Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse
➔
➔
Please select your travel dates to see rates and availability
Info
Summary of reviewsChameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse in Windhoek stands out as a top choice for travelers due to its array of positive attributes. The property’s excellent location close to the city center makes it incredibly convenient for exploring the main attractions, shopping centers and dining spots within walking distance. Guests appreciate the peaceful yet central setting, combined with well-maintained and secure conditions, enhancing the overall experience.
Guests frequently praise the breakfast offerings, which include a variety of bread, fruits, muffins and cereal, providing a fresh and sufficient start to the day. The continental buffet style is valued for its simplicity and inclusion in the room price, though a few guests suggest more variety could improve it further. The dinner options receive commendations for their deliciousness and affordability with themed communal dinners like pizza and traditional braai nights adding to a communal and enjoyable dining experience.
Rooms at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse are highly rated for their spaciousness, cleanliness and pleasant décor, offering great value for money. Unique touches like animal-themed artistry add to the ambiance and both private rooms and dormitories cater well to different traveler preferences. The general cleanliness of the property, including the rooms, bathrooms and common areas, is often highlighted with special mention of the attentive housekeeping staff ensuring a tidy environment.
The staff are consistently described as friendly, helpful and professional, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. The efficient front desk staff are particularly noted for their assistance with tours and local activities. The free Wi-Fi is generally reliable and fast, particularly strong in common areas, although some guests report weaker signals in dormitory areas.
The outdoor pool, while modest in size, is a valued feature, providing a nice spot for relaxation and cooling off. The secure, ample parking options, including indoor and monitored facilities, are greatly appreciated by guests, especially those with larger vehicles. The beds receive mixed reviews; many guests find them comfortable, while some note the need for improvement in mattress quality and room ventilation.
Overall, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse offers a comfortable, affordable and enjoyable stay with excellent service, making it a favored choice for visitors to Windhoek.
Categories
Guests frequently praise the breakfast offerings, which include a variety of bread, fruits, muffins and cereal, providing a fresh and sufficient start to the day. The continental buffet style is valued for its simplicity and inclusion in the room price, though a few guests suggest more variety could improve it further. The dinner options receive commendations for their deliciousness and affordability with themed communal dinners like pizza and traditional braai nights adding to a communal and enjoyable dining experience.
Rooms at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse are highly rated for their spaciousness, cleanliness and pleasant décor, offering great value for money. Unique touches like animal-themed artistry add to the ambiance and both private rooms and dormitories cater well to different traveler preferences. The general cleanliness of the property, including the rooms, bathrooms and common areas, is often highlighted with special mention of the attentive housekeeping staff ensuring a tidy environment.
The staff are consistently described as friendly, helpful and professional, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. The efficient front desk staff are particularly noted for their assistance with tours and local activities. The free Wi-Fi is generally reliable and fast, particularly strong in common areas, although some guests report weaker signals in dormitory areas.
The outdoor pool, while modest in size, is a valued feature, providing a nice spot for relaxation and cooling off. The secure, ample parking options, including indoor and monitored facilities, are greatly appreciated by guests, especially those with larger vehicles. The beds receive mixed reviews; many guests find them comfortable, while some note the need for improvement in mattress quality and room ventilation.
Overall, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse offers a comfortable, affordable and enjoyable stay with excellent service, making it a favored choice for visitors to Windhoek.
Hostel Taking Steps Towards Sustainability
Chameleon employs active water and waste recycling systems and its power is supplied by solar energy. The establishment also has a reputation for investing in the local area and community initiatives.
Cheap Hostel
This guesthouse is known as one of the first backpacker hostels in Namibia. It provides accommodation for all age groups, from solo travelers to families. It offers amenities such as a swimming pool, a bar, barbecue facilities, evening entertainment, and a shared kitchen.
Hostel with Swimming Pool
Outdoor Pool
Hostel with Parking
Hostel with Outdoor Pool
Guest Reviews
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse boasts an excellent location in Windhoek, making it an ideal base for exploring the city. Nestled close to the city center, it's incredibly convenient for travelers who want the accessibility of Windhoek's main attractions, shopping centers, supermarkets and dining spots within walking distance.
Guests consistently highlight the central position of the guesthouse, noting that it's situated just minutes away from Independence Avenue and the Craft market with easy access to key sites and conveniences downtown. Its setting is described as peaceful yet central, allowing for both tranquility and the convenience of city amenities.
Several reviews also commend the property’s safe and well-maintained conditions and the friendly, helpful staff, which collectively contribute to a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. The presence of amenities such as a swimming pool and private parking further enhance the guest experience. Overall, the location and service make Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse a top choice for a convenient, comfortable and enjoyable stay in Windhoek.
