Backpacking Southern Africa on a Shoestring Budget
A compilation of the cheapest backpacking places in Southern Africa for backpackers on tight budget backpacking through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Leshoto, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Places are listed for dorms and tents where is possible to camp.
Backpacking South Africa – Cheap Hostels and Camps in South Africa
- Cape Town: Big Blue Backpackers (Dorm 140 Rands)
- Pretoria: Pumba Backpackers (Dorm 160Rands/Tent 100Rands)
- Johannesburg: Rosebank Backpackers (Dorm 132Rands/Tent 100Rands)
- Port Elizabeth: Lungile Backpackers (Dorm 150Rands/Tent 100Rands)
- East London: Sugar Shack Backpackers (Dorm 100Rands/Tent 75Rands)
- Durban: Banana Backpackers (Dorm 130Rands/Double 250Rands)
- Must do in Cape Town – Cape Town’s Top 5 Outdoor & Wildlife Experiences
- 50 Unique Things To Do in South Africa
Cheap Hostels and Camps in Lesotho
- Malealea: (Dorm 185Rands/Tent 110Rands)
- Maseru: Sleeping in Malealea
Cheap Hostels and Camps in Swaziland
- Lobamba: Legends Backpackers (Dorm 160Rands/Tent 80Rands)
- Mlilwane Wild Sanctuary: Sondzela Backpackers (Tent 95Rands+40Rands park fee)
Backpacking Namibia – Cheap Hostels and Camps in Namibia
- Windhoek: Backpackers Unite – Dorm 150 Namibian dollars/Tent 80N$)
- Swakopmund Walvis Bay: Skeleton beach backpackers – Dorm 160N$/Tent 120N$
- Sesriem/Sossusvlei: Tent 180N$
Backpacking Zambia – Cheap Hostels and Camps in Zambia
- Livingstone: Livingstone Backpackers (Dorm 12$/Tent 7$=77Kwachas)
- Lusaka: Lusaka Backpackers (Dorm 12$/no camping) or Wanderers (Tent 5$)
Backpacking Zimbabwe – Cheap Hostels and Camps in Zimbabwe
- Victoria Falls: Shoestring backpackers (Dorm 12$/Tent 8$)
- Harare: It´s a small world Backpackers (Dorm 12$/Tent 9$)
- Bulawayo: Burke Paradise (Dorm 15$/Tent 7$)
Backpacking Botswana – Cheap Hostels and Camps in Botswana
- Kasane: Chobe Safari Lodge (Tent 85 pulas)
- Nata: Elephant Sands Lodge (Tent 90 pulas)
- Maun: Sedia River Lodge (Tent 70 pulas). There is a backpackers place also in town.
- Gaborone: Lion´s Park (Tent 110 pulas, free waterpak and amusement park)
Backpacking Mozambique – Cheap Hostels and Camps in Mozambique
- Maputo: Fatima´s Backpackers (Dorm 600 meticales/ Tent 500 meticales)
- Tofo beach/Inhambane: Ricardo House (200 meticales). Fatima´s Nest (Tent 400/ Dorm 500)
- Vilanculos: Complexo Alemanha Dorm 250Meticales or Baobab Tent 300/Dorm 400m
- Mozambique Island: Casuarina Camping (Tent 300 meticales)
- Nampula: Ruby hostel. (Dorm 750 meticales/ Tent 400 meticales)
- Mandimba: Casa Hospede Saide-Mandimba (Private 250 meticales)
Backpacking Malawi – Cheap Hostels and Camps in Malawi
- Zomba – Pakachere Backpackers (Dorm 10$/ Tent 5$=3.500Kwachas)
- Lilongwe – Mabuya Camp (Dorm 12$/ Tent 7$=4.865K)
- Nkhata Bay – Mayoka Village (Dorm 10$/ Tent 5$=3.250K)
Hello ,
How to go kruger park from johanesburg and how to move within each city ?
What are the must see in SA ! Are there any nice beaches over there ?
Thank you :))
Hello Sherouk, the way you travel around depends on your travel style. I used rented car in South Africa and was the best way to go around. You can go to Kruger by plane, from Johannesburg airport to Nelspruit oro fly to Hoedspruit (for the central and northern sections) or Phalaborwa (for the northern section). If you use travel agents, they can book you charter flights to Skukuza Airport in Kruger or to any of the lodges’ airstrips. So many possibilities. As well with car, but will be the long ride from Johannesburg and driving at night is not recommended. South Africa is so beautiful its hard to list some must sees, usually we choose according to our interests. If research prior to travel sounds too overwhelming I recommend booking an organised trip by tour operator, this way you dont need to worry how to move within cities and other logistics.