Otjiwarongo, city in Namibia
Otjiwarongo is a city in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, situated in a landscape of open plains and gentle hills. It has supermarkets, banks, hotels and local markets selling fresh produce and handmade goods, and lies about 200 kilometers north of the capital along a major road connection.
The city was originally founded by the Herero as a trading post for livestock and goods. From 1900, German settlers arrived, and in 1904 a war occurred between the Herero and Germans resulting in many deaths. A railway built from the coast to a nearby copper mine later helped the city grow and develop into an important trading and farming center.
The name Otjiwarongo comes from the Herero language and refers to a place where well-fed cattle graze. The city shows today a mixed coexistence of different ethnic groups like Herero, Ovambo and Damara, reflected in different neighborhoods and local markets where traditional foods and handmade goods are sold.
The town is small enough to walk around, but to explore surrounding parks or farms it is easier to rent a car. Traffic in the city is mainly by car or taxi and it is well connected by roads and a railway line to other towns.
The city is home to the Cheetah Conservation Fund center, dedicated to saving cheetahs through research and education. Additionally, nearby is the Africat Foundation, where injured leopards and cheetahs are cared for, and a Crocodile Ranch that breeds Nile crocodiles and exports their skins.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
