Salty Jackal Backpackers & Surf Camp

We had the most amazing two-week stay at Salty Jackal. We joined the surf camp during the first week which was one of the most incredible experiences. Surfing in Namibia is a very special experience. Our surf instructor, Etienne, was a great teacher! Very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and keen to help us improve. Vitto, Marsha and the volunteers were all wonderful - so helpful and welcoming. We had so much fun exploring the area and there was loads to do. We were very sad when we had to leave and even extended our stay for an extra week.

We contacted Salty Jackal for a surf class as we had spare time left and wanted to try out the Swakupmond coastline. As we are both not advanced surfers they took us to a place with manageable waves. Really recommend to try surfing with them as most people don't think of it being a surf location but it definitely is! 🌊

I had an absolutely amazing experience at Salty Jackal.||The staff is exceptional, and there’s a genuine sense of community that makes the place really special. The camp is in a fantastic location and is very well set up. There are daily group activities that create a great atmosphere and make it easy to connect with everyone.||The management is super friendly, and the volunteers bring such a positive, welcoming vibe to the whole experience.||But the real highlight of the stay is, of course, the surf guiding sessions. The coach is excellent, and the spots are always perfectly chosen — often completely empty, which is something you almost never find elsewhere. It truly makes the experience unique.||I 100% recommend it.||Thank you, Salty Jackal for these 2 amazing weeks :)

The hostel has a great vide, near the center, very good free breakfast with coffee and tea all day long. They also do a daily activity with the guests such as watch sunset of movie night which is nice. Totally recommend!!!

Very good surf school with guidance in empty lineups. Everyone was very nice and there was good communication/planning between surf lessons.

I booked some guiding sessions for myself and some beginner sessions for my 8yo god-son. For both we had a great experience. The team is very organised and always happy to help. For the surf guiding they pick the spot according to the level of the surfer and the conditions. For the beginner sessions they make sure everyone is feeling safe and have fun! We will be back for sure! Great experience!

One of the coolest hostels I've ever stayed in! I've stayed there several times and it always felt like coming home. You quickly feel like part of a family; the team is incredibly warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere is simply amazing. I had so much fun surfing, the view of the dunes was fantastic, and booking lessons on-site was a breeze. Highly recommended!

This surf hostel is amazing! The place is always clean and well-kept, which makes it so comfortable to stay in. The staff are super friendly and make you feel like part of the family. I felt really at home here and had such a great time. Highly recommend!

Nice place to stay in Swakopmund. City centre. Safe. European people. Good breakfast. Wi fi. Clean bathrooms. International atmosphere. The male room could be a bit cleaner.

One of the best Hostels I have ever been at. It is crazy how random people can feel line family in such a shott time. I have only been there for three nights, but every singleday felt special. We visited the moonlandscape, did movie nights and Braai. The Team there is so welcoming and they make it easy to feel like home. The surf lessons were amazing as well, they really pick you up at your level and take care everyone cam improve their skills. If I am ever back in Namibia, I will definitly go back to Salty.

Amazing hostellll

A fantastic spot to start surfing!

Sotiria Moschopoulou

Nov 29, 2025

★★★★★

Great lesson with Marius ! It’s worth it to have a private lesson if you are a beginner and trying to learn :) I learned a lot and implemented on the lesson and the week after !The class lasts 1.5 roughly -surging in Namibia is soooo cool cause you get to see the desert while in the sea 🌊 Just wow 🤩🫶🏽😊

Unique hostel and surf camp experience. The staff and surf instructors are super nice and fun to be around, and there's a great variety of in-house activities. Would definitely recommend overall.

Friendly staff, chill & social atmosphere, central location. This place is for all travellers - surfer or not. Overall very well managed! Fully recommend!

Vladimir Polezhaev

Nov 17, 2025

★★★★☆

Nice experience to surf in Namibia. The stuff is very friendly and helpful. We v booked a private lesson for 6 people and enjoyed it. Unfortunately the equipment is 3/5 and we were not allowed to use showers after the session. Not even some water to wash away sunscreen and salt...

James Lydall

Nov 3, 2025

★★★★★

My wife and I had a great private session with Griffin when passing through Swakopmund - he was really knowledgeable about the area, taking us to a great spot based on our experience and gave us some great tips. The only problem was I wish we had more time to stick around and explore more of the great and uncrowded spots! All the staff at Salty Jackal were super friendly - would definitely recommend!

We booked a beginners surf lesson with Salty Jackal Surf Camp and it was really great, we had an amazing time! Having the dunes on one side and the ocean on the other was beautiful and very special:) the surf teacher was supportive and created an atmosphere full of joy and learning! The seize of the group was perfect so the teacher had enogh time for everyone with valuable tips and guidance! Highly recommended 🌊

We had a unique experience and would definitely surf with Salty Jackal again. We felt well-guided throughout, and the view of the desert dunes from the water is unique.

We joined Salty Jackal for a private guided surf adventure on our honeymoon in Namibia! Griffin - our instructor - was super attentive and completely made the experience. He was really helpful, gave some amazing tips and built our confidence in an unfamiliar environment. He and Salty Jackal were passionate about putting Namibian surfing on the map (but not too on the map!), we’ll be recommending salty jackal to friends and family for sure.

I am only commenting on the surf school, not the hostel. Overall really bad experience. Poor service despite a super high price. I wanted to reschedule a session (after having paid for many sessions already) and there was 0 flexibility and not even a call back - they just pocked the money. Feels like a rip off and not a surf camp

Jihan Alfarel

Oct 21, 2025

★★★☆☆

I was really looking forward to this stay, but it ended up being a bit below my expectations. So it was okay, ended up leaving earlier than I supposed to! The room was okay; a bit smelly at first, but not too bad. Needed to pay more for laundry + towel & their online payment charged me 10% more (eg. 400NAD more which quite a lot) due to the conversion/bank/whatever (which something that we can't do anything about it). But would be great if the hostel actually have a card reader/slider. I really appreciated that they had a heater though, since it was freezing! The staff were helpful, but I didn’t quite feel the warm, friendly vibe I usually experience at other hostels (from both the team and fellow travelers). Having traveled across other African countries, I’ve experienced incredible hospitality, so I guess that’s why this stay felt a little underwhelming in comparison.

Amazing Hostel with amazing stuff. It feels so welcoming ❤️

A perfect stay! Clean and friendly, highly recommended.

Great all round experience. The hostel staff are great people, friendly, helpful, patient, and good fun on a night out. The atmosphere of the place is relaxed, the rooms and bathrooms are well maintained and comfortable, it's well placed in town (no more than a 10-20min walk to most places you'd find yourself going), Siggy and Moka are positively adorable, and there's plenty going on throughout the week. The surfing lessons were great fun, with a class instructor. You really get the feeling there's nothing to worry about with him in the water with you. He took me from falling headfirst to standing in three sessions. The prices are affordable from the rooms themselves to the bar fridge, and the events run by the staff feel like great value for money. Thanks again for having me, hopefully see you in December ❤️.

Raoan Pereira De Azevedo

Sep 27, 2025

★★★★★

Great place and Great surf vibes! Amazing staff! Had a really good time there. I was sad to Leave.

The folks running the hostel are friendly, as friendly as one would expect to be with strangers. Hostel is very clean and very well organized, but the flip side is that some of their policy seem inflexible. The hostel has its fair share of surfer guests who sometime forget to clean after themselves and leave a lot of sand in the shower. Free flowing coffee and tea was much appreciated. The hostel must upgrade their blankets. The ones provided were not adequate for the cold nights there. Hostel should also make sure all disclosures are upto date BEFORE making the booking. The NAD200 fee for checkin after 8pm is only disclosed after. While the invoice is in local currency they charged my card in USD and hit me with a DCC charge and none of the explanations from Booking.com and the hostel made sense to me. All in all, I had a pleasant stay and would recommend it.

Georg Gadermayr

Sep 7, 2025

★★★★★

Also suitable for beginners as an introduction to surfing. Friendly and helpful, excellent communication.

What an amazing experience. Friendly and informed staff. Showed us the most incredible local attractions. Clean and comfortable rooms. And the best food and barbecues! Highly recommended.

Jean-Daniel Goblet

Sep 4, 2025

★★★★★

Best experience, great owner and manager! Don’t look elsewhere for a good surf and vibes 😊

The place is close to the beach and perfect for exploring the town on foot. I didn’t join any this time, but they also arrange different tours, so it seems like a fun spot for a longer stay.||Above all, the staff were super friendly and gave me so much positive energy. Even if you’re traveling solo, the nice common areas make it easy to have a fun and relaxing time.||Highly recommended:)

What a cool vibe. Absolutely loved my stay there. Will be back for sure🤙🏼

Great expérience !!! Really nice and welcoming team. Easy to book a meeting. Surfing was good with seals and dolphins facing the desert 🤩 The instructor adapt to your level and provide good advice. Definitely a stop to plan in your trip 🤙

frau klamm

Aug 20, 2025

★★★★★

Book now! A hostel with love. Everything you need. Great activities. Plenty of space to chill. Fully equipped kitchen. Great manager. Surf lessons are also available. Definitely worth a try. Unique setting.

