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!

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 :)

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.

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! ❤️

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.

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!!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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 !

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!

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)!!!

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

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.

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.

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 🫶

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.

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.

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.

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! :-)

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 :-)

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! :)