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Okahandja is a small town situated 75km north of
Windhoek. It is here that the B1
main north road has a junction with the B2 main road to
Swakopmund
and the coast. Originally settled by the Herero people, it remains the centre
for the Herero, and is the traditional burial place for their
Chiefs.
The name is Okahandja taken from the Herero language and means, "the place
where two rivers converge to form a larger one". The two rivers, the Okakango and Okamita, are quite small, normally dry and,
in the rainy season, drain into the Okahandja River.
The missionary Johann H. Schmelen visited here in 1827 and noted
with interest the amount of souls that could be
converted, but it wasn't until after 1840 when the London Missionary Society had transferred its
right to the Rhenish Missionary Society at Otjikango (Gross Barmen) that
Karl Hugo Hahn and Franz H. Kleinschmidt brought Schmelen's Dream to fruition when
they established a Mission at Okahandja in 1844, which they appropriately
named Schmelen's Hope.
During August 1850, while the British explorer Francis Galton was
staying with the Hahn family
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Otjozondjupa Region |
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21º59'S - 16º55'E |
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Population 10,000 |
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at Otjikango, the Nama Warlord Jonker
Afrikaner, who was based in Windhoek attacked the Hereros of Okahandja and
slaughtered many of them. Legend has it that many of the Herero tried, without
success, to seek refuge and defend themselves on a rocky outcrop, but were
slaughtered and their cattle taken as booty. As you drive along the B1
by-pass, you can see the hill to your east. It's known locally as 'Moordkoppie'
or Murder Hill.
The Germans recognized the importance of the town and built one of the
first of their fortresses in Namibia here, (which no longer exists). It was
from Okahandja that the Herero Uprising began on 11 August 1904, and the
town was under siege for some days and was only relieved by Major Victor Franke and his 2nd
Field Company on 27 January, which just happened to be the Kaiser's birthday.

S Von Bach Dam |

Main Street |

The German Fort At Okahandja |
Presently, the town is a centre for the surrounding cattle and game
farms, and has a growing industrial area to the north of town including one
of the largest abattoirs in Namibia,
Near to Okahandja is the
S. von Bach Dam and
Nature Resort. Camping, water ski-ing. It all happens here. There
are a couple of local ski-clubs, so be sure to contact them if you
want to make new and helpful acquaintances. For the anglers the dam
is stocked with blue-carper, small mouthed yellow-fish, carp,
barbers and large mouthed bass. |
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