I had a fantastic experience at Salty Jackal. The staff, Vittoria, Yessi, Matt are a great bunch - very friendly and professional. They helped me arrange tours, prepared a great breakfast in the morning and overall contributed to an excellent atmosphere. It’s a great spot to base yourself in Swakopmund and to meet other travellers. Highly recommend

Sherazaan Medeiros

Jul 23, 2025

★★★★★

My stay at Salty Jackals was amazing. The staff were the friendliest and coolest. I loved that they interacted with the clients hosting a Braai super fun. I would definitely go there again.

Estefani Divino de Melo

Jul 22, 2025

★★★★★

I loved the place since the firt time. At first Daniela Reived me very well in a friendly manner showing me evething with all the details about how the thing works. And also the veew in the afternoon close the sunset are so so nice from there.

The Homestay was very cozy. And all of the staff made me feel at home! They were friendly, and professional. The owner Oliver is the best surf guide in Namibia. He got me barreled at Skeleton Bay and he knows many other secret spots as well. Also they set up a fishing excursion for me. We caught over 6 sea bass per person that joined the fishing charter boat that day. Overall it was an epic trip.

Tulio Parreira

Jul 15, 2025

★★★★★

The best surfers backpackers around, including many surf package such as guiding, beginners lessons and surf camps, the vibes are always good and the staff are always friendly, situated almost in the center of town and that's what makes acces to town so much cheaper, quicker and easier. If you are a traveler looking for waves and good times this is definitely the place to stay.

숲속의숫사슴

Jul 14, 2025

★★★★★

This place is so clean and has such a great atmosphere!!! The staff were all so friendly, and the guests were all so nice that I extended my stay! This is one of the most enjoyable and enjoyable accommodations I've ever stayed in. As other Korean reviews have mentioned, there are a few bathrooms (there are currently only two) and the dormitory feels like it's been converted from a garage. However, with only two bathrooms, I didn't feel any inconvenience, and even though I visited in July, it wasn't as cold as other African accommodations!

Everything amazing! I love the passion of the instructors and how much i improved my aurfing after that lesson! 100% recomended

I booked a beginner/improver lesson and couldn’t be happier – 10/10! Communication via WhatsApp was super quick, friendly, and informative. The lesson itself was an absolute blast. We were a small group of three, which meant the instructor could really give each of us individual attention. I felt incredibly well taken care of and learned so much. And what can I say – surfing along the Namibian coast, with its stunning dunes and sea birds flying overhead, was a true highlight. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Huge thanks to the Salty Jackal team – see you next time! 🤙🏼

I stayed one week at salty jackal and went surfing every day. The waves are good and you only share them with few people and some seals and dolphins. The place is very relaxing and decoreated with love. I stayed in the dorm with lockers and had all I needed there. The kitchen you can use is well equipped. The staff is very welcoming and they make you fell at home. Even I was the only guest, they took me surfing and on excursions. Thank you very much for the amazing time.

Very good experience at The Salty Jackal. Nice place to stay and being able to take surf lessons is amazing things. If you know how to surf or want to try it, it's the place to stay in Namibia !

Matteo Poda

May 20, 2025

★★★★★

Perfect place to be! Just one point: the payment syatem in the website could be not so easy to use, i think it needs some adjustment Good people, affordable price, very clean, i could say mich more positive things!

Amandine Hochedez

May 16, 2025

★★☆☆☆

We rented a surfboard here, the board was already very old, my boyfriend went to surf on beginner intermediary waves, and after 30 min the board was showing a crack line. They decided to keep 75% of the deposit without showing the video of the board which was taken when we picked it up. Would have been nice to have a gesture from them considering how old and in bad shape the board was.

Was passing by Swakopmund and contacted Salty Jackal! They were super responsive and managed to get a fun little group session in! Stoked to surf in Namibia, so thanks for helping to organise!

Awesome surf lessons, nice people and lovely mood 🤙🏻

I had a great time. Everyone was very welcoming and the evening activities helped to socialise. I would recommend it 1000%

Our boys loved their surf lessons with Salty Jackal! Well organised & great teacher.

This surfhouse in Swakopmund is a true gem—not just for its warm, welcoming vibe, but for opening your eyes to something many people don’t realize: Namibia is an incredible place to surf. While it’s not yet on every surfer’s radar, this country offers beautiful, clean waves and uncrowded beaches, making it a perfect destination for both beginners and intermediate surfers. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted like an old friend. The atmosphere is relaxed, the people are genuine, and there’s a strong sense of community. The surf lessons are another standout. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your skills, the instructors are experienced, encouraging, and take you to stunning local spots that match your level. The best part? You’ll likely have those waves almost to yourself. Namibia might not be the first place you think of when it comes to surfing—but that’s exactly what makes it so special. This surfhouse helps you discover that magic, offering not just a place to stay, but a full-on experience that’s adventurous, authentic, and unforgettable.

I had a wonderful time with salty jackal. The instructor made sure to bring us to the best surf spot of the day to catch some great waves. Beside he had great advices and the surfing conditions in Namibia were really nice.

Awesome surf lessons! We had friends visiting from overseas and had a great day surfing with Salty Jackal. We took a private group lesson which was perfect for all of us beginners. The instructors were professional, helpful and ensured everyone had a great time. Definitely recommend this activity if you are visiting Swakopmund.

Wonderful family fun for all ages! Highly recommend!

I enjoyed my stay at Salty Jackal Surf Camp. The staff were very friendly. It felt cozy and the location was great – close to many shops, restaurants, and cafés. The surf guiding was good, and the breakfast was simple but nice. There are a few things that could be improved. I booked a private room, but towels weren’t included in the price – they cost 50 NAD extra. I’ve never had to pay for towels when staying in a private room, and I believe it should just be included, especially considering the room prices aren’t exactly low. My room was next to the bathroom with the washing machines. Sometimes they were running during the night, but once the bathroom door was closed, the noise wasn’t too bad.

Perfect place to surf in Swakopmund with a good balance of surf sessions, activities and free time to explore the city. Great place to meet other travellers and organize a trip through Namibia.

Amazing hostel in Namibia. Definitely worth a visit if you are keen to catch some waves and even if you've never surfed before. Would 100% recommend a stop here for at least a few days. Thanks to everyone for an amazing stay ❤️

There was unfortunately a significant issue with my room, which required me to disturb the owners after they had left for the night. As a result I got yelled at and a door slammed in my face by the owner. His partner then helped me out, confirmed my issue, and gave me a new room. In the end I even got a refund. But the situation was handled terribly by the owner and I never received an apology for the unacceptable behavior. (You can get a sense for what kind of energy I received by looking at how they respond to negative reviews on here.) It's really a shame, because the place is otherwise awesome. Super great crowd and top vibe among the guests. The perfect social hostel experience. Most likely you will have a great time here!! Edit re the response: I stayed here in October 2021. I'm pretty certain that the couple living in the apartment under the hostel at the time were the owners, but of course might be mistaken. Either way, I'm glad to hear that management has since been passed to someone else. If you want to look up my booking (SK7370) / the refund (BKCV366), you will also see what the issue was and hopefully agree that my review was pretty fair.

Laura Tröger

Mar 23, 2025

★★★★★

I had the best time and always felt welcome. The team made sure I had a great time.

Maria Fernandez (Majo)

Mar 13, 2025

★★★★★

Great surf instructor!

Booked the guided Surf Tours. The experienced Surf Guide brought us to spots nearby and helped US to improve our surf skills. Great Team, great service. I will come Back for sure one day. Thanks for the awesome time

Maria Baker

Feb 28, 2025

★★★★★

We loved surfing here, it was perfect for our mixed level group!

Bryce Smedley

Feb 26, 2025

★★★★★

Did a private surf lesson with a big group. Didn't stay at the hostel. However, the lesson and waves were fantastic. Had a lot of fun and highly recommend.

We’ve booked the beginner surflesson and what should I say, it was great. The teacher was very helpful, friendly and supportive. We first met at the salty jackal lodge, got wetsuits and the surfboards and then we drove to the beach. After some exercises we got in the water. We always feeled save during the lesson. We didn’t stay at the salty jackal, but this also must be fun. The Lodge seemed new and well appointed. If you travel alone, you will definitely find some friends there! The Crew is also organizing city-tours or sun-downer-picnics every week. So you‘re not only getting a surf-experience, you’re getting the whole Swakopmund-experience! Check out their Instagram, if you want to join them for surfing-lessons and/or other tours. You don’t have to stay there to join the tours. The salty jackal is located centrally in Swakopmund. You can reach restaurants, supermarkets and the beach by foot.

Unfortunately, we were not satisfied with our surfing experience at the Salty Jackal surf school. We discussed our surfing level with the staff and then took a surf lesson. This consisted of a group trip to the beach and a warm-up. While surfing, we were left to our own devices, and there was absolutely no feedback or anything similar. After this experience, we wanted to rent boards the next day (only hard boards are available). A volunteer refused to tell us where the surf lesson was taking place that day, i.e., where a beginner/intermediate surfer would find the best spot. I'm not used to this; surf schools usually like to give recommendations. The equipment was also in poor condition. I understand that (judging from the responses to the reviews) the school needs to save money, but unfortunately, this is very noticeable as a customer.

Great place, great people and the dogs are so cute! No seriously one of the best hostels I have ever been!

