The Backpack & Africa Travel Centre

74 New Church Street | Map and Directions

About The Backpack & Africa Travel Centre

Voted No.2 hostel in Africa 2007 and Voted Best Hostel in Africa 2005 by Hostelworld Customers, Selected as Cape Town's best backpacker sleep by Lonely Planet 2005 and 2006!

The Hostel has been Accredited by Fair Trade in Tourism (a trade mark awarded to businesses that adhere to fair trade criteria, fair wages and working conditions, fair operations, purchasing and distribution of benefits, ethical business practices and respect for human rights, culture and the environment).

Graded as a 5 Star Backpacker by The South African Grading Council: 'offering superior comfort and quality with a high standard of furnishings and guest care'

South Africa's original backpacker and travel agency. Simply the best place to make your travel arrangements! All the facilities you can expect from a great hotel such as stylishly decorated double rooms, some en-suite, private electronic safes. Also on offer are off peak specials and a buzzy internet cafe - a place to meet like-minded international travelers.

We now have 10 new luxury rooms!

We Offer:
cafe/bar - open from 7:30 till late
internet access - communications centre - pay for what you download only- excellent rates- download pics, VOIP phones with web cams.
ATM machine on site
Meet and greet airport shuttle service at a cost
Towels on request
self-catering kitchen
24-hour check-in
24-hour security
unlimited kms best car hire
Satellite Sports Channel TV
All major credit cards, travellers cheques and foreign currencies accepted.
Children welcome in private rooms and only those that can swim

Not too laid back, not too loud, guests love The Backpack and it's easy to see why. For years it has stayed ahead of the crowd by constantly adapting, yet always
offering top notch accommodation for the price and wonderfully clued-up service from its desk - Lonely Planet 2005
'the most comfortable and best-run in town........one of the best backpacker travel centres around. Recommended.' - Footprints 2004

Tuesday Nights: Traditional BBQ
Thursday Nights: Drum Circle - learn to drum an African drum
Friday Nights: Pool competitions

VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

Soccer: Is there still magic in those old soccer boots? A group of special boys are keen to find out. These 9 to 15 year olds have the moves to be soccer stars, just not the gear. So, please bring your old soccer boots or even your old team gear!!!
You might also have the opportunity to play soccer with these local teams and pass on some of your soccer skills!

Knitting: We keep a basket of wool in our cafe ¡nd lounge and you can knit anything so long as it?s a square or something like a square and then we sew it up and give the blankets to sick babies. You can knit a row or a square or whatever you have time to do - we just pick it up from where its left off and someone will finish it! Or if you have some wool lying about your house or your grandmothers house, bring it along!!