Green Elephant Backpackers

Green Elephant Backpackers is in the lively suburb of Observatory. This budget accommodation in Cape Town is the hostel closest to Groote Schuur Hospital. The hospital is a within walking distance. The Observatory is only a 5-minute bus ride from the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Green Elephant Backpackers is where students, interns and volunteers from all around the world live. There is a selection of bars, live music venues, coffee shops and restaurants. This is on Lower Main Road; this is also a happening nightspot. It is where students hang out and have fun.

Observatory, or Obs for short, has always been a free-spirited place. Capetonians consider it to be bohemian and alternative. It is where the people are unconventional and free-and-easy. Back in the bad-old apartheid days, this was among the few suburbs where all races lived together.

Obs continues to accept people of all colors and persuasions. This has made it a comfortable place to be for local and international visitors.

Attractions in Observatory

Groote Schuur Hospital

Groote Schuur is a world famous hospital a short walk from Green Elephant Backpackers. It is the site of the world’s first successful human-to-human heart transplant. This was done by Dr. Chris Barnard in 1967. The Heart of Cape Town Museum is set in the original theatre and offers an excellent tour.

South African Astronomical Observatory

Observatory gets its name from the South African Astronomical Observatory. The Observatory has open nights on the second and fourth Saturday each month.

In addition to attending a talk about astronomy, you can view the night sky through the original telescopes. The observatory is a ten-minute walk from Green Elephant Backpackers.

Cape Town Science Centre

The Cape Town Science Centre moved to Observatory in 2011. With over 300 permanent interactive exhibits, the centre aims to educate and entertain kids. Kids can learn from science shows, workshops, holiday programmes, science camps and science theatre.

Here there are travelling exhibitions, hands-on experiments, excursions and many other experiences. They are designed to expand their horizons. The Cape Town Sciene Centre is 500m from Green Elephant Backpackers.

Accommodation at Green Elephant Backpackers

Green Elephant Backpackers has been running since June 1994 and now have 3 houses. The main house has the dorm rooms, wireless internet, a festive bar. There is also a BBQ area and a swimming pool. The other two houses have private rooms, are quieter and are good for long-stay guests.

Highlights

• TV

Facilities

• Airport transfer