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Hostels Guide > Africa > South Africa > Western Cape > Oudtshoorn Hostels > Backpackers Paradise & Joyrides

Backpackers Paradise & Joyrides

Oudtshoorn

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Hostels in Oudtshoorn

Address	148 Baron van Reede Street (r328), Oudtshoorn Western Cape, South Africa
Price	Year round - Dorms R60, Doubles with en-suite R90pp, other R75pp Check Current Prices by Date Here

Location/Contact

Details

This is a VIP hostel. Show your VIP Backpackers membership card for a discount at check-in.

Their Description

Features

Free Breakfast
Kitchen
Lockers
Bar
Lounge / Common space
Swimming Pool
BBQ
Food/Restaurant
Washing Machine (laundry)
Travel information provided
Bike Rental
Phones (public or in room)
24 Hour Free Hot Showers
Pool Table

The Hostelz.com Review

It is definitely a pardise, at least for travel weary backpackers. The stunning views of the mountains through the Outeniqua pass as you drive from George to Outdshoorn alone are a reason worth coming out here.

All the dorms are en-suite and all have giant bunk beds with giant mattresses (with linen sheets and two blankets per bed plus a hot water bottle!). There is a guest kitchen, laundry, a video/TV lounge and coffee/tea/sodas in the vending machines. There's a small pool you can soak in and a great second floor balcony facing west to watch the sun go down. There are free homemade dinners and free ostrich eggs in the morning. It's a big place, so it can be a little lonely when it's half empty in winter time, but still a wonderful spot to chill out, clean and comfortable.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review

Ratings & Comments

4.7 Average from 6 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by Lu & Si - Ireland

February 2007

This is by far the best backpackers we have stayed in (and we have stayed in a lot). Not just in South Africa but in all the countries we have visited. Marius and Petra were the so friendly and the facilities are great. We got plenty of advice and we felt so at home we didn't want to leave. We stayed four nights but would have stayed longer if we could have. Trip A mentioned below from the swartzberg pass is a must do and one of the biggest highlights of our travels. Not for the faint hearted though as it is quite a white knuckle ride. All I can say is you have to stay here.

Comment by Lara , Australian

November 2005

I stayed here while I explored the Garden Route with two friends, and we absolutely loved it. This was probably the best place we stayed at — this place and Tube N Axe (in Stormsriver) were miles ahead of the others! The staff are friendly, the facilities are fantastic, and with so much to do in O'Town, you just can't get bored. You are offered three different "tours." Trip A is a 54 km bike ride from the top of Swatberg Pass down to the Cango Caves, on to all the ostrich farms and the Cango Wildlife Ranch, and back to the hostel. Trip B begins at the Caves (about 30 km). And Trip C is being driven to all of them. I am incredibly unfit, but met some crazy Irish folk who convinced me to do Trip A. I'm so glad I did — most of it is downhill and freewheeling (though don't get too cocky — there's still heaps and heaps of actual riding to do!). You absolutely must do the big bike ride, it's well worth it! You won't regret staying at Backpacker's Paradise, it's fantastic.

Comment by Marie

August 2005

The shuttle from George is 40 rands return and it goes through the mountains and the ostrich farms. Very different from the greenery of the Garden Route. On the spot they propose different kinds of trips with mountain bikes or not. We just can't get bored. I myself visited an ostrich farm and the museum, which is surprisingly interesting. Breakfast with an ostrich egg is fun. I enjoyed dramatic sunsets there.

Comment by XV Pilot

February 2005

We were there on a flying visit during winter, so unfortunately we didn't get to try the famous ostrich egg breakfasts. We did enjoy the incredible beds though — with space for two with room to spare, we didn't have any problems with the temperature. It is certainly a place worth going back to.

Comment by Cath

August 2004

Wonderful staff and friendly atmosphere. The dinners are amazing. It was a little cold to be camping there when we did, but they provided us with extra blankets, and there's hot-water bottles on every bed--that scores big points with me!!! You must go to Oudtshoorn, and you must stay at Backpackers Paradise. Sitting on the balcony watching the sun go down on our last night there is a memory I will never forget.

Comment by Roussel (Brazil)

October 2003

I stayed there about 3 years ago and it still brings back some wonderful memories. The place is amazing and cracking an Ostrich egg has its charm. Oh, and they have, with no doubt, the largest, widest beds in South Africa!!

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Hostels in Oudtshoorn

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