1

I have stayed at both Cardboard Box and Chameleon Backpackers. Prefered Chameleon, both dorm and private rooms. For the last few visits I have stayed at Rivendell, more a B&B than a backpackers.
Intercape: I have done the Windhoek CapeTown route a couple of times. Very civilized, apart from the early morning border crossing. Presume you are on the sleepliner where you can stretch a bit. Some people complain about the religion They say a short prayer at the beginning and end of each trip. Another complaint is about the style of DVD shown, I must have missed all the "religious"ones, most of them are light, not very funny, comedies suitable for family viewing and it is pretty easy to sleep through them.
Can't help with the Sossusvlei trip. try Cardboard box website.
Enjoy, Namibia is a fabulous country, heading back there again in July.

2

Thanks for your reply! Was it easy to organise the trip from Windhoek to Cape Town- as in did you book it a lot in advance? Do you know if at any of the places you stayed at (Chameleon, Cardboard Box and Rivendell) whether they organised excursions through the hostel at all?

Thanks

3

A visit to Soussusvlei is well worth the effort. We were on an organized trip with G-Adventures but as there was a line-up of about 20+ vehicles waiting for the park gates to open at 6am I would think that it would be fairly easy to find an excursion.
Tip: hike up Dune 45 in the morning as the sun gets way too hot in the afternoon. Wear tight runners with socks to keep the burning sand from getting to your feet. The iron content in the sand turns it into a frying pan!

4

The drive from Windhoek to Sossusvlei takes about 5 hours. You will find several operators that offer excursions from Windhoek and Cardboard Box is certainly a very reputable operator. You may also consider a self-drive excursion. If is very easy to rent a car and make the drive yourself and camp in Sesriem or stay in a lodge. There are some very beautiful drives from Windhoek to Sossusvlei. You can read this article to get a good sense of what it would be like.

http://www.venturepublications.com.na/ezines/2012/TNN_Dec11_Jan12/files/assets/seo/page14.html

Cheers,
Namibia Tourism Board

5

I usually have Intercape bus booked before I leave home, roughly 5 to 10 weeks depending on how organised I am. I think the bus only departs on alternate days. Website is easy to navigateand payment with foreign credit card was no problem.