Zoo Park, Public park in central Windhoek, Namibia
Zoo Park is a green space in central Windhoek featuring a pond, children's playground, and an open-air theatre. The park is lined with landscaped gardens and trees that provide shade and walking paths.
The park was established in 1897 by German colonial authorities to commemorate soldiers who died during conflicts with Nama leader Hendrik Witbooi. The entire area was reconstructed in the early 1960s to make room for the expansion of surrounding streets.
A stone column by Namibian artist Dorte Berner marks the location and draws attention to the land's deep past. The sculpture invites visitors to think about the ancient creatures that once lived in this region.
Entry is free and the park offers picnic spots and walking paths, with the historic Cafe Zoo available for refreshments. The sun in this region can be intense, so mornings and late afternoons are the best times to explore comfortably.
Prehistoric elephant bones rest beneath the park, dating back many thousands of years and telling a story of a very different climate. These remains show that the region was once far greener and wetter than its current dry landscape suggests.
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