Mina Schmidt

Jan 28, 2025

★★★★★

Well I just wanted to stay for a night at Salty Jackal to see a little bit of Swakopmund. Now I’m leaving after 13 nights in total, I think that says it all. 😁 Such a nice atmosphere, amazing people the surfing was great and a lot of activities and excursions. I hope to be back soon 🫶💕

I did the 7-day surf camp at Salty Jackal in January 2025 and had a fantastic time. Everyone, from the manager (Vittoria) to the surf instructors (Federico, Tessa, Tulio) to the volunteers (Dylan, Juliette, Jannis) were super welcoming and helpful. I went surfing every day, in a small group, and we had the ocean to ourselves. My instructor, Federico, really took the time to observe everyone and give personalised (as opposed to generic) and detailed advice to each person, which is exactly what you want from a lesson. A special thanks to Vittoria as well, who was super efficient, sunny and responsive, no matter the time of day and the request, and who helped me book some very cool activities. The moon landscape picnic she organised was a special highlight of my stay. I highly recommend Salty Jackal to anyone visiting Swakopmund!

I really enjoyed my surf lessons with Salty Jackal! It was great fun and I got helpful coaching instructions & tips. I felt safe and in good care and mostly loved that there are hardly other surfers around besides our group; or if any then only very few. I look forward to being back soon for more 🏄🏼

We joined the Salty Jackal Surf School for a few sessions in December and loved it. My husband and I initially only booked one session but enjoyed it so much that we went for another few. It was forward to book in for a session. We received a warm welcome on the day of the lesson and were driven out to the surf location for the day. Sessions were explained beforehand and our instructors were knowledgeable, but also great at teaching and explaining concepts and movements to us. We loved out time in the water and got individual feedback throughout every session. We had a fabulous time all round, managed to stand on the board (albeit not for long ;)) and will definitely come back for more sessions next time we are in Swakop!

I had an amazing time at Salty Jackal. Its the perfect place if you want to surf in Swakopmund or if you just want to relax and enjoy the chill vibes of the hostel. I booked the surf camp package and I can recommend it to everybody who wants to improve in surfing. The surf teachers and the whole staff were super friendly!

The staff were mostly very friendly. The kitchen is small but well-equipped. Great breakfast and good coffee. Everything worked very well and was clean. Questions were also answered readily. The dorm is spacious with plenty of storage and counter space. I'll be back!

I came here specifically for surfing, so I booked accommodations for convenience. Upon arrival, I found it quite comfortable. It's arguably the best hostel on the beach. The staff is very welcoming, and they even offer surfing lessons! The bathrooms are shared. Because the water is quite cold, wetsuits are provided for lessons, and the instructions are very detailed. The waves are beginner-friendly, and the instructors want everyone to experience the joy of surfing! Incidentally, the hostel's breakfast is also excellent. The refrigerator is also available for guests to use, with compartments named after their rooms, keeping things organized and preventing messes. The day I stayed, they had sourdough toast (a big thumbs-up!), coffee, and a French press. Everything is self-service, so remember to wash your own cups and dishes.

a nice place to be with lovly and friendly young people!

The vibe of the place is awesome! The volunteers are very sweet and I loved the fact that they have pets in the hostel, a cute cat and two very cute dogs! The wi-fi is great too! I was able to work remotely without any issues! Looking forward to be back! :)

Maria Carasi

Dec 4, 2024

★★★☆☆

Nice house but it's too small for so many guests. They say there are two bathrooms but one is on the basement and cannot be used. The other bathroom is always occupied. Breakfast Is included but it's poor. Friendly personnel.

Angela Inäbnit

Nov 26, 2024

★★★★★

I stayed one full month at salty jackal and absolutely loved it! working remotely and surfing was amazing. the hostel is very clean and the staff is so friendly & attentive. It felt like a home. The beds were very comfortable and the kitchen is very well equipped. The breakfast is amazing every morning. The size of the hostel is perfect, not too big but big enough to socialise. The guided surf session were amazing too! We surfed at different spots and learned a lot about the nature and the surroundings. I would absolutely recommend staying and Salty Jackal, it’s a wonderful place to be!

The surfing was great. I am a beginner and felt very safe and supported with all of the surf instructors. I am very happy about the progress I made in one week, big thank you especially to Shawn! I was positively surprised how chill and relaxed the atmosphere was in the hostel, at 10 pm everyone was sleeping. The 2 dogs and the cuddly cat were contributing to the nice vibe of this place.

Michal Rubin

Nov 19, 2024

★★★★★

Incredible Experience! We had an amazing time and felt truly well taken care of throughout our stay. Lili and the entire team went above and beyond to ensure all our needs were met. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff was not only incredibly professional but also the kindest people you could meet. We also had the pleasure of taking surfing lessons, which were an absolute blast. The surfing team was highly skilled and made the experience both fun and educational. The apartment exceeded our expectations—it had everything we needed, including a fully equipped kitchen and a beautiful outdoor space to relax in. All in all, it was the perfect week for us! We couldn’t have asked for a better experience

Andrea Gaetano Tramontano

Nov 14, 2024

★★★★★

We reserved a surf lesson with Salty Jackal. Oliver (the teacher) was great and we enjoy a lot the lesson. Really tired at the end, but really Happy!

We stayed at Salty Jackal for the 1-week surf camp, which was an experience we will never forget. Salty Jackal is probably the best equipped and organised hostel I've ever had the chance to stay at. On top of this, there is a sense of community around that can not be overstated. We got to know amazing people, felt to be in the best hands to learn surfing, and the hostel staff made sure we experienced everything in and around Swakopmund. Thank you, Salty Jackal, for an unforgettable week!

We stayed at Salty Jackal for the 1-week surf camp, which was an experience we will never forget. Salty Jackal is probably the best equipped and organised hostel I've ever had the chance to stay at. On top of this, there is a sense of community around that can not be overstated. We got to know amazing people, felt to be in the best hands to learn surfing, and the hostel staff made sure we experienced everything in and around Swakopmund. Thank you, Salty Jackal, for an unforgettable week!

I stayed at the Salty Jackal for one night, and participated in two, guided surf trips with the Salty Jackal. The first guided surf trip was a full day and the second guided surf trip was a half day. The hostel is extremely clean, peaceful and well kept, and the staff are professional and attentive. What sets this hostel apart is the sense of community that can be felt whether you’re lounging in the comfortable, outdoor communal space or hanging out with guests and staff at hostel events, such as a Sunday braai. As for the surfing, the Salty Jackal guided me through two of the most memorable surf sessions I can recall. The staff truly cares about creating nothing short of incredible surf experiences for their guests. Whether you’re a beginning, intermediate or advanced surfer, you’re missing out if you don’t take the time to go surfing with the Salty Jackal. I’d go as far as saying that surfing with the Salty Jackal is a reason in and of itself to visit Namibia.

Really nice stay with a great Community for solo travellers or couples too. The Surf courses for beginneres and advanced are really good.

This is one of the warmest, most amazing spaces you will find in Namibia. The atmosphere is beautifully relaxed, the facilities are amazing and the grill nights are incredible. Well located within walking distance of many of Swakopmund's most attractive locations this is a true gem.

steven britz

Oct 22, 2024

★★★★★

I spend two weeks surfing with the Saltyjackal team on various guided surf trips. The knowledge from the team allowed us to surf everyday on various locations. The team creates a very relaxed atmosphere and made you feel very welcome and comfortable in thier community. I would definitely recommend going to the Saltyjackal for guided surf trips or local guided trips in Swakopmund. Will definitely be back for another few weeks.

Incredible vibe. Highly recommend staying here.

Gautier Sallet

Oct 20, 2024

★★★★★

Great surf sessions and good advice. Very motivating and enjoyable. The equipment was good quality. Apart from the cold water, everything was excellent! Thank you Salty Jackals for the great memories.

Rebecca Nardone

Oct 14, 2024

★★★★★

Stayed for a week at Salty Jackals and I absolutely loved it! The girls working at the hostel were so welcoming and it felt like home away from home for the week. Breakfast included was lovely, location was good and overall a really nice vibe at the hostel

Stephanie Leske

Oct 11, 2024

★★★★★

The Salty Jackal team creates an incredibly welcoming atmosphere. I stayed in the Dome for a week and have rarely slept so well. Breakfast is perfect for an early surf session. The volunteers are incredibly friendly and helpful. The hostel is spotlessly clean – wonderful! It was great that people kept extending their stays in the Dome – this created a small, friendly group that could share a variety of activities and experiences. The surf guiding is fantastic, and it's so much fun surfing among seals, dolphins, and flamingos! With the desert dunes in the background, it's surreal and beautiful, and having eight people in the lineup is already a lot. Many thanks to Olli and Iris for creating such a wonderful, welcoming place! Absolutely recommended! ❤️

איתי צחובוי

Sep 21, 2024

★☆☆☆☆

‏The place had uncomfortable beds, the shower was always cold, the working people are unprofessional, unfortunately most of them volunteer for short periods. The bed without a curtain is something that would have improved the comfort of the place. The prices are relatively high. By the way, I changed my review after a rude and immature answer from the place, the review is legitimate. Next time learn to accept ‏❤️‍🩹 One last chance to correct your review because karma must have hurt you again. I saw that after an impolite answer according to Western and international worldviews you were downgraded. I give you the presumptuousness to apologize.

