 kilometers north of Windhoek at the Okakango and Okamita rivers has about 20.000 inhabitants. Driving on the highway from Windhoek to Okahandja, passing Katutura, the Otjihavera mountains in the east and the foothills of Khomas-Highland in the west, but also some rivers, like the Swakop-Rivier, the visitor gets a first impression about the vast and beautiful wilderness of Namibia.

- Okahandja, a dreamy and atmospheric little town situated 70 kilometers north of Windhoek at the Okakango and Okamita rivers has about 20.000 inhabitants. Driving on the highway from Windhoek to Okahandja, passing Katutura, the Otjihavera mountains in the east and the foothills of Khomas-Highland in the west, but also some rivers, like the Swakop-Rivier, the visitor gets a first impression about the vast and beautiful wilderness of Namibia.
Small town and rich history

Today many historical places and buildings, which have been received very well, remind one of the rich and wide-ranging history of Okahandja, which mostly revolves around the Herero- and Nama peoples, but also around the German colonial time.

In pre-colonial times, Herero-people used the area of Okahandja as pastureland for their cattle. But then this area was bought up piece by piece by German settlers.

In 1850, the "Bloodbath of Okahandja", a battle between the Nama and Herero speaking people took place. This place is today known as the "Blood-Mountain" which is located behind the town’s school.The Rhenish Mission

Society founded a mission in Okahandja in 1872 and established the first school in Okahandja. The "Missions-kirche" was consecrated in 1876. In the next few years, more and more settlers came to Okahandja and also business flourished. The first store, Wecke & Voigts was established in 1892 but burnt down some years later. At the original location, corner of Bahnhof street and Voortrekker road, Wecke & Voigts which has been rebuild is still situated today.

In 1894 Okahandja became a military base of the Germans. Two years later the first post office was established and is still situated in the main street.

On 12 January 1904 the Herero-uprising against the German colonial power, which struck German settlers absolutely unsuspected started in Okahandja and spred to the west and north of the country.

Okahandja still is the administrative centre, but more than this the emotional tribal centre of the Herero-people. The graves of Herero-chiefs Tjamuaha, Maharero, the great leader of the Herero-people, Samuel Maharero, Hosea Kutako and Clemens Kapuuo are located near the "Missionskirche".

In honour of their ancestors and to pay tribute to their former chiefs, thousands of Herero-people come to Okahandja every year on the last Sunday in August, to celebrate the Herero-Day. At this amazing ritual Herero woman wear colourful dresses in Victorian style, made by 4 to 5 meters of material und a special triangular head dress which looks similar to bovine horns. The men wear imaginative compositions of military uniforms. This year, the admirable event will take place from Friday 25 August till Sunday 27 August.