The Windhoek Guide - Your Guide to Namibia's Capital

Zoo Park is a public park in the centre of Windhoek at Independence Avenue right across the street from the Clock Tower and Gathemannhaus. The park serves as a central park and is the only larger park area besides the Parliament Garden and the cemeteries. Very popular is the colonial "Café Zoo" as well as a childrens' playground and open air theatre.

Besides serving as an oasis of tranquility, the Zoo Park also has a prehistoric past. In 1961 bones of a more than 5,000 years old elephant where discovered. An elephant memorial is built at that place. Furthermore, a memorial from the German colonial time remembering the killed German soldiers is located in the park. The name Zoo Park derives from the zoo that was located here between 1916 and 1963. In 1956 parts of the park area were destroyed to widen the Kaiserstrasse (now Independence Avenue). In 1963 the rebuilt park area was opened again, called Dr. Verwoed Park, however, renamed into Zoo Park again in 1989. 

 

Photo: (cc) 2007 Leong Shen-Li (Attribution-Share Alike 1.0 Generic)