My 5 favourite backpackers on the Garden Route (so far).
I recently did a road trip up the east coast, along the Garden Route to Jeffreys Bay and stayed at these cool places. If you’re ever on that side of the world, check them out if you’re on a budget.
Fairy Knowe Backpackers, Wilderness
Like most backpackers, it’s very chilled and everyone’s really laidback. We booked one en suite room (R380), one twin (R250) and a four-sleeper room (R300 – double and bunk bed). Since it’s really close to the lake, the mosquitoes were really bugging us – but insect repellent plugs are provided. There’s a lapa where you can chill at the bar, play Xbox games, board games or watch TV from the large, comfy couches. If you’re in the mood for a toasted sandwich, you can order one for R15 at any time and muffins are baked regularly (R5 each) – and they are delicious. There’s a pool table and lounging area as well and you can braai next to the lapa.
There’s free internet in the lounge area and they’ve got an adventure booking desk where you can organise all sorts of trips while you’re there. The place is quite spacious and feels a bit like a resort with various rondawels scattered between walkways and trees. Breakfast is available on request and tea and coffee’s free.
Tel 044-877-1285, or visit Fairy Knowe Backpackers
Wild Spirit Lodge, Nature's Valley
This is one of my favourite backpackers because of its location and setup and when it comes to views, this one wins hands down. The bar and general eating area is an open section that overlooks the Tsitsikamma Mountains and its beautiful silhouettes in the evening and early morning. It feels like you’re dining in a treetop above the hills. There’s free wi-fi, tea and coffee and you can go for free sunset drives for sundowners at Bobbejaans Kloof.
The main reason I like this place is because of its range of walks on the farm. There’s a walk to a waterfall and rock pool that you can relax in for hours and there’s a magic forest walk as well. The magic forest walk is really special and I’d suggest you take your time doing this one. The Big Tree walk takes you to…yes, a big tree. It’s apparently 1000 years old so it’s quite impressive. There’s also a two-hour walk up Bobbejaans Kloof where you can enjoy awesome views.
The dorms are a bit different in that they’re not bunk beds, so you don’t have to worry if you get the top or bottom. Although we didn’t stay here on this particular trip (they were fully booked), it would have been my first choice if we visited this area. Dorms are R110 a person, double rooms are R350 a night and camping’s R60 a person a night.
Tel 044-534-8888, or visit The Wild Spirit Lodge
Ubuntu Backpackers, Jeffereys Bay
This triple-storey house is clean, comfy and carefree. Our rooms (all double, shared bathroom) were all R300 a night (R150 each) and included a free light breakfast (really light). Breakfast was cereal – a choice of corn flakes, bran flakes and rice pops. If you’re afraid of dogs… you shouldn’t stay here. They’ve got four large (friendly) dogs that roam around freely. I promise they won’t bite but just bear in mind they’re there.
I like the lounge area they’ve got. At 8pm every night you can watch movies on the projector – although we didn’t watch anything, I still liked the idea. The very top floor has the bar and pool table room, with a little balcony overlooking the main road and ocean. The garden’s quite pretty with its little lapa with comfy cushions and the lawns are well-maintained (and you can camp on it). Their ads say they’re close to the beach – this is true but if you’re going to The Point, it could be a 15 to 20 minute walk. The second floor’s balcony is really fun because there’s a swing you can relax on and the stairs that lead to the top floor has really funky artworks on the walls.
Tel 042-296-0376, or visit Ubuntu Backpackers
Island Vibe Backpackers, Knysna
Island Vibe is surprisingly large once you enter. All you see from the main road is a door and some parking space for a few cars. Once you enter and walk past all the fancier en suite rooms and through the communal kitchen, you get to a gorgeous wooden deck overlooking a pool and braai area. Four of us stayed in a six-sleeper dorm (R120 a night each). The other two couples had their own en suite rooms (R385 for each room). The rooms were clean – nothing fancy about it, but decent. The TV room wasn’t really cosy so we only spent time there inbetween activities. The plunge pool was just outside the room we stayed in and the bar, pool table and Moroccan-styled chill room right next door. Although it can be annoying when you want to go to bed early, it’s still fun to be near the more vibey part of the place. One major bonus is that it’s within walking distance of most of the shops.
Tel 044-382-1728, Island Vibe Backpackers
Park House Lodge, Mossel Bay
It doesn’t look like much when you stand outside. Once you’re past reception, you enter a beautiful courtyard with a mini pond and creepers all over the walls. We had two double en suite rooms (R350 a person a night) and one four-sleeper (R220 each). The yard has hammocks, a braai area, a big lawn with tables and chairs and a refreshment station to make tea and coffee. The bar and coffee station worked on an honesty system where you take what you want and write down what you took and pay when you check out. The kitchen is a bit small for the amount of people who need to use it – but it had everything we needed. The overall look and feel of Park House made us want to stay longer and I’ll definitely go back.
We didn’t stay in the main building where all the dorms and main communal areas were. We were in a separate building they called the guesthouse. The rooms weren’t backpacker-like at all. It felt as if we were in a holiday resort. Our room was a four-sleeper with a double and a bunk bed, but these bunk beds were much better than other places. The top bunk high enough that the bottom person you could sit upright very comfortably without bumping their head, and the size of the beds were bigger than the standard single mattresses you get.
Tel 044-691-1937, or visit the Park House Lodge
