I'm planning on heading to South Africa around the beginning of July. I will probably be booking the hostel ahead of time since it may be busy.
Can someone suggest a couple cheap, good ones that I could look into?
Thanks!
--------------------------- "This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and animals. Stand up for the stupid and crazy. Take your hat off to no man." - Edward Abbey
Posts: 478 | Location: New York | Registered: 04 August 2004
Here's a site that has some info on them. I'm pretty sure this is the place I stayed in about five years ago. Definitely fun. A bit of a party scene. The folks who work there will connect you with what's going on in Cape Town, and the folks who stay there will have great stories to tell.
Posts: 7 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: 10 June 2005
Hey, got back from SA a few weeks ago and can confirm that The Backpack in Cape Town is a cool place to stay, as is Tekweni in Durban. Also Shoestrings in Jo'burg is great - not the flashiest by far but Rob who runs the place is great and will help you with all sorts. Bibs International in St Lucia is also cool and if you get chance to, go to a remote place called Bulungula which is about 70miles from Umtata. An effort to get to (they pick you up and it's over a two hour drive) but it was one of the highlights of my nine month RTW trip. Pick up a Coast to Coast free guide when you get there but beware - it reads like the people who put the book together have written the reviews about the hostel but I was reliably informed that the hostels themselves write them! Hostels.com is also cool for ratings on different hostels.
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Posts: 474 | Location: Back home in Stockport, UK | Registered: 14 June 2004
Don't know how you're planning on getting around but it's worth a look at Baz Bus, which is not the cheapest but probably the easiest way to travel between cities and more remote areas. The Baz Bus picks up and drops off at a number of hostels in an area so you're not forced into staying somewhere you don't like just for convenience. Their website has a list of hostels with many of them having their own web site too. http://www.bazbus.com/
Isinkwe in KZN was a nice spot, the beehive hut is the one to go for as it keeps a more consistently pleasant temperature. Their transport into the nearest town was a bit of a rip off though, so try and take what you need or find another way out. They do run game viewing trips to the nearest reserve, which is handy.
Hippo Hide in Durban was nice if you want a quiet place to relax - 4 bed dorms and shady garden, it's not handy for the beach tho.
Sani Lodge has a great location if you want to venture into lesotho, I didn't stay there but had a drink in the bar and it looks good.
Posts: 30 | Location: Leeds, UK | Registered: 16 July 2005
Hi Surfer Dan - definitely spend time in the Transkei and Bulunghula is stunning! Don't miss Buccaneers in Cintsa. It won't be that busy heading into winter so I wouldn't worry too much about booking ahead. Enjoy SA - it's awesome.
Posts: 1 | Location: Australia | Registered: 19 December 2005
I LOVED Angle Rock hostel outside of Durban. It overlooks the beach (and you can walk there in a minute or so), the hostel is beautiful, the owners cook dinner most nights, free pool, free surfboards and boogie boards, and three awesome dogs that you can borrow. I could spend weeks there.
Also, it's not far from Aliwal shoal, which has great (albeit freezing) diving. Jessica
Posts: 206 | Location: walnut creek, CA, usa | Registered: 03 September 2003