Cosy, intimate/homely atmosphere to calm down, connect to other travelers and surfers. Loved the shared braai nights. Surf lessons are great with small groups on almost empty beaches. Breakfast is with fresh bread, yogurt, granola, fresh fruits,… Outdoor area is cosy to relax & meet others. Yoga is sometimes offered as well :) We always come back here because it’s the perfect combination of a backpackers and a homely atmosphere. :)

It was my second time at the hostel and again a great experience. I can highly recommend the place :)

Amazing school! They were very attentive to me so I could schedule classes. Very friendly. I was for a short time and I want to come back to can stay in the house. Super nice people, good vibes. they go to check the best spot for the day and levels and Very good equipment

Steffi Rudolph

Sep 5, 2024

★★★★★

Good vibe, lovely people and so much fun things to do around Swakop. Uncrowded waves sometimes spotting dolphins, seals or whales. Just magic nature! They show you the best surf spots for the current conditions and you ll have a good time sharing moments with other likeminded that sta in the surf camp. Very recommended.

Awesome place, wonderful vibes. Awesome chance to meet people and just hang. Very welcoming!

Stephanie Thai

Aug 29, 2024

★★★★★

My surfing lessons with Ollie were great! He had really helpful feedback to make my pop up and feet placement better. He was also super nice and took photos/videos of us. Wetsuits, booties, rash guard, and board were provided - so convenient! We even had a special treat of seeing some seals and dolphins while we were out. Amazing experience!

Boris Van Praet

Aug 24, 2024

★★★★★

I had an amazing time at the salty jackal. The staff is very kind and super helpful, the whole hostel feels like a home abroad. They organise a lot of activities and mainly take you out on the most amazing surf trips! Truly an amazing experience. Came for the surf and stayed for the people.

Frank Neezen

Aug 23, 2024

★★★★★

Arrived in Swakopmund and phoned Salty for a morning surf the day after. Together with their teacher Shawn we went out at 07:30 to one of their surf spots and had an amazing time!! Being an intermediate surfer that surfs infrequently I caught tons of waves with guidance from Shawn (who by the way is such a nice and calm person to be around). Had a great experience and can 100% recommend!

עידן דוד לניאדו

Aug 18, 2024

★☆☆☆☆

bad service

ALL PERFECT!!|We spent 5 nights at Salty Jackal, we stayed in one of the private rooms and the dorm. The place is fantastic and a family atmosphere is immediately created, outside there is a beautiful garden where we could all hang out.|The dormitory is spacious and equipped with all comforts, as is the private room. |The cleanliness is exceptional and the kitchen is equipped with everything you need.|The staff and the owners are very kind, always ready to help and many activities are organized for everyone to do together!||I can't wait to return to Salty Jackal as soon as possible!

ALL PERFECT!! We spent 5 nights at Salty Jackal, we stayed in one of the private rooms and the dorm. The place is fantastic and a family atmosphere is immediately created, outside there is a beautiful garden where we could all hang out. The dormitory is spacious and equipped with all comforts, as is the private room. The cleanliness is exceptional and the kitchen is equipped with everything you need. The staff and the owners are very kind, always ready to help and many activities are organized for everyone to do together! I can't wait to return to Salty Jackal as soon as possible!

Matej P

Jul 22, 2024

★★★★★

We stayed 3 nights and took surfing lessons. Nice place, helpfull, capable and funny people run this place. Very friendly atmosphere. We had great time.

Went to a couple of beginner surf classes. They were awesome. It is always good to get some feedback and advice. The surf instructors are really friendly and competent. Plus the views are amazing. We even saw dolphins the other day!

best surf school/camp in Swakopmund/Namibia!

Their guided surf tours are awesome! Perfect if you are staying in Swakop for a few days, do not know where the local breaks are, and are looking to catch some waves.

I was there five days and I loved it. It had a perfect location and So cool people live there. Especially volunteers are really cool guys and do a great job. Thanks for the nice time. Hope to see you again guys.🫶🏽

Great stuff, the volunteers do a great job, felt at home since the first minutes, clean and cozy. Nice surf lessons also available. One of the best hostels I know. I definitely recommend.

Super nice and friendly hostel and staff! I loved the small size and familiar atmosphere. The kitchen always clean and very well equipped. The dorm could have more storage compartments. Also surf instructors very kind and good know-how. Definitely a great recommendation!

Jonathan Ferguson

Jun 11, 2024

★★★★★

I had a great experience here visiting for the weekend. Lovely hostel, great location and super friendly team running it all. I look forward to coming back here next time I'm in Swakop! :)

Absolutely worth a stay whether you surf or not.

Michael Brown

Jun 2, 2024

★★★★★

I love getting salty with the Jackal! I’ve gone out with the Salty Jackal’s surf classes a half dozen times over the last year and really enjoyed each time in water. Namibia offers diverse opportunities for surfers of all levels…as a beginner, I found it to be a great place to learn. The instructors helped to choose the right level for the conditions. The beaches around Swakopmund are gorgeous, with the dunes rolling to the water…it’s amazing to look back to land and see the vast expanses of Namib desert. I can’t recommend Salty Jackal enough for some fun in the surf!

Salty jackal’s is one of those hostels that makes you feel right at home right away. If you’ve come to surf, they’ll have everything you need and options for your whole trip. And there’s so much to do beyond that. Great rooms, management and people

The hostel is pretty small and quickly feels like a big friend group just living together. There are events everyday on top of the surf lessons. The volunteers are extremely friendly, helpful and motivated. The surf lessons are fun and great for learning both theoretical and practical skills. The facilities are clean and comfortable. However, there are not enough bathrooms for all guests and you sometimes have to wait a while to go shower or use the toilet. Unfortunately the coffee that is available during the day is without milk, because you are only allowed to use the milk during breakfast time. Apart from that, in general I enjoyed my stay a lot and would definitely recommend Salty Jackal!

I had a great time and can highly recommend the hostel. The hostel is very comfortable and clean. The atmosphere and location is great. Marta is super organized, reliable and helpful. She is always available and provides you with tips and recommendations regarding activities. Victor is a great surf instructor. Very supportive, empathetic and patient. He is great at conveying his knowledge and passion for surfing. I learned a lot and surfing with him was really fun. He does an awesome job. Bob, Vittoria and Daniela are very welcoming, friendly and always ready to help. All of them are truly amazing people. Thank you!

Tom Ruxton

May 5, 2024

★★★★★

Absolutely fantastic hostel in every aspect. The place itself is lovely. The location is near local bars, restaurants, and shops. The staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Finally, you will never be short of anything to do because of all the activities they organise. Overall, I had an awesome time as a solo traveller and it is perhaps the best hostel I have stayed at so far.

Definitely the best hostel I have ever stayed at. Beautiful place, super cozy + a very VERY helpful and adorable team. It is authentic and well organised. In addition to that you never get bored thanks to the activities the team organises every week. I had such a nice time here and I would recommend it to everyone!! (+++ my food did not get stolen here during my 9-nights stay, contrary to other hostels I have stayed at ;))

Christian Barnard

Apr 18, 2024

★★★★★

One of my favorite hostel I had the chance to visit in my travels. I highly recommend it.

Maya Vasser

Apr 2, 2024

★★★☆☆

Had high expectations for this hostel based on previous reviews but I think we had unfortunate timing. The young woman who checked us in was extremely rude about wanting to get to her plans later that evening (even though we had arrived 30+ minutes before her shift ended). She rushed through the tour and explanation of the hostel in about 3 minutes and it felt like she was trying to shoo us out of her way. We stayed in the door room and while the space was nice and the beds were clean and comfortable, the room was quite dirty. There were multiple old, dirty cups laying around and food that clearly needed to be thrown away. The 3 other guests had splayed their entire belongings across the room leaving minimal space for my friends and I to even put our bags down. The staff from the hostel went out that night and came back at 3:30am SCREAMING outside the house/dorm room for over an hour. The staff member who was working the following morning was clearly extremely hungover and laying on the couch with headphones in and took a bit of arousing to get him to assist us with check out. Not necessarily a huge problem, but the bathrooms are not connected to the dorm room and you have to walk outside the room and then back into the house to use the bathroom. Just would've liked to know this detail before booking.

I didn’t stay at the hostel but joined the surf guiding for a week and it has been just great 🔥 Viktor, the surf guide, is incredibly supportive, encouraging, and just a real hype person. For whatever level you’re in he sees potential improvement but also smaller progress and is able to give you a really good and confident feeling on the water. Marta, who is the manager, really has her stuff together and has been suuuper helpful, especially when I first got in contact with them and wanted to plan my trip a little. Everything is really well organized while at the same time all employees and volunteers are being super friendly and fun to be around. Just two things that could use some improvement are the quality of longboards and the pricing strategy for people joining for more than 5 days. There is a pack for 5 days but afterward I had to pay the full price again for the next days, which is a bit unfortunate. Other than that: all good, really lovely people - had a great time. Missing it already 💙

We stayed here for three nights and since it was our first hostel we were inexperienced and somewhat unsure of what to expect. But on the first day already we were warmly welcomed by the staff, got told about all the things to do and places to visit, they organized tours for us, and we had our first surfing lessons with them. We booked 1 dorm bed and 1 private room and were very pleasantly surprised by the accommodation, in both rooms. We also had a big Braai (BBQ) on our last day and left the hostel with new friends made. We couldn’t be happier. Must visit place in Swakopmund.

