Old Windhoek cemeteries

Leutwein Cemetery, Robert Mugabe Avenue

War Memorial photo gallery

YouTube video Leutwein Cemetery:

These two oldest cemeteries in Windhoek are situated on both sides of Robert Mugabe Avenue near Heinitzburg Castle. Both cemeteries were first used in 1892 and were later expanded and enlarged in 1904. There are graves of German soldiers (total identified casualties: 125) who died during the Nama and Herero Wars there. The graves of German officials, settlers, civilians and members of the Witbooi clan are also located on larger portion opposite of War Memorial. The graveyard is named after Theodor Leutwein - colonial administrator of German South West Africa (GSWA) from 1894 to 1904.

The western extension of the cemetery has graves of the influenza epidemic victims as well as graves of Union of South Africa troops and German forces who died during WWI. The Leutwein Cemetery is owned by the municipality of Windhoek. The Cross of Sacrifice is located on the opposite side of Robert Mugabe Avenue. Near are two alternatively commemorated 1914-18 burials from Berseba Cemetery and four alternatively commemorated 1939-45 burials in an abandoned Windhoek cemetery. Windhoek was surrendered on 13 May 1915. Six of the graves were brought in from Otjusandou, Otjihongwe, Regenstein, Duobib and Rehoboth station.

GPS:

Latitude: -22.5769
Longitude: 17.0912

John Ludwig's Graveyard

Old Location Cemetery, Hochland Park

This cemetery was used from 1927 to 1960 and was commissioned by the Windhoek Municipality, because there was no space in the Gammams Cemetery which had been in use since 1904. There is a historic mass grave of those who were shot and killed on 10 December 1959 for refusing to be forcibly removed from the old location to Katutura. Old Location cemetery is named after Windhoek's former Old Location, a segregated area for Windhoek's non-white population. The cemetery itself became racially segregated in 1926. There is an Old Location Cemetery Museum and a mass grave for people killed in the Old Location uprising in December 1959. The mass grave was listed on the National Heritage Register in August 2004

Gammams Cemetery, Hochland Park

Years in use: 1904–1927. Located on the western side of Gammams River between suburbs of Hochland Park and Pioneers Park. The cemetery was established as an informal burial ground for victims of the Herero Wars. Namibia's only crematory is located at Gammams Cemetery.

Veronica Street Cemetery in the Ludwigsdorf

Old disused cemetery in posh residential area of Ludwigsdorf, near dry riverbed. Many tombstones have inscriptions in indigenous languages, most are broken to pieces. Cemetery is neglected. According to remaining legible tombstones' dates burials here ceased in mid-1950s.

Photo report: Veronica Street Cemetery

Cemeteries in use

Katutura Cemetery in Claudius Kandovazu Street, Katutura

Oponganda Cemetery

In use: 2001-current. Located in Otjomuise Road in the Grysblock suburb, near Gammams Water Works. It is Katutura's largest cemetery, containing 4,500 adult and 6,900 children graves.

Khomasdal Cemetery

In use: 1965-current. Located on the corner of Begonia Street and Roos Street in the Khomasdal suburb. There are no more new graves available currently, it contains 6,750 adult graves and 3,500 children graves.

Heroes' Acre cemetery & monument

Located 10 km south of Windhoek, Heroes' Acre is a burial site for Namibian National Heroes/Heroines. The site has 174 tombs while some are currently unoccupied.

Planned/future cemeteries

Rocky Crest Cemetery in the suburb of Rocky Crest
Goreangab (Katutura) suburb cemetery

Facebook groups:

NAMIBIA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/namibia.namibia

WINDHOEK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/windhoek.namibia.africa

KATUTURA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/katutura

DRONESBERG AERIAL PHOTO/VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/dronesberg