Charlie's Guesthouse

Charlie's Guesthouse sits on Aukas Street in the older part of Swakopmund, two hundred and fifty metres from the edge of the Namib Desert and a short walk from the town centre, beach, and harbour. The owner, Charlie Kooiman, opened the guesthouse in late 2023 and runs it with a small local team.

There are six rooms in total, sleeping up to sixteen guests. Two standard twin rooms and two standard king rooms each have a private en-suite bathroom and a semi-private patio. The Standard Family Suite connects two adjoining bedrooms — one with twin beds, one with a king — through a shared bathroom and semi-private patio, suitable for four. The Superior Family Suite has the same bedroom configuration but each room has its own en-suite bathroom; the two rooms share a private entrance foyer and a courtyard with a hammock swing. Every room has a mini-fridge, tea and coffee station, work desk, and free Wi-Fi. There is no television in any room.

Breakfast is not served on site. Instead, each booking includes vouchers for use at four local cafes in town — a practical arrangement that puts guests in Swakopmund's streets from the first hour. For early departures, the guesthouse can arrange packed breakfast boxes made by a local supplier. Secure off-road parking sits behind an electric gate.

Charlie books activities directly through local operators she knows personally: scenic flights, quad biking on the dunes, sea kayaking, wildlife excursions, and horse riding are among the options available from Swakopmund.