El Micah Michael Iyambo

Mar 15, 2024

★★★★★

The staff are absolutely amazing and accommodative, they are very friendly, always smiling and always ready to help. The location is very safe and secure, encountered no problems and I could get anywhere in town because it very accessible. The condition of the place and its facilities are very satisfactory and so was my room, very comfy and I had a very good view. I definitely recommend Salty Jackal Backpackers and definitely would come back again.

We had such a wonderful time at the Salty Jackal!! The staff makes you feel right at home and the hostel overall has such good vibes. It’s clean and comfy and is in a great location. We took our first surfing lessons here and it was soo much fun!! I’m already planning my next stay here so I hope to see you in the future, hopefully for longer than just one night this time :)

Justin Kirschner

Mar 12, 2024

★★★★★

What a wonderful, wonderful group of volunteers and hostel. Marta, Victor, Jack, Melinda, and Julia really made this place just super awesome. This place is a must-go if you want to get a great experience of Swakopmund. They have this great book of activities you can look through to make the most of your time there, I'd recommend e-mailing them in advance to see what's available. I'm always gonna come back here whenever I'm in Namibia. Their dogs are so adorable!

JJontour

Mar 11, 2024

★★★★★

We had such a great stay. Sadly only one night but we will be back for a longer stay. Lovely volunteers and pets 🐕 🐈. We also took our first surf lesson here and it was amazing. If you need a comfy place to stay with lovey people and great vibes, I would highly recommend #saltyjackal264 #staysalty

Bonnie Bzdok

Mar 4, 2024

★★★★★

Absolutely perfect. A backpackpackers done right! Clean, kind, quiet, accommodating, helpful, organized. A really great place to stay! Thank you!

My surfing lessons with Victor were great! Every session we would start with learning more about the ocean and waves. He gave me good tips on what I need to focus on, was encouraging, and was able to discuss the mental aspect with me. You could see how much fun he has teaching others how to surf, which made it even more fun to learn. Thank you!

pirmin sensing

Feb 29, 2024

★★★★★

It was a great time at the salty jackals! The people there make the place so special. The surf lessons with Victor were perfect. We learned so much and had so much fun. The equipment is really good too. It was just fantastic. Thank you so much for everything and hope to see you again :)

Simply fantastic! You feel like you're part of a small family. There are always activities, cooking and eating together, surfing, and chilling – just great. And clean!

I had a great time staying at the Salty Jackal for five days. I have done many surf trips, but usually avoid surf camps in favor of doing my own thing. I decided to take advantage of the guiding at Salty Jackal because I would rather make friends to surf with. The vibes were great, the staff were all very friendly. I felt right at home after the first day. I only had one minor complaint; I wish the surf taxi was better advertised. I showed up with my own boards and wetsuits, and I am pretty proficient surfer. I mainly wanted the guiding for the social aspect. I ended up paying for the full guiding/coaching twice before I realized there was an option just to pay for the transport. The coaching/guiding cost includes boards and wetsuits. There wasn't an obvious alternative if you just wanted the guiding, but were otherwise self-sufficient. I still think the price I paid in the end was worth it. I had good waves every day, the guide/coach was awesome, and I really enjoyed surfing with the friends I made at the hostel. I am sure I will return someday, and I will just remember to ask for the surf taxi up front. While we didn't have to drive very far to surf, I don't think it would have been easy to find some of the spots on my own. Victor, the surf coach, is great. He is an absolute ripper, but also laid back and encouraging. I appreciate that he was stoked always, regardless of surf conditions. Marta, the acting manager during my visit, is a great host and very helpful. She is very good at her job. If I owned a surf camp, I would try and convince her to manage it. I already miss all of my Salty Jackal friends! Hope to be back soon. -Your friend in the South

douw nell

Feb 8, 2024

★★★★★

My stay at Salty Jackal in Swakopmund was absolutely wonderful! Despite it being just one night, I had the pleasure of meeting and connecting with fellow travelers from various countries, each with their own fascinating stories and insights on traveling through Africa. The surf classes with Victor and Marta were a highlight of my stay-- both of them are truly amazing people The accommodation spaces and outdoor living areas provided the perfect environment for fostering connections and making new friends. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Salty Jackal and would definitely visit again in the future. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere in Swakopmund.

seguin emilie

Feb 4, 2024

★★★★★

Loved my week in Salty Jackal, felt like home! And surf sessions were perfect thanks to these kind instructors

Didn’t stay at the hostel but had five fantastic surf lessons with Salty Jackal. Man I ate a lot of sea water but man was it a lot of fun. My instructor Victor gave such valuable advice, always making sure I felt safe despite some big big waves rolling in. I really feel like I learned a lot - thank you!!!

Bilel Chourabi

Jan 25, 2024

★★★★★

A very friendly place that feels more like home than your usual hostel. Would highly recommend. You'll be met with adorable lovely dogs there. The only note I have is that there isn't enough bathrooms for everyone. If you're in a room with no bathroom, you'll spend quite some time waiting especially in the mornings.

Loïc Marquis

Dec 28, 2023

★★★★★

Would definitely recommend for travellers on a budget and are seeking an great stay.

Kin Jonathan

Dec 18, 2023

★★★★★

Great hostel! Very close to the town center, and the staff were very welcoming, especially the young man from Italy who was very patient in providing directions. 👍

Sandro Martis

Nov 25, 2023

★★★★★

Great place with an awesome vibe. Rooms are clean, people are friendly and the surf instructor had some great tips for me to improve my surfing. Definitely the best place to stay if you want to do a bit of surfing in Swakop.

We had the most amazing time at this hostel! The staff was so inviting and kind, shout-out to Hans and Clara for going above and beyond for us! So many activités were offered and at reasonable prices! Everything is in walking distance! Maria made sure the place was welcoming, and Ollie was a great surf instructor. We recommend this hostel as it is by far our most favorite hostel we’ve ever been too. We recommend a stay here with the highest regards!

Amazing place, one of the highlights of my Namibia itinerary. Very social place, incredibly easy to get in contact with other travelers and of course with the amazing staff. Many social events like braai nights in the garden. Comfy rooms, very clean, good breakfast, well equipped kitchen. Surfing was perfect for beginners like me or also advanced surfers - there are enough spots close by. Thank you Clara, Mayra, Annabel, Oli, Maria, Hans for making my stay perfect!

Jez Gee

Nov 5, 2023

★★★★★

Fantastic friendly and welcoming staff (and guests), lovely rooms, relaxed vibes and a great, central location - all in all an absolutely brilliant place to stay!

I have been there twice now and will go again. I am not a hostel kind of person and ended up there by accident. What a lovely accident - I love that cool and cozy place. ||The dorm and the rooms are nicely furnished and super clean, the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed and the people we met there on two occasions are a perfect match. Already looking forward to the next time.

I have been there twice now and will go again. I am not a hostel kind of person and ended up there by accident. What a lovely accident - I love that cool and cozy place. The dorm and the rooms are nicely furnished and super clean, the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed and the people we met there on two occasions are a perfect match. Already looking forward to the next time.

I couldn't recommend Salty Jackall any more! Even though we stayed elsewhere in Swakopmund, we had an incredible experience with them during our 3 days of surfing, both as beginners and on a guided tour. The team was extremely welcoming, and the surfing experience was top-notch. If you're into surfing, this is an absolute must-visit! Best of luck to you for the rest of the season! Molly & Cam

Top-Surfcamp

Perfect for travelers! It was very easy to meet new people and generally there was an open, relaxed atmosphere. The surfing lessons were fun and thanks to the surfing trainers you can quickly achieve your first successes even as a beginner I can recommend it and would go there again if I am in Swakop.

A great small hostel in a redesigned house that makes travelers feel welcome with a warm interior, great communal spaces, and friendly volunteers. The hostel has designated braai nights and other communal dinners to foster a fun a welcoming space, along with games, magazines. The place is very clean and bright with great Wi-Fi for working. The only item of concern is there are a lot of people sharing a single bathroom (10+) so it can get backed up in the mornings and evenings.

We recently stayed at this hostel as a couple, and even though we're not into surfing, our experience was quite enjoyable. We opted for a private double room with shared bathroom facilities. ||There is secured parking. The kitchen facilities were also a big plus, allowing us to prepare our own meals and save some money on dining out.||The owners and hosts were incredibly friendly and accommodating, making us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. They were always available to provide helpful tips and recommendations for exploring the area.||The shared areas in the hostel were comfortable and inviting. Whether you wanted to relax, engage in conversation with fellow travelers, or get some work done, there were suitable spaces for all these activities.

We recently stayed at this hostel as a couple, and even though we're not into surfing, our experience was quite enjoyable. We opted for a private double room with shared bathroom facilities. There is secured parking. The kitchen facilities were also a big plus, allowing us to prepare our own meals and save some money on dining out. The owners and hosts were incredibly friendly and accommodating, making us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. They were always available to provide helpful tips and recommendations for exploring the area. The shared areas in the hostel were comfortable and inviting. Whether you wanted to relax, engage in conversation with fellow travelers, or get some work done, there were suitable spaces for all these activities.

had a great day surfing with Casey and the seals! Thanks a lot and we will be back someday!