The breakfast experience at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse has garnered a range of observations from guests, largely leaning towards the positive. Many guests have highlighted the breakfast as good, varied and plentiful with the inclusion of bread, fruit, muffins and cereal being frequently mentioned. The continental buffet style is appreciated for its simplicity and sufficiency, often described as a great start to the day, especially considering the inclusion in the price of the stay.
Several reviews note the breakfast as excellent or delicious, providing options that cater to different dietary preferences. The self-service aspect and availability of fresh fruit are seen as positives and some guests found the breakfast substantial and more than satisfactory for a backpackers' establishment.
However, some guests described the breakfast as very basic, modest or simple, occasionally pointing out the lack of hot food and variety. There are mentions of the breakfast being somewhat monotonous with the same options every day, which could benefit from more variety. Despite this, the overall consensus is that the breakfast is adequate and good value for the price with several reviews praising the breakfast's freshness and the nice range of healthy options available.
In summary, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse offers a breakfast that meets the basic needs of travelers, providing a decent mix of cold buffet items and a simple but effective start to the day with some room for improvement in variety and extension of options.
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse offers a variety of dinner options that consistently receive positive feedback from guests. The hostel's evening meal offerings are described as delicious with guests frequently praising the food. Communal dinners are available, often themed, such as pizza or traditional braai nights featuring oryx chicken and sausage. These themed nights are a hit, providing a chance for guests to enjoy freshly cooked, tasty meals, often at very reasonable prices.
The bar area, though noted for not being exceptionally stocked, creates a cool environment where visitors can relax with snacks, toasted sandwiches or an evening drink. Additionally, there are recommendations for expanding the menu, suggesting that a wider variety of dinner options would be beneficial.
While some reviews mention that the food consists primarily of reheated frozen meals, the overall consensus highlights the meals being both affordable and enjoyable. Notably, the themed nights and the possibility to pre-order freshly cooked dinners contribute to the positive dining experience at Chameleon Backpackers.
Despite a few critics noting the limited or mediocre food options with some expressing dissatisfaction over specific items like supermarket pizzas, the hostel's effort to provide nightly and varied dinner options is mostly appreciated. This effort includes meals that can be reserved, making dining convenient for guests who prefer to stay in.
Overall, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse successfully offers an enjoyable dining experience with great value for money and serves as a comfortable place for travelers to unwind after a day of exploring Windhoek.
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse receives high praise from guests for its room offerings. Many reviews highlight the spaciousness and cleanliness of the rooms, making them a great value for money. Guests appreciate the beautiful and well-decorated interiors, often themed with animal artistry, which adds a unique touch to the ambiance. The private rooms, including the highly mentioned Honeymoon room and family rooms, are noted for their comfort, cleanliness and ample space.
The property offers a variety of accommodation options, from private rooms to dormitories, which cater to different needs and preferences. Many rooms come equipped with functional amenities, comfortable beds and are well-maintained. The family rooms are considered sufficient and spacious enough for those traveling with children.
Some specific mentions include the lovely view from the café, the spacious and clean en-suite rooms and the well-furnished interiors that combine comfort and aesthetic appeal. The presence of thematic decoration and traditional Namibian artistry in the rooms enhances the overall experience.
However, there are occasional mentions of minor issues such as bad smells, poor ventilation and lack of basic amenities like electric kettles. Despite these concerns, the overall feedback is very positive with guests highlighting good value, comfort and cleanliness as key strengths of Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse.
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse offers a mixed experience when it comes to the comfort of its beds. A significant number of guests found the beds to be very comfortable with frequent mentions of comfy pillows and good bedding. Many reviews praised the beds for being comfortable and even highlighted the marvelous bed designs. The rooms themselves often received compliments for being beautiful, clean and well-decorated, showcasing distinct animal themes that resonate well with guests. Other positive mentions included the pleasant atmosphere, spacious rooms and high-quality dinners with vegetarian options.
However, not all feedback was positive. Some guests found the beds to be uncomfortable with complaints about narrow double beds, worn-out mattresses and cramped bunk beds. A few reviews pointed out that certain beds were not clean with some rooms smelling strongly of drains and feeling primitive.
Overall, while many guests enjoyed a comfortable stay with well-decorated rooms and great dining experiences, a few found the bed comfort and cleanliness in need of improvement.
