• One of the top 10 places to stay in Cape Town” (Lonely Planet Cape Town City Guide 2010)
• Voted Best Hostel in South Africa and 3rd in Africa in 2008 and 2009 by Hostelworld.com

Spacious, clean and comfortable and a great way to meet other travellers! The Backpack has been operating for 16 years and it has tries to endeavour to uplift their staff and community, in turn impacting positively on local service providers.  It has a commitment towards transparency, high-level standards and profit sharing for the majority of staff as contributing factors towards The Backpack’s success.

Some of the facilitates include a bar and cafe with views of Table Mountain, coupled with a huge collection of African music giving the bar a funky African vibe. Their food is good and home-cooked - to whet your appetite. You can have a game of pool, play backgammon or chess on a custom built mosaic tables or just hang out next to the fire chatting to fellow travelers. A pool is also a feature and just in case you were wondering there are mosaics on the walls designed by one of Cape Town's most sought after artists and made as part of a community project.

Community involvement is a core feature of The Backpack’s ethos. The company has helped to build a crèche in KTC informal settlement, financed from commissions earned by selling a cultural tour to the townships. The Backpack also has a positive and proactive attitude to working with staff affected by HIV/Aids, and the business abides strongly with labour and legal standards.

We offer voluntours – 6 week programs for volunteers or interns in Cape Town teaching children Maths, Science and English and coaching soccer in the afternoons.