Estelle Gentili

Aug 17, 2023

★★★★★

Really chill, fun and friendly environment at Salty! Best place in Swakopmund to surf and meet people

Superb service!

Hands down one of the best hostels I’ve stayed in. Great location, staff are friendly and the whole environment is welcoming and amazing. Awesome surf trips for all levels led by Mike and Oli and even with a miscommunication with them about booking a Sossusvlei Trip (that I could’ve handled 100% better) Iris still troubleshooted with me to set up an unforgettable experience with a tour company. Would highly highly recommend to any and all visiting Namibia.

Surfers paradise. Good waves, good food, and a nice clean place to sleep. There are often group dinners at the hostel for a small price, always nice to have a home cooked meal when you are travelling. The owners are kind and helpful. Plenty of shared space to relax in. Cannot reccommene enough. My favorite hostel ever. Oh and the two dogs and one cat who patrol the grounds are so sweet.

Ricky Jackson

Jun 7, 2023

★★★★★

Amazing hostel and great hosts! If you are looking for some good surf, great company, and an amazing hostel then this is the place. 100% recommend the surf lessons and excursions. The nightly cook up meals are awesome and a great way to bring the hostel together. Great bang for $.

this place is great. Best place for a surfer to stay in the area. Guided surfs with the knowledgable owner. Rooms and shared areas are clean and relaxing. Hammocks and slackline outside were much appreciated. Close to restaurants, grocery stores, etc. Best hostel i have ever stayed at.

Sarah Boudreau

May 16, 2023

★★★★★

I stayed at Salty Jackal for one night and it was such a nice stay! The staff were very pleasant and professional and the hostel was so cute! Especially loved the dogs and cat. I would love to return in the future for surf lessons if I'm ever in Swakopmund again.

Peter Liddle

May 6, 2023

★★★★★

Amazing hostel! Friendly staff, clean, quiet and a perfect location. We did the surf lesson for beginners as well and loved it! Highly recommend… one of the best hostels I’ve stayed at.

Salty Jackal The Best of Namibian wave 🌊

a surfer oriented hostel with the classic young backpacker hostel vibe. good people and fun social atmosphere. dorm room is kinda small and packed but thats what you get with dorms

I loved this place. Clean, cozy, super nice staff/volunteers. Good order in the house, fresh in the bathroom, nice breakfast and helpful staff. Nice little garden where there is space to play, socialize, have a bite to eat or coffee. Absolutely wonderful surf instructor.

Very good vibe at this place, friendly and helpful staff, close to the ocean and center city. One night, I went to the dunes, 30 minutes walk, and I could see these amazing dunes and a wonderful sunset over the ocean. I would definitely recommend this place.

Great backpacker hostel with nice people and family atmosphere. Olli and Iris will answer your questions, organise trips for you and sometimes even take you on a camping trip in the desert with amazing food cooked over the campfire. I also had great surf sessions on which they will take you out on every morning. Thanks again for everything, I would love to come back :)

Amazing place, family atmosphere, cozy beds. Coming back!

Very nice hostel. Always busy and really nice people.

Friendly environment, the guided surf trips are amazing, very easy

Olli is a great surf teacher. Patient and positive. I will be back!

I did 5 days surfing lessons with Salty Jackals, an experience I really recommend! The super friendly staff really put an effort to give you the best possible experience. You will surf at beautiful surf spots where the desert meets the ocean, all safe with a professional instructor in small groups. We had the fortune to see dolfins, seals and flamingos, as a bonus. So it is also a great nature experience.

I tried surfing for the first time and took a 5 lessons surf course. The instructors were very professional and attentive, giving individual feedback and tips for practising. The staff in general were very friendly and welcoming and the groups were small. We were surfing in different locations during these days and also got to see beautiful sand dunes and animals such as dolphins and seals. I would highly recommend both surfing and staying with Salty jackal.

Benny Lynch

Jan 15, 2023

★★★★★

In a world where true "backpackers" hostels are on the decline, Salty Jackal Hostel really is a true gem. The volunteers are all incredibly friendly and welcoming who are quick to invite you out to drinks or a meal or an activity. Iris is there to help with booking any activities you might want to do. Ollie is a great surf instructor and very patient with everyone and their needs. And not to forget the two dogs Signa and Moka!!! Whether you want to relax on the hammock or spend a day exploring the dunes, you can do whatever you like at Salty Jackal. Thanks for the great hospitality and can't wait to see everyone again (next week to be exact)!!!

Philipp Schiffer

Jan 9, 2023

★★★★★

It had a very good vibe to it, very friendly and relaxed.

Philipp '

Dec 8, 2022

★★★★★

Awesome hostel for backpackers and surfers run by young volunteers from all over the world. I felt like being at home, you can meet a lot of people and have a nice time with them. In particular I would like to thank the following people: Chanté, Mike, Konsti, Nils, Steffi and Sebastian, Moka and Siggi (the dogs). They did a great job ! Thank you, I would definitly come back one day !

Had a blast there. Highly recommended!

Best hostel I've stayed at in Namibia, hands down. Super homey; great breakfast included, clean rooms and bathrooms. HOT showers 😍. The staff are all amazing; from gardeners to surf instructors, reception people and everyone in between. They go out of their way to help you with whatever it is you want to do, be it guided tours, surfing lessons or something weird like resealing the seams on your tent. 😅 Great community, great place to be. The #1 reason I want to come spend more time in Swakopmund. Will be back very soon. Thanks to everyone for a fantastic stay! ❤️

Very friendly, open, chill place and people. We did not stay at their accomodation but I took surfing classes with them and we rented surfboard from them. I can definitely recommend surfing 🌊 with the guys. They made me feel safe and confident and had a lot of patience towards my "surfing on knees" skills 🙈🤣🤫 If I have a chance I would definitely come back ... Hopefully in November 🫶

Richard Walker

Sep 29, 2022

★★★★★

Really great people at SJ. Great dinners cooked by the staff. Very comfortable rooms and a cozy place to stay.

It was my second time staying at Salty Jackal Backpackers and I know that it wasn't my last time. I can just recommend this place. Salty Jackal is organizing different get together events so that you easily get in touch with other people. Salty Jackal has such a lovel outside section where you feel at home and welcome.

Very nice staff, clean place, friendly guest...

Very well organized hostel! Comfortable and spacious common areas, both inside and out. Excellent breakfast in the morning. Very friendly and helpful staff, they organize many activities, mainly surfing-related, but also excursions in the surrounding area and dinners with friends. Highly recommended.

A hostel with excellent amenities, a good breakfast with a variety of options, friendly hosts, spotlessly clean, and an excellent kitchen with a variety of amenities! The location is very nice, with plenty of space both inside and out, perfectly suited to the surfing theme! Recommended.

Adriaan Rowan

Sep 21, 2022

★★★★★

Very friendly owners and staff, and very clean and cosy place to stay

Good experience with nice rooms and kitchen.

I LOVED Salty Jackal. I'm a single parent and was visiting Swakopmund with my kids aged 17, 14 and 8. It was such a chilled out friendly place and felt so safe. I was happy to let my teens potter about on their own in the evenings and the lovely staff even gave me some free baby-sitting so that I could take the teens out on their own. We went surfing with SJ which was also incredible.

good surf point!!

It was a wonderful inn! There was hot water! I also tried surfing for the first time and was thoroughly taught! ♪ I highly recommend it!

Everything excellent - especially the social part of my stay at SJ I liked a lot: BBQs, moon landscape, group dinners, walking tour and of course the surf lessons! Very nice, cozy, familiar and social hostel! The sun room I stayed in was really nice, but in the early morning quite loud (breakfast starts at 7am and the room is next to the living room). But I would come definitely back to SJ! :-)

I spent three weeks at Salty Jackal in Swakopmund in June 2022. As an intermediate surfer I enjoyed the excellent surf guiding to uncrowded quality waves, delicious food and coffee in Swakopmund, and the great laid-back vibes at the backpackers. Thanks guys for a great holiday, hope to be back soon! Ben.

Kirsty Scott

Aug 10, 2022

★★★★★

The best hostel! Friendly staff, lovely rooms and good vibes

The staff are very helpful and friendly, I will always come back here whenever I’m in swakop.

Booked for a guided half day surf trip. Comms were smooth and easy, pick-up a bit late but didn’t impact the overall experience. Kit seemed to be good quality and well maintained. Be aware the guided surfing does not include any coaching or support - we were basically on our own once in the water, no checkins to see how we were getting on or any discussion really (at least not with me). Discussions were mostly in German as that’s what the two other clients spoke. Bring your own kit if you are small - my wetsuit was full of water and boots were at least 2 sizes too big meaning I was tripping over them the whole time.

Ollie and Iris go above and beyond when it comes to hosting guests. This is, by far, the best hostel I have ever stayed at....the rooms were clean, the staff was friendly, and the outdoor common space was exceptional. They have an amazing garden, as well. The location is excellent....you can walk to all of the best restaurants in town, as well as the beaches. Ollie is also an excellent surf guide....he will point you in the right direction to get great waves based on the daily conditions. They also provide surf lessons upon request. All in all, I had an amazing vacation and cant wait to return!

Salty Jackal was the best place we stayed in Swakopmund. Great activities and group dinners. Olly and Iris are total legends and super helpful.

