Lusaka Backpackers, Lusaka

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Lusaka Backpackers Reviews

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Lusaka Backpackers is the most established and popular of the backpackers in the center of Lusaka and is a good, solid choice for those passing through or wanting to stay a few nights.

The Location

Located in an area behind Levy Park Mall, Lusaka Backpackers is one of four backpackers' within easy walking distance of both the bus and the railway station. Levy Park Mall is just fifteen minutes' walk away, with a supermarket and a Food Lovers' Market for self-caterers. It also houses banks with international ATMs and money-exchange offices.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Lusaka Backpackers is a small, basic but clean backpackers that has a selection of doubles, twins, family rooms and dorms -- some self-contained in the main house, and out in the back garden in wooden chalets and blockhouses. Everything is kept clean, which is a mission here, as Lusaka doesn't lend itself to long stayers. Most travelers tend to stay one night on their way to or from Livingstone, meaning there's a high turnover of guests here.

The dorms are basic but well cared for with clean linen, but the mattresses are a bit saggy. The beds are surrounded by thick, heavy-duty mosquito nets, essential in the wet summer season. There are lockers in the main house sitting room, and shelving in the dorms for storage. The larger eight-bed dorm in the back garden does not have any electric sockets and therefore no fan, but even summer nights are a little cool in Lusaka, so it's not a big issue. The common showers and toilets are clean and there is hot water at all times, provided by electric boilers.

Common Spaces

This is a social hostel with a large front garden immediately inside the gate as you arrive. This contains the bar under a thatched roof, the small swimming pool, the pool table, and alcoves with cushioned seating. There are two DSTV screens in the bar and it is popular with guests and locals alike over the weekend when football is shown live.

Inside the main house, past the reception desk, is a sitting room with a book exchange. The Wi-Fi router is also here for the best signal. The signal tends to be fairly poor during the day, but is very good early in the mornings and in the evenings.

In the back garden, there is the self-caterers' kitchen and the guesthouse kitchen side-by-side. The guests' kitchen is small and basic, but has four electric cooker hobs, a microwave, kettle, toaster, and a fridge. There are a few rather battered old pots and plenty of cutlery. The hostel kitchen provides simple meals all day from 7 a.m. to late into the evening at fair prices. There is an eating area in the back garden by the ironing bench as well as several tables by the swimming pool.

Summary

This is fun place to stay, and ticks most of the boxes for backpackers passing through. It's clean and neat, though some of the rooms could do with a spruce up, but it's good value for money. One annoyance is that there is only one member of staff on duty all day working both the reception desk and the bar. It means guests having to wait for staff to be free, or for those arriving, wandering around the property looking for someone to check them in. The staff are knowledgeable regarding transport options out of Lusaka and the owner is a mine of information on places to see off the beaten track in Zambia. All in all, this is a good, solid choice.

Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.

LondonroadMa

Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer

Published on Jan 28, 2018

Description

**Accommodation update** we have reduced the prices of our dorms for the next 3 mths.. It's so sunny and hot here we just want you to come and see us!.

Lusaka backpackers is your perfect pit stop in Lusaka!

We are conveniently located right in the heart of things
close to restaurants, shopping areas and transport links.

Accommodation is clean and comfortable, you can chose between dorms or en-suite private rooms bed linen and towels are provided. Even better we now have fans in all the rooms and are including a light continental breakfast in the price.
For those that want to cook we have a smart new self catering Kitchen that has just been refurbished

Use your time with us to:
unwind by the pool on our very own beach, or chill out in the new beach cabin.
Relax in the garden with a good book, away from the hurly burly of Zambia's capital city
relax in our outside bar, meet new friends, shoot some pool and work your way through our cocktail menu!
enjoy our delicious home cooked food, served all day until late,
join in with our popular special events and catch up on sports at the weekend
Buy some curios from our in-house curio stall and help to support the guys in their own business

We have a comprehensive travel desk that can assist with all of your traveling needs, including excellent safaris and great deals and advice on trips in and around Zambia and throughout southern Africa.

Our friendly staff will look after you throughout your stay and welcome you back when you return!

Location and Contact

Location

• If your are arriving to Lusaka using one of the usual forms of transport. Eg. Bus from Livingstone or Chipata, then all the taxi drivers will know where we are located. A taxi from the bus station to Lusaka Backpackers will cost around $5.00 (K25)
• If your feeling like a walk, from the Bus Station if you head to Church Road and turn Right on the main road (Levy Junction should be in front of you) past the Green Police Station, at the traffic lights you turn left, then right at the 4 way stop, we are down the first road on your left.
• If you were to just end up somewhere in Lusaka, like maybe you hitched in, then you would have to make sure that the taxi knows that we are off Bwinjimfumu Rd. and not on Cha Cha Cha rd.

Phone Number: +260977805483

To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Correction Form.

Facilities and Amenities

Quiet Rest

Solo Traveller

Bedsheets

Breakfast

Lockers in Lobby

Lockers in Rooms

Luggage Storage

Parking

Towels

Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons

Wi-Fi in Rooms

Airport Pickup

City Tours

Dinner

24 Hour Security

BBQ Grill

Bar

Book Collection/Exchange

Cable TV

Concierge/Info Desk

Credit Card Payments

Entirely Non-Smoking

Food/Restaurant

Hot Showers

Kitchen

Laundry

Lounge Area

Outdoor Seating

Pool Table

Swimming Pool

Power Point/Sockets in Rooms

Wheelchair Accessible

Service Animals

Pet-Friendly

Genders: Males & Females

Max. Age: 60

Min. Age with Parent (private room): 12

Min. Age without Parent: 16

Checkout: 10:00 (10 AM)

Curfew: No Curfew

Lockout: No

Maximum Stay: Unlimited

Minimum Stay: 1 night

Open Dates: All Year

Reception Hours: 17:00 then at Bar till closing time 23:00

Size: Medium (30-60 beds)

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