Organic Square: Our full report

Centrally located in Swakopmund, Organic Square opened in 2011.

It is a small, modern and comfortable guesthouse, now spread across two sites, offering a good base to explore this coastal town.

When we’ve stayed at Organic Square we’ve always enjoyed the quirky and modern design of the guesthouse, with the lime green and grey colour scheme, and interesting driftwood furniture that sits well alongside modern metal artwork. On our last visit in May 2018 our experience was just as good, and we really liked the fresh look across both sites.

Although the plot of land they have is quite small, the location of Organic Square is very good – in the southern part of town and an easy 10-minute walk to the Tug Restaurant – one of Swakopmund's most popular spots.

The guesthouse occupies two houses on Rhode Allee Street, about 500m apart from each other, and each featuring a large and attractive internal courtyard. Between them, the two houses offer 15 en-suite rooms of differing configurations.

Number 29 Rhode Allee has seven rooms, four of which are in the main building. These have queen-size beds and en-suite showers (although one room has both a shower and a bath). The other three – two twins and a family room – are built around an internal courtyard. Of the twin rooms, one is a bit more private than the other and has its own parking space. The big family room has twin beds, with the option of adding a third bed, or bunks. This room has its own gate, and a little courtyard with a picnic table and sandpit; it would make a great option for families with children up to about 10 years. The breakfast area at Number 29 is quite small, but they do have plans to expand it in the future.

Number 56 Rhode Allee, which opened in August 2015, has eight rooms. These are made up of five doubles, a twin, a triple room with three single beds, and a two-bedroom family unit, one with a double bed and one with two singles. These rooms are smart and light with modern bathrooms.

All the rooms have free WiFi, writing desks, large wardrobes, minibars, DSTV, a good-sized bathroom with a very good shower, and coffee-making facilities. We found our room, at number 29, to be quite hot, and we couldn't get much breeze to pass through.

There is limited secure parking at both properties.

Our view

While it lacks the personal feeling of some guesthouses in Swakopmund, and the facilities of the larger hotel, we like the stylish modern design of Organic Square, and it’s comfortable design and convenient location make it a good option for Swakopmund.

Elizabeth Chapman

Namibia expert

Geographics

Location: Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, Namibia
Ideal length of stay: 2-3 nights is the normal amount of time to stay in Swakopmund to take advantage of the activities on offer.
Directions: 29 & 56 Rhode Allee Street, Swakopmund
Accessible by: Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Bed & Breakfast
Food quality: They only serve breakfast at Organic Square – and on our last stay in February 2015, we thought it was brilliant, however they do only serve a continental style buffet and do not serve any hot items. This is likely to be along the lines of freshly baked pastries, an assortment of nuts and seeds, cereals, fresh fruit salad, fresh meats and cheeses, as well as freshly pressed fruits and vegetable juices.

They can also do lunch packs if requested in advance.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: There is a mini-bar in the room.
Drinks included: Drinks are not included.

Children

Attitude towards children: Staying in the family room here is a good option for families.
Property’s age restrictions: The property doesn't have any age restrictions, but the maximum age to share the family room is 10 years old.
Special activities & services: They can try to arrange babysitting if requested, but this will not be someone trained in childcare.
Equipment: They have a baby cot and a highchair. The family room at Number 29 has a sandpit.
Generally recommended for children: We think Organic Square is a great option for families with younger children.
Notes: Fine for all ages

Communications

Communications: There is free WiFi throughout.
TV & radio: There is DSTV in all the rooms.
Water supply: Mains

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: No
Medical care: There are doctors and a hospital in Swakopmund.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: Guests are given a key fob to access the main gate to each building.
There is a security guard at night.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers around each property.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Dune-boarding
Fishing
Kayaking
Mountain biking
Quad-biking

Extras

Disabled access
Laundry facilities: They can do laundry on request.
Money: They don't have safes in the rooms, and valuables cannot be stored at reception. There is no currency exchange, but there are numerous banks and ATMs in Swakopmund.
Accepted payment on location: Payment may be made by Visa and Mastercard, or in cash using euros, US dollars, Namibian dollars, or South African rand.