Olly and Iris were so welcoming as well as the other staff working there. My room was clean and the new friends made was special. The strike mission package made my stay so easy. I can't wait to come back in the future.

Look like hostel, but it’s just a house. Two toilets for 20 people, morning time it’s problem, breakfast till 9 o’clock on small kitchen it’s not good. To many rules. People who work in hostel never work in hotel business…. But it’s so beautiful place, very close to beach. And cool People

We enjoyed our stay here. Friendly people, good conversations, nice food. This is the place to stay if you’re looking for a chill place in Swakopmund!

Brianán Kiernan

Jun 7, 2022

★★★★★

Highly recommend staying at the Salty Jackal! The team is awesome. I went out with Oliver for surf guiding - a once in a lifetime experience surfing in the desert. The lodging was comfortable. Everyone was very friendly and hospitable. Would stay there again!

It's a nice cosy place with a great location and a lovely crowd:)

Jason Mwenyo

Jun 1, 2022

★★★★★

First time staying in a backpacker! and boy did i enjoy it! Will definitely be back!

My stay at Salty Jackal lasted more than two weeks. Within these two weeks, I felt very well taken care of at Salty Jackal. This was mainly due to the family situation at the backpackers. The guests and the staff were very nice and very accommodating, which surrounded me with a familiar environment that temporarily became my home. The hostel is very lovingly furnished and offers several places to relax and hang out. Various events are offered. Sometimes a dinner together or a camping trip welded the guests and the staff together even more and made the time at Salty JAckal even better. My main event revolved around surfing. The surfing conditions in and around Swakopmund are good for all levels of surfers. I had a great time at the Salty JAckal because of the family environment and all the surfing.

Lore Defruyt

May 5, 2022

★★★★★

I really enjoyed my time at the cosy Salty Jackal! Ollie, Iris and the volunteers are super friendly and helpful. The surf-safaris were a lot of fun and I hope to surf the mega tubes next year thanks to Ollie his tips. ;)

Dylan Metcalf

Apr 26, 2022

★★★★★

My stay at Salty Jackal Backpackers was nothing less than absolutely incredible. From meeting beautiful people from all over the world to experience moments that will last a lifetime, this is exactly the place you want to stay at to make your Swakopmund, or Namibian, dream - a reality! I cannot wait to be back and laugh with you all again!

Patrick J. Flanagan

Apr 25, 2022

★★★★★

Excellent stay! Staff friendly and helpful. The facilities clean and comfortable. The location accessible and convenient. I have stayed in many hostels and this is by far one of (if not) the best. Ollie and Iris really make you feel right at home from day 1, hour 1 even. This is a great place to meet smart and interesting fellow travelers, learn a bit about surfing and utilize as a base jump for experiencing all the marvel and wonder of Namibia. I cried when I left that's how sad I was to depart Salty Jackal. And it was my birthday.

Freja Johansen (Fenja)

Apr 25, 2022

★★★★★

We (group of 3) stayed for 1 night in the dormitory. The place was lovely and welcoming, and seems to function as a little community where there are plenty of activities to take part in, if you wish to do so. Great location and cute animals too :-)

I highly recommend The Salty Jackal for a short or long stay. This lovely place is own by really nice people and volunteers. It's the perfect place if you are travelling alone and want to meet people and do some activities with. I had a great time, thank you ! All the best.

Frendli, helpfool, clean, clos tu de city

Hannah Reimer

Apr 4, 2022

★★★★★

I love this hostel. It's clean, in a great location, with tons of activities, free blankets in the evenings, free spices for cooking, board games, surfing deals, and more...

Thomas Zeiser

Mar 23, 2022

★★★★★

Iris and Olli are fantastic hosts! They really give you the full experience, we felt very welcome, did trips together and had awesome nights around the Braai. Full on recommendation!

Checked in for one night. Staff was very helpful and welcoming, although the app they use for payment is slow and complicated. Unfortunately, the house has a very strong mouldy smell that was particularly intense in our room and we decided to get a refund and leave without spending the night. The staff are aware of the problem and offered incense sticks, which would have made it worse. I admit that this problem may not affect other people. Staff are not to be blamed for the situation but the building needs a lot of work.

The Salty Jackal Hostel is an amazing hostel! It’s located close to everything you need (all shops, attractions and the beach). The rooms are really nice and comfy, the kitchen is well equipped. The team is super nice, fun and always up for a chat and very helpful. And they have two cute dogs and a cat! :) Make sure you take part in their delicious dinners and definitely book surfing lessons (also perfect for absolute beginners). Super happy and grateful to have stayed here, felt at home the moment I walked in. Thanks Salty Jackals team and hopefully for a few more times in the future! :)

You know when you stay at a place and they try to make it feel warm and comfortable, like "your home away from home" but the feel is just off, it's not the case with Salty Jackal... Amazing place, People are friendly, dogs are friendly. Don't trust me come check it out. Ypu won't regret it. Stay Salty.

Eckehard Fozzy Moritz

Jan 30, 2022

★★★★☆

The atmosphere of friendly people in a very relaxed environment was soothing and part of holiday enjoyment

Amazing place! Frienly staff and cool vibes.

I came to experience something new and to get out of my comfort zone. And I received more than I expected. Everyone at Salty (from the staff to the travellers) were friendly, kind and helpful. I don't see a need to any improvement. All 100%. I will definitely recommend Salty Jackal.

The bedroom was not clean at all. The bed sheets did smell.

Place of epic adventures!

Very nice & friendly place! Definitely staying there again!

The hostel is very nice, amazing location, not too noisy on the one hand and on the other hand there are always guys to have fun with. The owners of the place are a lovely couple who will help you with this and also the hardworking volunteers.||If you are into surfing, this is the place for you, almost every day || We go for a surfing lesson and there is all the necessary equipment of really good quality.||You can close on different attractions in the hostel and there is a variety of different rooms from dorms to private rooms.||Really recommended

The hostel is very nice, amazing location, not too noisy on the one hand and on the other hand there are always guys to have fun with. The owners of the place are a lovely couple who will help you with this and also the hardworking volunteers. If you are into surfing, this is the place for you, almost every day We have a surfing lesson and there is all the necessary equipment of really good quality. You can close on different attractions in the hostel and there is a variety of different rooms from dorms to private rooms. Really recommended

Great Hostel, super friendly, caring, sharing and welcoming

Excellent

anneli matine

Sep 7, 2021

★★★☆☆

OMG, loved everything about the place. I'll definitely be back😍; the people are soo nice. I had a great stay

Made the journey effortless

My stay was fairly good. Apart from the bedding if you can get warmer blankets that would even be better. Apart from that the place was clean and well looked after. The staff were amazing special mention to Lindiwe, Linus and the French guy (sorry I forgot his name).

Best hostel I have ever stayed at. Ollie and his team cooked dinner for us both nights and they had tons of activities to do during the day. Accommodations were clean, up to date and comfortable. We also got great suggestions on where to go for the rest of our Namibian adventure. I can not recommend the Salty Jackal enough.

lucas van meeuwen

Aug 22, 2021

★★★★★

Super staff, super location, super dorm

We came to Swakopmund to surf and stayed at the Salty Jackal for two weeks. We booked daily surf lessons and surf guiding and were out on the waves every day with Ollie and Chris. Ollie is the perfect surf guide; he knows all the spots, gives great tips, and it's a lot of fun to be out with him. Anyone who wants to surf in Swakopmund should definitely do it with Ollie! Swakopmund is the perfect surf spot with very consistent waves for all levels. Plus, you usually have the waves to yourself. The water temperature wasn't a problem with a wetsuit either. However, assessing the swell and the spots in this region requires a lot of know-how and experience, which is why the surf guiding is perfect for both beginners and more experienced surfers. The hostel is super friendly, perfectly located, clean, and quiet, and felt like a second home to us. Ollie, the staff, and the volunteers were always there for us and reliably took care of everything. In the evenings, we often cooked in the (very well-equipped) communal kitchen or grilled over the fire, spending cozy evenings with the other guests and volunteers. It's also great that Salty Jackal is socially engaged with kids in the local community through their "Sustainable Waves" program. Everything at the hostel is designed with sustainability in mind, and they even have fresh vegetables from their own garden.

Cool staff, relaxing stay and adventurous experience

Zander Botha

Jun 30, 2021

★★★★★

Really nice stay, thank you

Alice Cimenti

Jun 16, 2021

★★★★★

The hostel is the perfect place to stay and make interesting encounters! This is one of the first hosting places I have been to that encourages the guests to be sustainable and makes different projects around it, very inspiring! Thank you for the nice weekend!

The backpacker is nice and cozy and the location is great, close to the beach front, shops and restaurants and in a quiet and safe part of town.

Nivitha Mavuluri

May 26, 2021

★★★★★

The hostel was amazing! There is so much to do within the hostel itself- the slack-line was so much fun! The animals are super cute and cuddly. The hosts are kind and great surf instructors! Stay here!!

Absolutely loved my three nights here! It’s an incredible hostel in a fantastic location, and it is run by an awesome staff! They took us surfing the first morning and we had a blast. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Swakopmund!

Best hostel ever! Awesome people, delicious braai, clean and nicely located! Come here for a happy time 💛

Everything about it is perfect! Lovely hosts, lovely guests, great vibe and great location!