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse receives generally positive remarks regarding cleanliness, consistently praised for its well-maintained and clean facilities, including rooms, bathrooms and common areas. The rooms, described as clean, spacious and cozy, often have a pleasant aroma, adding to the overall appeal. Many guests commend the attentive housekeeping staff for their excellent work, highlighting the well-organized and tidy environment throughout the hostel. The grounds and pool also maintain a high standard of cleanliness, contributing to a comfortable stay.
However, there are occasional mentions of cleanliness issues, such as items left behind by previous occupants, stained towels and sporadic encounters with cockroaches. Some guests noted concerns with bathroom and kitchen cleanliness and a few pointed out dirty blankets and inadequately cleaned rooms. Despite these isolated incidents, the majority of reviews reflect a positive experience with the cleanliness standards at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse.
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse boasts an inviting and youthful atmosphere, making it a great spot for travelers to meet and connect. Guests consistently praise the staff for their friendliness, helpfulness and professional demeanor. Many describe the staff as exceptionally welcoming and kind, often going above and beyond to accommodate special needs and ensure a pleasant stay.
Despite an occasional mention of demotivation or unfriendliness from individual staff members, the overwhelming majority of reviews highlight the team’s attentiveness, willingness to help and overall positive vibes. The front desk staff receive particular commendation for their efficiency and availability, offering assistance with tours and local activities to enhance the Namibian experience.
In summary, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse leaves guests feeling well-supported and welcomed, thanks to a consistently friendly and dedicated staff that strives to make every stay memorable.
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse offers a largely positive Wi-Fi experience for those seeking a reliable internet connection during their stay. Guests frequently praise the Wi-Fi for being strong, fast and available throughout the property, including in the rooms. Many reviews highlight the good connection with some even noting that it performs well for activities such as video calls. Free Wi-Fi is also mentioned as a welcome amenity.
However, while the overall feedback on the Wi-Fi is quite favorable, some guests do report less satisfactory experiences. A few encountered weak signals in their rooms and there were mentions of poor or unreliable connections, especially in dormitory areas. The best Wi-Fi signal appears to be near the reception and the common areas, where guests noticed the most consistent performance.
In summary, while the Wi-Fi at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse generally meets guests' needs, those requiring a robust and stable connection for work or streaming might find the best results in communal areas rather than in their individual rooms.
The pool at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse has garnered various reviews, primarily highlighting its positive aspects despite its modest size. Guests often describe the pool area as pleasant and a great spot to cool off, especially during hot days. The surroundings of the pool are noted to be nice, making it a lovely and inviting place to relax. The pool, often accompanied by a bar, adds to the appeal, providing a calm and social atmosphere. Reviewers mention the clear, clean water, though some have noted occasional issues with cleanliness.
The pool, while small, is praised for being a great spot for both solo travelers and families with kids. The bar area near the pool enhances the communal experience and the overall environment around the pool is described as beautiful, secure and with friendly vibes. Despite its size, many find it a nice place to dip in and cool off and a central feature that adds value to the guesthouse’s common areas.
The parking situation at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests. The property offers indoor, onsite and monitored parking facilities which are highly appreciated by visitors. Reviewers frequently mention the secure nature of the parking, highlighting that it is particularly accommodating for larger vehicles like 4x4s. The parking spaces are described as clean, ample and conveniently located within the hotel's perimeter, which enhances the overall sense of security. Additional safety measures include a gated parking area and a security guard who manages the gate, providing extra peace of mind. The available covered parking options and the sense of a safe environment further boost the confidence of guests parking their vehicles at the guesthouse.
Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse features a well-maintained outdoor pool that, while small in size, receives favorable feedback for its pleasant and cozy atmosphere. Guests consistently highlight the pool area's nice and clear water, describing it as a perfect size for relaxation and cooling off during hot days. The pool area itself is praised for being lovely, top-notch and comfortable with various seating options available, adding to the charm. Although some may find the pool area small, it remains a significant plus for visitors, providing a delightful spot to unwind. Overall, the pool, along with its adjoining amenities, contributes positively to the guest experience at the property.
Location Show Map
Location
Guests consistently highlight the central position of the guesthouse, noting that it's situated just minutes away from Independence Avenue and the Craft market with easy access to key sites and conveniences downtown. Its setting is described as peaceful yet central, allowing for both tranquility and the convenience of city amenities.
Several reviews also commend the property’s safe and well-maintained conditions and the friendly, helpful staff, which collectively contribute to a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. The presence of amenities such as a swimming pool and private parking further enhance the guest experience. Overall, the location and service make Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse a top choice for a convenient, comfortable and enjoyable stay in Windhoek.
