Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa - FTTSA

The Backpack

Business Type:	Accommodation
Telephone:	+27 21 423 4530
Fax:	+27 21 423 00 65
Postal Address:	74 New Church Street Cape Town 8001
E-mail:	backpack@backpackers.co.za
Website	www.backpackers.co.za

Voted as the BEST HOSTEL IN AFRICA 2005

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.