Thabo Abrams

Feb 15, 2021

★★★★★

Most diverse place to stay. Very good hospitality. I enjoyed my stay there.

Marica Nordqvist

Feb 9, 2020

★★★★★

Loved this place! First we booked 2 nights but then extended 2 more. The people are just fantastic! Got some really good help with booking our trip to Sandwich harbour, which was amazing!!!! And you should definatley join in for the Salty Jackel dinner night :)

Fantastic stay, fantastic people ❤️

Cosy, friendly, informative and good location.

Dear Nadia& mostly volonteers Manu&Ina! You made my New Years Eve unforgetable. I've got warmly welcomed from the first second. Familiar hostel with all you need in the kitchen and bath& get help always for activity or different stuff. Thank you for this unforgetable stay!😎

Nicky Kirchner

Dec 30, 2019

★★★★☆

Very relaxed people, perfect location!

Perfect vibe, great for backpacker's and couples. Would recommend and stay again.

Eric Koch

Nov 18, 2019

★★★★★

Super lovely people with an excellent vision in mind. The location is also pretty sweet, especially if you're chasing waves :). Also, ask Ollie for good meat recommendations to cook up at the hostel. Parking is super convienent and safe.

Backpacker hostel with parking, dog and chickens that wake you up early

Journey Khan

Sep 4, 2019

★☆☆☆☆

I can't understand why this place has such a high rating. Koreans, never go here. 1. There's only one bathroom in the entire place. 2. The 6-person dormitory I think it used to be a garage. Haha, it's no joke. 3. It's not a professional hostel (it's just a regular home). 4. The hosts are really bad.

If you're young, looking at staying somewhere that you will meet other like minded back packers, learn to surf, and have friendly helpful staff then this is the place to stay. Signa the dog is lovely

Good people. Really welcoming. Olly the owner took us out for a surf, nothing like suffering in the freezing Atlantic to make you appreciate all the good things back at the hostel.

Kate Sabo

Jul 24, 2019

★★★★★

Showed up out of the blue, staff were super accommodating and friendly. Always happy to give recommendations about town. Was well setup, and had good facilities. All in all had a great vibe and community.

Marco Alegria

Jul 14, 2019

★★★★★

Great value for money and feels like home

An unpleasant place for campers. There is a parking lot for four cars, with always damp sand, almost mud. This is a backpackers with signs on all about the care of the environment and maintenance of cleaning in the facilities (not spend lots of water, cover the shibers, bin for compost, bin for organic... ), but the kitchen always was dirty, for example. For two days there are 10 shet of dog 2 meters from our parking. I understand that you ask collaboration, but if the people don't clean, the worked must do it, if they want to offer a good service. I saw a discussion between a volunteer and a men who cleaned and it was very uncomfortable. When we leave, and I said that I wanted to pay, the volunteer said me if I had scarted my dishes. A disaster.

Jessica Mechtenberg

Jul 6, 2019

★★★★★

The Salty Jackal is the kind of place that feels like home. It is small and cozy, and the staff and owner Ollie welcome guests and take them out as if they are friends rather than strangers. The resident dog is friendly and sweet, and the cat cuddled with me at night. I was sad to only get to stay here one night before heading out on a road trip. Places like these with such friendly and helpful people warm your heart and give you a nice dose of home comfort when you're on the road for so long. Can't recommend it enough!

I spent a few days in Swakopmund and stayed at the Salty Jackal on the recommendation of a friend. Since I wanted some privacy, I rented a private room with a shared bathroom. I loved it; the welcome was friendly, and it had everything you could need. There's a garden with a hammock and a smoking/chilling area, as well as a barbecue. Friends are welcome too, as long as they don't stay overnight. There's a communal kitchen that's very well organized and a living room for meeting people, complete with a bar. They also have events where you can eat and chat with others. Everyone who works there is always available to answer questions and is experienced in organizing things like shuttles. I felt very comfortable. It was my first experience staying in a backpacker hostel, though... I can highly recommend it. Thanks also to Nadhja, Collin, and Charly; you made me feel right at home. Thanks, keep up the great work!

Backpacker Nr1 in Swakopmund. Central location, walking distance to the ocean and town, clean facilities and lovingly decorated house with awesome hang out spaces. Helpful staff and a friendly owner ensure a super pleasant stay!

Clean, cozy, central location. 1, 2 and 4 beds in rooms. Friendly staff, cat, and dog. Good wifi. I switched to this hostel because of its cleanliness

Very nice, clean and cozy Backpackers. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the staff working there very friendly and helpful. A nice place to stay!

Leo Joas

Feb 23, 2019

★★★★☆

Staff is really helpful and friendly, especially Lee! Restless in helping you have a good time! Hostel is small so guests end up knowing each other and doing stuff together. Only one dorm, books easily No a/c nor fan in room

Super cosy little place

Alex Menjono

Jan 20, 2019

★★★★★

Very neat and peaceful. Super friendly staff. Thank you!

Aviva Bergman

Jan 2, 2019

★★★★★

A great location, friendly staff, 150rand for camping, and a cat, a dog and chickens! I recommend staying here for a night or two while visiting the beautiful City.

Very quiet and peaceful. Nice dog and staff

Friendly cheap backpackers.5 min to sea.close to shopping

I stayed two nights at this hostel and was very well received. The atmosphere is pleasant and conducive to making friends. It's also close to everything the city has to offer, including the desert, which I ended up exploring with a friend I made at the hostel.

Super

Salty Jackal is conveniently located within walking distance to the centre of town, the ocean, and the dunes are a short drive away. The small capacity of the backpackers makes it very homey, and the staff were brilliant. Activities include slack-lining, braais, surfing. The staff took us out for pizza at what they claimed was the best pizza in Africa (they weren't wrong!). There is also an adorable dog, cat, and two egg-laying chickens on the property.

Calm atmosphere, very friendly and super cool staff, nice rooms! Had a good time here!

We’ve had a nice stay here in Swakopmund. The hostel is quiet, staff friendly and everything’s clean. I’d recommend this place.

Martha T.

Sep 13, 2018

★★★★☆

Great Central location...

Katie Kendall

Aug 19, 2018

★★★★★

Best hostel in Swakopmund. Chill vibe, great food, great company, great location. Would recommend this place to anyone.

Great place to spend your time in Swakopmund! Felt more like a house than a hostel :) the gym facilities are a great plus and it's great to meet new people, everyone was keen on hanging out with the other guests, 100% recommended!

. Hommie and cool place to stay

Alice Asher

Aug 4, 2018

★★★★★

Feels like home more than an hostel

Richard Ford

Jul 23, 2018

★★★★☆

Good location, cool staff and a cozy atmosphere.

This really is a great spot. Friendly people and clean rooms. Glad we chose to stop here, and within walking distance of all the amenities, including the awesome Brauhaus!

Not much

Alexandra Bacho

Mar 12, 2018

★★★★★

Love it here! Such a chilled place and friendly staff. We’ve set up our tent but can use all the facilities which are great as well! Would definitely recommend this place!

Christoph Ruzicka

Mar 12, 2018

★★★★★

Really nice relaxing place. You can choose to sleep in a dorm, twin room or pitch your tent. The Salty Jackal is close to beaches and the center, has a fully equipped kitchen, fridge, honesty bar and cool hostel vibe. The wifi is great and owner and staff are super friendly and helpful.

Catalina Peña Figueroa

Mar 11, 2018

★★★★★

Very nice place, excellent location! And staff is very very friendly and helpful!! The place has a very relaxing and good vibe. I would deff recomended and come back if im in Swakopmund again.

Located in walkable distances to many of Swakopmund's attractions lies this lovely little backpackers with a homely feel and great hospitality! The host, Oliver, and his helpers are very friendly and enthusiastic about making your stay as enjoyable as possible, will answer all you need to know about Swakopmund, the surrounding area or even Namibia. Fittingly decorated according to Oliver's passion for surfing you can even enjoy a lesson or two in surfing with Oliver, have a braai and/or enjoy a beer with him and other guests. You could also just explore the area and look forward to having a great place to stay for the night. Whether you're alone or in a group, this place should definitely be considered for making your visit to Swakopmund one to remember.

Great atmosphere. Very clean, friendly people, and very centrally located. You feel like you're at home and don't want to leave. You meet so many different travelers here, both locals and tourists, and hear countless stories and get helpful tips! For me, the best place to stay in Swakop!!!

Nice spot, well equipped kitchen for self catering and the owner was helpful and friendly. Quite small hostel with just a few rooms so it felt super homey! Place was kept very clean. Our only complaint was that it was a touch on the pricey side compared to the other hostel we stayed at in town and some of the room pricing didn't make much sense to us (it would have been cheaper for us as a couple to take both the private twin and private double with ensuite, than to just rent the double with ensuite as it was charged per person, rather than per room!) New hostel though, so give it a try and have fun!

Had an amazing stay here! Olli was super accommodating and even prepared a vegan lasagna for us! Cozy vibe and filled with other chilled out guests. Very clean and comfy. Highly reccomend it!

Super chilled homely vibe. Perfect location on the road to Walvis Bay and the dunes. Oliver knows all the surf spots of the skeleton coast including the fabled Skeleton Bay! Definitely coming back here!