Mousebird Backpackers & Safaris CC, Tsumeb

Mousebird Backpackers & Safaris CC is one of two backpackers' in Tsumeb at the time of writing, and offers a completely different experience from the other. Altogether more basic and a lot cheaper, it's pretty good value for money.

The Location

Mousebird is located on the corner of a quiet street, just around the corner from the Tsumeb Museum. It isn't signposted around town, so get directions beforehand, but it is clearly signed once you're there. The main shopping street is just five minutes' walk away, though the supermarkets are on the other side of tiny Tsumeb, maybe twenty minutes away.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The basic single and double rooms are clean and well-kept, but there are no frills here. The seven-bed dorm shares a chalet with one of the double rooms. The beds are comfortable and each bed has a double power point and a bedside lamp. Lockers, for which you will need your own padlock, are provided in the dorm. The large front garden is well-grassed and can accommodate about a dozen tents.

The toilet and shower are built onto the outside of the dorm and accessed by a creaky, clanging metal door! The shower curtain doesn't pull all the way across, compromising your privacy somewhat, but there is another ablution block across the front garden next to the kitchen which gives more privacy. There is twenty-four-hour hot water, though.

Common Spaces

There is a sitting area in the front garden outside the main house and another indoors by the reception and office. There's no TV here, but there is rather slow free Wi-Fi. The common kitchen is on the end of the main house and is tiny. There are a few pots and pans, a microwave, toaster, and kettle, but these are mainly for the use of self-reliant campers.

Summary

For the price, this is good value for a night or two. It's fairly handy for the town center and a fifteen-minute walk to the minibus and taxi stations. It is rather basic but it does the job and is ideal for those looking for a one-night stopover going to or coming from Etosha National Park. The property is accessed via a locked gate and there is a security guard on duty at night. All in all, it's not bad.