 
Southern Africa offers an extensive collection of backpacker
hostels and budget accommodation. Southern African backpacker
hostels offer the traveller much by way of facilities and
services.
Backpacker hostels can also be found in most major tourist
destinations and have the best locations. There are several
backpacker hostels on the beach, some in the mountains and
a few in remote, rural Africa. Others can be found in the
heart of the cities and in its trendy districts.
Every hostel in Southern Africa is a unique entity with
its own attitude and atmosphere. There are no mass produced
hostelling franchises here. There is so much variety. You’re
sure to find one that suits your budget, your needs or your
particular taste.
Rooms |
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Camping |
| Most backpacker hostels offer a variety
of sleeping arrangements including dorm rooms, double
rooms, twin rooms and en suite double rooms. Single
rooms and family rooms are less common but some backpacker
hostels can arrange them if you ask. Most hostels
supply linen; including sheets, pillows and a duvet
or a blanket. |
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Camping grounds are very rare in the
cities, but are more common out of the cities. You’ll
have to bring along your own tent and sleeping bags.
Some backpacker hostels will rent or loan you mattresses.
Most camping grounds in backpacker hostels do not
have power points, but the kitchen and other facilities
are made available to campers. |
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Kitchens |
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Internet |
| If a place is called a ‘backpackers
hostel’ or ‘backpackers lodge’,
it will have a kitchen available for you to use. Most
kitchens are very well equipped. Even the most basic
have enough for you not to carry any cooking stuff
other than your food. The only thing you may want
to carry is a small, all-purpose knife but don’t
carry it onto the plane in your hand luggage. Braaing,
the South African equivalent of the barbeque is very
popular in backpacker hostels. Almost every hostel
has a braai stand. Most backpacker hostels offer free
tea and non-filter coffee(chicory/coffee blend). |
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Again, more backpacker hostels have
internet access than don’t. But, South Africa
has been slow to get connected, so some backpacker
hostels are still on snail-mail dial-up connections.
But, we doubt that you came to Africa in search of
reliable internet connections, so remember that there
are backpacker hostels in places so remote that there
is no electricity and running water let alone a computer.
Visit these places and unplug from the matrix if only
for a short while. |
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Meals |
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Laundry |
| Most backpacker hostels offer breakfast or dinner
or both. Some have a restaurant with an a la carte’
menu. City backpacker hostels are less likely to offer
meals as there are usually restaurants nearby. Most
backpacker hostels in far-flung places offer meals.
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You can get your laundry done almost anywhere.
Most backpacker hostels offer a laundry service. Bear
in mind that tumble dryers are rare in our sunny country
and that washing dries on the line. You’ll most
probably have to be spend at least one or two nights
in a backpacker hostel to get fresh clothing. Nudity
is not legal in our country and smelling fruity chases
away the pretty girls, so we advise you plan your
laundry stop. |
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Bars |
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Parking |
| Travelling is just that little bit more relaxing
after a drink at the end of a day. Backpacker hostels
have bars where you can swap tales with fellow travellers
and not have to worry about breathalyser tests on
the way back to your accommodation. For an authentic
South African drink, ask for a “Springbok” |
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All backpacker hostels have a solution for travellers
who need to park their car. Most backpacker hostels
out of the cities offer off-street parking at no extra
cost. In the cities space is more of a problem. You
may need to park on the street or hire a parking bay
from the backpacker hostel. |
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Travel and information centres |
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Credit card payments |
| Most city backpacker hostels have a travel and
info centre that will help you with tour bookings,
car hire, bus tickets and other activities. Reception
at backpacker hostels out of the cities can be less
formal. Staff will still assist with bookings and
advice. |
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Backpacker hostels in the cities will be more
likely to accept credit card payments. Visa and Mastercard
are more widely accepted, American Express less so.
