Karma Backpackers, Kestell

Karma Backpackers gives budget travelers an opportunity to visit the beautiful village of Kestell. It’s a bit off the beaten track for most backpackers, and a bit of a mission to get to without your own wheels, but it can be done. The rewards are a green, peaceful village with lovely views of the Northern Drakensburg, and a handy stopover on the way to or from the Golden Gate National Park.

The Location

Karma Backpackers is located about two hundred meters behind the old church that is the centerpiece of Kestell, and clearly visible from the N5 that passes close by on its way between Harrismith and Bethlehem. Kestell is a tiny village, so it’s very easy to find, but it is signposted nevertheless.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Karma Backpackers is a family house with a four-bed dorm and a couple of double rooms. Like the village in which it's housed, it’s small, so it’s probably worth booking ahead. The whole place is kept neat and clean and the dorm beds are all singles; there are no bunks. There is a bedside lamp and table for each bed, but no storage space. The mattresses are good and the bed linen is clean. A hot water bottle plus extra blankets are provided for the cold nights. The private rooms are extremely clean, and all rooms share the one bathroom. There’s twenty-four-hour hot water and towels are also provided for all guests.

Common Spaces

The large sitting room has comfy couches and a table with a selection of maps and books on the flora and fauna of South Africa and the Golden Gate National Park, as well as various guide books. The owners provide maps of the area and of the trails in the national park free of charge. The long dining table dominates the living room, but there are no meals provided here for guests -- Karma is exclusively for self-caterers. There is no TV and the Wi-Fi is limited to one hundred megabytes per guest for free, but we couldn’t get any connection at all, so good luck! The house is surrounded by a well-tended, wild garden and there is a lawn at the back for parking.

The kitchen is large and shared with the owners. It has a kettle (free tea and coffee provided), toaster, fridge, and a six-ring gas cooker. The microwave is in the dining room. Although no meals are provided for guests, the owner does have a large selection of homemade jams in the fridge, which are free for guests to try at breakfast.

Summary

This is a lovely little backpackers for those who make the effort to get a little off the track, or for those wanting a rest from the hiking in Golden Gate National Park, which can be strenuous.