The Elegant Collection

Snazzy and secure twin guesthouses in a quiet, leafy area close to the city centre

Windhoek is among Africa's most sedate capital cities, a place where cars stop at traffic lights, restaurants close early and the suburbs surrounding the city centre seem more akin to those of Münich than of Nairobi. In a quiet street at the heart of one of the city's sleepiest neighbourhoods, Jörn and Birke have fashioned sibling guesthouses which place their architectural and decorative accent on elegance and comfort of the most contemporary kind.

Both The Elegant Guesthouse and The Elegant B&B, just along the road from each other, have a light, breezy and welcoming feel thanks to their open plan design and extensive windows: their single-storied stoop architecture reflects the city's colonial (and recent) past. Clipped green lawns, sparkling pools, impeccably manicured guest rooms and cheerfully attentive staff help ensure that from the moment you arrive you feel a delicious sense of Dulce Domum - even though the wild beauty of the African veld is just miles from your door.

Highs

• Eye-catching furnishings, fabrics and finishes have been fashioned to the most exacting, Germanic of standards
• Jörn and Birke's hands-on style of management makes for a tight, superbly run guesthouse
• Elegant's twin gardens and pools offer blissful respite after a day exploring the city, especially during the hotter part of the year
• An honesty bar, cosy guest lounges and pro-active staff help to make you feel instantly zu Hause
• Secure, off-street parking is a big bonus, especially if you're setting off to explore Namibia in a fully loaded 4x4

Lows

• It's a wee bit too far to walk into the city centre but Elegant offers three free transfers per day
• A check-out time of 10 am could feel like an imposition if you tend to sleep late