If you plan on staying in a rural backpacker hostel,
it may be better to ask before you arrive if they
accept credit card payments and if not, if there is
a cash machine nearby. |
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Safe-keeping |
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Shuttle services |
| Most backpacker hostels offer safe-keeping of
smaller valuables and documents in either individual
safes or the hostel safe. |
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Where taxi-cabs are not available, backpacker
hostels usually offer shuttle services to and from
the hostel and bus stops, the shops and other locations.
Some shuttle services are free, some not. Ask if you
are unsure. |
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Star grading
This is a contentious issue amongst backpacker hostel owners.
On the one hand, some owners are graded because they feel
that they offer a level of service and facilities. They
want to attract guests looking for this standard. Other
owners feel that the appeal of their backpacker hostels
is in the atmosphere that they create rather than the standard
of their facilities. They feel that atmosphere cannot be
graded.
The truth is that some graded hostels have wonderful vibes
and some ungraded hostels have great facilities. If you
do want to make sense of what the star grading of backpacker
hostels means, here it is:
A Backpacker and/or Hostelling establishment is an accommodation
facility that provides communal facilities, including dormitories
yet may offer a range of alternative sleeping arrangements.
Only establishments that cater for transient guests (travelling
public) will qualify for grading...
What does each star mean?
- 1 star - Fair to good (acceptable/modest) quality in
the overall standard of furnishings, service and guest
care. Clean, comfortable and functional accommodation.
- 2 star - Good quality in the overall standard of furnishings,
service and guest care.
- 3 star - Very good quality in the overall standard of
furnishings, service and guest care.
- 4 star - Superior (excellent) comfort and quality with
a high standard of furnishings, service and guest care.
- 5 star - Exceptional quality and luxurious accommodation
(matching best international standards). Highest standard
of furnishings, flawless service and meticulous guest
care.
Backpacker hostels are assessed every 12 months. Complaints
about a graded hostel can be forwarded to the Tourism Grading
Council.
Ethical and responsible tourism
Backpacker travellers are understood to be open-minded
people with a deeper perception than your average package
tourist. But, the truth is that even for backpackers, it’s
easy to forget our conscience when we travel. After all,
nobody wants to ask guilt-laden questions about the negative
consequences of our travelling when we just want to have
fun.
But, our travels do have consequences on the environment
and the people of the places that we visit. Backpacker travellers
will have to be the trendsetters of responsible tourism.
We are closer to this goal than any other type of tourist.
We don’t expect you to give up travelling. Infact,
South Africans who rely on tourism would be distraught if
you didn’t visit. Rather visit http://www.responsibletravel.com
and become aware. Then visit South Africa as an ethical
tourist.
Look for backpacker hostels and other tourism products
that are Fair Trade in Tourism accredited. Fair Trade in
Tourism is about ensuring that the people whose land, natural
resources, labour, knowledge and culture are used for tourism
activities, actually benefit from tourism. Go to www.fairtourismsa.org.za
for more info.
Staff
People who work in South African backpacker hostels are
friendly and helpful. At first, you may be suspicious of
their friendliness, but you’ll soon realize that it’s
genuine.
You may get a bit confused and frustrated that staff who
want to be helpful struggle to be. Or they may not be as
quick as you’d like them to be. Just remember that
a staff member in a South African hostel may not know how
things are done in your country. And this is not ignorance.
Rather, it’s a naivety of people who are only now
coming into contact with foreigners. So trade attitudes;
adopt some African cool while Africans work on perfecting
customer service.
Dissatisfied customers
All the write-ups in Alternative Route sounds flowery
because it’s paid-for advertising. But, all the establishments
in this book meet with our approval. They maintain a standard
we deem to be acceptable. Please remember that this is based
on our criteria and perceptions of a place. If a backpacker
hostel does not meet with your standards, you are not obliged
to stay.
The majority of lodge owners and staff care passionately
about their place. Please be a little understanding. Lodges
are 24/7 living organisms, and do have bad days.
Hostel Discount Programs
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