Breakfast
Several reviews note the breakfast as excellent or delicious, providing options that cater to different dietary preferences. The self-service aspect and availability of fresh fruit are seen as positives and some guests found the breakfast substantial and more than satisfactory for a backpackers' establishment.
However, some guests described the breakfast as very basic, modest or simple, occasionally pointing out the lack of hot food and variety. There are mentions of the breakfast being somewhat monotonous with the same options every day, which could benefit from more variety. Despite this, the overall consensus is that the breakfast is adequate and good value for the price with several reviews praising the breakfast's freshness and the nice range of healthy options available.
In summary, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse offers a breakfast that meets the basic needs of travelers, providing a decent mix of cold buffet items and a simple but effective start to the day with some room for improvement in variety and extension of options.
Dinner
The bar area, though noted for not being exceptionally stocked, creates a cool environment where visitors can relax with snacks, toasted sandwiches or an evening drink. Additionally, there are recommendations for expanding the menu, suggesting that a wider variety of dinner options would be beneficial.
While some reviews mention that the food consists primarily of reheated frozen meals, the overall consensus highlights the meals being both affordable and enjoyable. Notably, the themed nights and the possibility to pre-order freshly cooked dinners contribute to the positive dining experience at Chameleon Backpackers.
Despite a few critics noting the limited or mediocre food options with some expressing dissatisfaction over specific items like supermarket pizzas, the hostel's effort to provide nightly and varied dinner options is mostly appreciated. This effort includes meals that can be reserved, making dining convenient for guests who prefer to stay in.
Overall, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse successfully offers an enjoyable dining experience with great value for money and serves as a comfortable place for travelers to unwind after a day of exploring Windhoek.
Rooms
The property offers a variety of accommodation options, from private rooms to dormitories, which cater to different needs and preferences. Many rooms come equipped with functional amenities, comfortable beds and are well-maintained. The family rooms are considered sufficient and spacious enough for those traveling with children.
Some specific mentions include the lovely view from the café, the spacious and clean en-suite rooms and the well-furnished interiors that combine comfort and aesthetic appeal. The presence of thematic decoration and traditional Namibian artistry in the rooms enhances the overall experience.
However, there are occasional mentions of minor issues such as bad smells, poor ventilation and lack of basic amenities like electric kettles. Despite these concerns, the overall feedback is very positive with guests highlighting good value, comfort and cleanliness as key strengths of Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse.
Beds
However, not all feedback was positive. Some guests found the beds to be uncomfortable with complaints about narrow double beds, worn-out mattresses and cramped bunk beds. A few reviews pointed out that certain beds were not clean with some rooms smelling strongly of drains and feeling primitive.
Overall, while many guests enjoyed a comfortable stay with well-decorated rooms and great dining experiences, a few found the bed comfort and cleanliness in need of improvement.
Cleanliness
However, there are occasional mentions of cleanliness issues, such as items left behind by previous occupants, stained towels and sporadic encounters with cockroaches. Some guests noted concerns with bathroom and kitchen cleanliness and a few pointed out dirty blankets and inadequately cleaned rooms. Despite these isolated incidents, the majority of reviews reflect a positive experience with the cleanliness standards at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse.
Staff
Despite an occasional mention of demotivation or unfriendliness from individual staff members, the overwhelming majority of reviews highlight the team’s attentiveness, willingness to help and overall positive vibes. The front desk staff receive particular commendation for their efficiency and availability, offering assistance with tours and local activities to enhance the Namibian experience.
In summary, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse leaves guests feeling well-supported and welcomed, thanks to a consistently friendly and dedicated staff that strives to make every stay memorable.
Wi-Fi
However, while the overall feedback on the Wi-Fi is quite favorable, some guests do report less satisfactory experiences. A few encountered weak signals in their rooms and there were mentions of poor or unreliable connections, especially in dormitory areas. The best Wi-Fi signal appears to be near the reception and the common areas, where guests noticed the most consistent performance.
In summary, while the Wi-Fi at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse generally meets guests' needs, those requiring a robust and stable connection for work or streaming might find the best results in communal areas rather than in their individual rooms.
Pool
The pool, while small, is praised for being a great spot for both solo travelers and families with kids. The bar area near the pool enhances the communal experience and the overall environment around the pool is described as beautiful, secure and with friendly vibes. Despite its size, many find it a nice place to dip in and cool off and a central feature that adds value to the guesthouse’s common areas.
Parking
Outdoor Pool
Yes, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Outdoor Pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse.
No, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse.
No, Chameleon Backpackers & Guesthouse doesn't have a gym.
Location Show Map
More Options
