We understand that travel can be expensive. But tight budgets don’t have to be the reason you’re stuck at home all year long. Here are some affordable backpackers where you can enjoy a holiday without making a huge dent in your wallet. Now you can spend more time and money on what really matters: quality time with the ones that matter most.

WESTERN CAPE

1. Once in Cape Town

Once in Cape Town is superbly set for exploring the Cape Town CBD on foot. With a focus on young travellers, this “all-star hostel” offers classic hotel rooms, 4-bed dorms, twin or double rooms, and 4 or 6-bed family rooms. Look forward to complimentary breakfast from Yours Truly Café, free internet, Skype phone booth, games room, a fire-pit braai on Fridays, and weekend movie nights. We’ve been here! Read our review.

2. Oasis Shanty Backpackers

Oasis Shanty Backpackers is a small hostel in Oudtshoorn offering double and family rooms, bunk bed rooms, and 8-bed dorms. Facilities include a fireplace, swimming pool, braai area, and laundry facility. Extra perks include discounted entries to local attractions.

3. Forty8 Backpackers Hotel

Forty8 Backpackers Hotel is in Long Street in the Cape Town CBD. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Forty8 offers accommodation in double rooms and 4, 6, 10, or 12-bed dorms. Facilities include free Wi-Fi, a guest lounge, bar, and communal kitchen.

4. Elephants Rest Backpackers Lodge

Elephants Rest Backpackers Lodge in Knysna has single, double, and family rooms, and a 10-bed dorm. Facilities include a braai area, guest lounge, swimming pool, and free Wi-Fi.

5. Bohemian Lofts Backpackers

Bohemian Lofts Backpackers is located in the hipster area of Observatory in a former museum of contemporary art, and offers twin rooms and a 6-bed dorm. Facilities include 24 hour reception, babysitting services, and a guest lounge.

6. Amakaya Backpackers

Amakaya Backpackers, situated in Plettenberg Bay, offers double and twin rooms, bunk bed rooms, 8 or 12-bed dorms, and an 8-bed flat. Facilities include a self-help mini breakfast, guest lounge, bar, 2 braai areas, free Wi-Fi, and a veranda with views of the bay.

7. Barrydale Backpackers

Barrydale Backpackers is the only backpackers in Barrydale, accommodating guests in a double room and 4 or 6-bed dorms. Facilities include a swimming pool, games room, laundry facility, and The Dung Beetle Bar and restaurant. It is pet and wheelchair friendly.

8. Karoo Backpackers

Karoo Backpackers is in Beaufort West on the N1 between Joburg and Cape Town. Accommodation is available in double rooms and 4 and 6-bed dorms. Guests can look forward to a cosy guest lounge, braai area, kitchen facilities, and laundry service.

9. Backpacker Beach Hostel

Backpacker Beach Hostel, just 100m from the beach in Victoria Bay, has accommodation in a family room and an 8-bed dorm. Facilities include a self-catering kitchen, guest lounge, free Wi-Fi, and a braai area.

10. Bougainvillea Backpackers

Bougainvillea Backpackers in Calitzdorp offers a range of twin, double and family rooms, and a 9-bed dorm. Facilities include a kitchen, braai lapa, and free Wi-Fi.

11. Backpackers Beach House Lodge

Backpackers Beach House Lodge, just 7 steps from the beach in Plettenberg Bay, has double bedrooms, an 8-bed dorm, and a 6-bed family unit. There is a kitchen, guest lounge, laundry facility, and garden with swimming pool and braai area.

12. Colours of Cape Town

Colours of Cape Town in Milnerton Ridge features twin and double rooms, a 4-bed dorm, and an 8-bed family room. Facilities include a kitchen, guest lounge, free Wi-Fi, braai lapa, swimming pool, and kiddies’ play area.

13. Saltycrax Backpackers

Saltycrax Backpackers in Table View, Cape Town, offers double and triple rooms, and a 10-bed dorm. Facilities include a kitchen, laundry facility, and entertainment area with a Jacuzzi, bonfire, and hammock.

14. Green Elephant Backpackers

Green Elephant Backpackers is an eco-friendly backpackers in Observatory that recycles everything from beer bottles to grey water. Accommodation is available in double rooms and a 6-bed dorm. Facilities include a guest lounge, internet, laundry facility, bar, braai area, and swimming pool.

15. Franschhoek Traveller’s Lodge

Franschhoek Traveller’s Lodge is set in the heart of Franschhoek and offers 2, 4, 6 or 8-bed dorms, as well as a family unit with a private kitchen and bathroom. Facilities include a kitchen, a guest lounge, braai area, and free Wi-Fi.

16. Step-Aside George

Step-Aside George, just 2km outside of George, offers twin rooms, a 6-bed family chalet, and 4, 8, and 20 bed-dorms. Enjoy a farm feeling with ducks, hens, and home-laid eggs, a communal kitchen, dining room, braai area, and complimentary Wi-Fi voucher.

17. Dolphin House Backpackers

Dolphin House Backpackers offers double rooms, and 4 and 6-bed dorms in Mossel Bay. Guests can enjoy use of the braai area, free Wi-Fi, guest lounge, and laundry service.

18. Blue Mountain Lodge

Blue Mountain Lodge in Montagu offers several double rooms and a 7-bed flat in a farm-like setting. Enjoy use of the garden, braai area, and swimming pool.

19. Hout Bay Backpackers

Hout Bay Backpackers offers double rooms and 4 or 6-bed dorms in Hout Bay. Facilities include a guest lounge, games room, Wi-Fi access, babysitting service, and braai area.

