Highlights
- Traditional and historic hotel
- Professional and efficient service
- Convenient central location
Start planning your tailor-made trip by calling one of our specialists on 855 686 7694
Enquire
Hansa Hotel is a welcoming, albeit rather old-fashioned hotel, located in central Swakopmund. Close to the town's amenities and just a five minute walk from the beach, it offers a convenient and comfortable stay within Namibia's historic Atlantic Coast setting.
Although a refurbishment has been gradually underway since 2014, the hotel retains a formal and slightly dated feel. Guests are greeted by professional and uniformed staff in the grandiose reception area, which is decked in marble and features a sweeping staircase. The first-class restaurant, where a formal dress code is required in the evening, has a classic feel and serves a wide variety of dishes. There’s a Resident’s Lounge with a large, inviting fireplace and small library, a welcome retreat during Swakopmund’s typically chilly evenings, and there’s a smart yet cosy wood-panelled bar with a large selection of drinks. A good buffet-style breakfast is also served in the dining room, with cooked options made-to-order, however the à la carte lunch menu is served in the much lighter and airier Terrace room, overlooking the pleasant courtyard garden.
There are 49 good-sized double or twin rooms, with modest solid wood furnishings and an en-suite bath or shower. The décor remains a little dated, but the rooms are clean and comfortable, and are complete with a good range of facilities. All rooms are heated in winter, and whilst some have air conditioning and others contain fans, Swakopmund’s cooler climes rarely make an issue of this. Rooms overlooking the street can be a little noisy, so garden-facing rooms at the back are recommended for guests preferring peace and quiet. These rooms also contain mini-fridges, and some have balconies with views over the courtyard. The hotel also has four larger suites, each with a separate lounge and bar area, plus five designated family units. All rooms have Wi-Fi, and a very efficient laundry service is provided at additional cost.
Swakopmund is a charming and vibrant town located on the northern stretch of Namibia's coastline. Its proximity to the country’s iconic towering sand dunes have largely shaped the area's tourism, with an abundance of companies in the town offering a variety of thrilling activities, including sand-boarding, quad biking, skydiving, and desert safaris. Along the stunning Atlantic coastline, those less-inclined to adrenaline rushes can enjoy pretty beaches, fishing, and boat cruises. A day trip to Walvis Bay a little further down the coast offers amazing kayaking experiences amongst dolphins, whales, and the Cape fur seal colony. From there, a 4x4 may be hired to explore Sandwich Harbour, located a further 48km south, where a freshwater lagoon walled by high dunes offers stunning views, and opportunities to see springbok, flamingos, and pelicans.
Families are welcome, with each of the five family units consisting of a master bedroom and an adjacent twin room. High chairs and cots are available on request, and babysitting can be arranged at additional cost, although note that childminders will not be professionally trained. Although there are no age restrictions, the formal nature of the hotel requires children to be well-behaved and supervised by adults at all times.
A stay at the Hansa Hotel would be well-suited to those who seeking a traditional and formal experience harking back to the colonial era of days gone by. Guests who choose to stay here will enjoy impeccable service and facilities within easy reach of the many activities and modern conveniences that Swakopmund has to offer.
Nicola and I had a brilliant time - the weather made it pretty
challenging at times, but Mustafa and Mohammed looked after us
superbly. We loved the variety of scenery and places - as you mention,
the only downside is the rubbish in the villages, such a shame. The
meals that Mohammed drummed up on the hillside tracks were amazing - I
am glad we knew that our mule would eat the leftovers because there was
no way we could finish them! The standard of the breakfasts were far in
excess of the bread and jam you mentioned, even in the basic gite which
was freezing - we were warm once in bed, but the temperature in the
living room was a bit depressing after a very windy descent, sitting
wrapped in coats, hats and blankets while we waited for our dinner! The
sleeping bags provided were excellent and we were toasty with our fleece
liners and an extra blanket. We were very grateful that Mustafa's boss
upgraded us to the eco lodge the next night (don't know whether this was
because of the gale force winds on our descent the day before...) - it
was lovely.We were incredibly lucky with precipitation - although we were walking
in a few inches of snow on day one and it absolutely poured that night,
we experienced no rain during the day until we were lining up for our
farewell photo at our pickup point, when the heavens opened!Due to the weather, I think I'd describe the terrain slightly
differently - a few good paths, but often we were on very stony ground,
slippery wet mud (oh, that clay does stick to one's boots!), slidy thin
gravel or else just making our way down a hill after rain had washed the
original route away. Occasionally we walked short distances on roads,
which Mustafa was apologetic about, but it was hardly the M6! We took
our time and never felt unsafe, but people with dodgy knees or hips
might need to be careful. Mustafa looked after us very carefully in the
high wind gusts (as a sailor, I reckon at least Force 9 - over 50 mph on
a bare hillside), promising Nicola that he wouldn't let her mother blow
away!Although we needed to be back in Marrakech on the fourth night, I think
if I were going again, I would prefer to trek for four days and spend 3
in Marrakech, which I found a bit overwhelming, but this is just
personal taste!Our room in Daar Housnia was lovely, and we appreciated the heating -
the rest of the building is definitely built for summer! There seemed
to be some confusion over our arrival - the manager said we had
originally been booked into the downstairs suite with double bed and
bath in the middle of the room, but that he thought it was more suitable
"for two ladies, not a couple" to upgrade us to exactly the room you had
shown us photos of! The breakfasts were delicious. The wifi was fine
for Nicola's meetings.
Monica S
reviewing Morocco Trek & Marrakech Holiday
on 16 February 2026
We had such a good holiday. You did a fantastic job!
The house in Marrakesh was ridiculous. We effectively had it to ourselves. The accommodation was borderline palatial.
I actually think that the time we had in Marrakesh was sufficient. We could potentially have done a day by a pool but I think we’d done enough souk-ing by the end of Day Two.
The hotel in the mountains was a shade more rustic than I was expecting, but all great fun. Stunning views. The guide / mule / cook team were excellent and our guide (Hassan) tailored the treks to our capabilities well. He was superb, and really made an effort with the kids. The second and third day of trekking were particularly good. Such an adventure for the kids.
All the logistics worked seamlessly. Every aspect went like clockwork. Top marks. The advice on tipping was also much appreciated (I hate thinking that I’m getting mugged off or am potentially not giving enough…).
From my seven-year-old son:
I thought it was GREAT. The food was amazing and the culture was very interesting. My favourite bit was scrambling up rocks in the Atlas Mountains.
In retrospect, I’d probably do the trip in reverse. Flopping on the roof terrace after the rigours of the mountains would have been even more satisfying.
Henry O
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 05 June 2025
We had an extraordinary time. It was magical and we couldn't hav asked or hoped for more. Thank you both so much for all of your time and assistance.
Emma M
reviewing Best of Botswana for Families
on 18 November 2024