KWAZULU-NATAL

20. Blue Sky Mining Backpackers and Lodge

Blue Sky Mining Backpackers and Lodge offers 180˚ views of the Indian Ocean in Warner Beach with double, twin, or triple rooms, a self-catering unit, and 6-bed dorm. Facilities include a kitchen, guest lounge, bar, dining room, pool table, Wi-Fi access, and a garden with a swimming pool, braai area, and sun deck.

21. Budget Backpackers

Budget Backpackers in St Lucia offers single or double rooms, and 6-bed dorms. Facilities include 2 kitchens, a guest lounge, spacious garden, and braai facilities.

22.Shapes of Africa

Shapes of Africa offers rustic Zulu rondavels in Durban with twin or double cabins, a honeymoon suite, and a 12-bed dorm. Facilities include a bar, lapa, outdoor shower, and braai area.

23. St Lucia Accommodation

St Lucia Accommodation offers double and family rooms, a 6-bed dorm, and tents in St Lucia. Facilities include a garden and entertainment area with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, braai area, and pizza oven.

24. The Bed

The Bed in St Lucia has a double room and 6-bed dorm. Facilities include a self-catering kitchen, guest lounge, braai area, and swimming pool.

25. Isinkwe Backpackers Bushcamp

Isinkwe Backpackers Bushcamp in Hluhluwe offers a self-catering chalet, double and twin rooms, and a 5 or 10-bed dorm. Enjoy the free Wi-Fi, African Bush Junction cocktail bar, swimming pool, and meals served from the canteen.

GAUTENG

26. Pension Idube Budget B&B and Backpackers

Pension Idube Budget B&B and Backpackers is set in a 1900s home in Johannesburg and offers accommodation in twin, double, or family rooms. Facilities include a kitchen, guest lounge, braai area, and free Wi-Fi.

27. Pretoria Backpackers

Pretoria Backpackers is set in a 100 year old building in Pretoria and offers single, double, and triple rooms, a 4-sleeper cottage, and shared dorms. Enjoy the log fire, central heating, free Wi-Fi, and swimming pool.

EASTERN CAPE

28. Tsitsikamma Backpackers

Tsitsikamma Backpackers is an eco-friendly backpackers in Stormsriver Village offering double and twin rooms, a 6-bed dorm, and 2-bed tents. Facilities include a kitchen, braai areas, soccer table, dart board, pool table, volleyball court, bar, and free Wi-Fi.

29. Cadeau Adventure Trails and Accommodation

Cadeau Adventure Trails and Accommodation offers a range of 2-bed dome tents in Witelsbos. Facilities include a bar, restaurant, games room, swimming pool, and braai area. Please note that the dome tents do not have electricity.

30. 1 Cora Terrace Backpackers

1 Cora Terrace Backpackers offers double rooms and 6-bed dorms housed in a National Monument in Port Elizabeth. Facilities include a guest lounge, braai area, games room, and swimming pool.

FREE STATE

31. El Shaddai Backpackers

El Shaddai Backpackers offers a range of 5-sleeper chalets in Bloemfontein. Facilities include a swimming pool, braai area, and kitchen facilities.

32. Platberg Harrismith Backpackers

Platberg Harrismith Backpackers is centrally located in Harrismith, offering a family room and 4 or 6-bed dorms. Facilities include a kitchen, braai area, TV lounge, and free Wi-Fi.

33. Caravan Lodge

Caravan Lodge in Bloemfontein offers caravans sleeping 2 – 4 people. Facilities include braai facilities, small splash pool, free Wi-Fi. It is pet friendly.

LIMPOPO

34. Elephant Walk

Elephant Walk, set just 2 minutes from the Kruger National Park in Phalaborwa, offers en-suite bedrooms, campsites, and a 10-bed dorm. Look forward to a communal kitchen, braai area, swimming pool, and game safaris.

35. Abuelita Hostel

Abuelita Hostel near Lephalale is an old farmhouse that has been converted into 4 dorm rooms, sleeping 3 – 4 guests each. Facilities include a dining room, braai area, garden, and breakfast, lunch or dinner packs.

MPUMALANGA 

36. Hazyview Adventure Backpackers

Hazyview Adventure Backpackers is set 4km outside of Hazyview and offers a family room, 10-bed dorm, and 2-bed tents. Facilities include a restaurant, café, pool tables, braai facilities, and big screen for sporting events.

37. Kruger Inn Backpackers

Kruger Inn Backpackers is set in Marloth Park, on the southern border of Kruger National Park, and offers 2 and 4-bed cabins and a bunk room. Facilities include a braai area and kitchen.

38. Sheri’s Lodge & Backpackers

Sheri’s Lodge & Backpackers in Graskop offers a self-catering chalet, 12-bed dorms, and a bunk bed room.  Facilities include a recreation lapa, kitchen, dining area, lounge, braai facilities, pool table, and free Wi-Fi.

39. Gecko Backpackers

Gecko Backpackers near Hazyview offers twin rooms, 15-bed dorms, and camp sites. Facilities include a splash pool, restaurant, coffee shop, swimming pool, pool table, guest lounge, and chapel.

NORTHERN CAPE

40. Aardwolf Backpackers

Aardwolf Backpackers in Upington offers twin, double, and family rooms, and a 5-bed dorm. Facilities include a kitchen, guest lounge, library, camp fire, Wi-Fi, and braai area.

NORTH WEST

41. Red Ivory Backpackers

Red Ivory Backpackers is a Moroccan house at the foot of the Magaliesberg in Hartbeespoort and offers 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8-bed dorms built around a communal lounge and kitchen. Facilities include braai areas, a swimming pool, and clubhouse with pool table.

42. Travellers Inn

Travellers Inn in Rustenburg is set in a beautiful garden and offers double and family rooms, a campsite, and 12-bed dorm. Facilities include a swimming pool, fireplace, and pub with board games, darts, and a pool table.

Which backpackers will you book for your next budget holiday?