Jikeleza Lodge International Backpackers Hostel

JIKELEZA LODGE is run by Robert and Marianah, both intrepid explorers of Southern Africa and veteran travelers. They opened this lodge to share their knowledge and love for this country with others and to maintain contact with other travelers. It is designed by travelers for travelers, to meet in a home away from home atmosphere. The hostel has a reputation for making you feel welcome and is enthusiastically run by the owners and their manager. The atmosphere is laid back. Youll find JIKELEZA LODGE safe clean and comfortable offering a true African experience and South African hospitality. Miracles Happen here, may just be true for you. Never overcrowded and with all the facilities you need. One of the older buildings in the Central area with the atmospheric charm of rich, warm, gleaming wood floors, windows and doors. JIKELEZA LODGE is set in the heart of the old historical heart of Port Elizabeth and right on the Donkin Heritage Walking Trail. Here you can walk amongst the many old buildings of yesteryear marveling at the fine architecture and history of the time . Or you can pull on your takkies( cross trainers) and trap (stomp) on down to nearby coffee shops, traditional African restaurants, pubs, banks, 24 hour grocery shops, antique shops, art museums and galleries, the local swimming pool, horticultural gardens, nightspots or jazz clubs, and the beach is only 10 minutes away by car. No Car Then you can walk to the beach and on the way visit some of the older buildings, stop at the Arts and Curio centre, Wezandla, for a coffee, then onto the South End Museum, with its story of the forced evictions, and eventually reach the beachfront. The bottom garden and most of the rooms overlook a green belt and guinea fowl, other birds and rock hyrax (dassies) visit regularly. The shaded garden with the cathedral atmosphere is a great place to chill, have breakfast in, start a fire in the evening, grab a beer from their self service refreshment bar and have a braai with your new friends. If outside is not for you you could get your movie fix with the small screen DVD and normalise your heartbeat with thier free coffee. They offer breakfast at the nearby coffee shop and are into recycling. Whether its a quiet stay you need, having fun at the boat bar with lucky legs by your side or getting into rip roaring, thumping nightlife close by, then this IS it. JIKELEZA LODGE has its own in-house travel desk and is the best place to get advice on anything to anywhere. They can arrange day trips to Addo Elephant National Park, lion safaris to Schotia, city and township tours, Baz Bus and Intercape Inter City Bus tickets, Car hire at great prices, historical and heritage tours, transfers and overland trips and tours anywhere in Southern Africa. They also have specially priced accommodation and tour packages for backpackers and you can save quite a lot if you take one of these.They can organise just about everything for you, from finding out what time of day it is to a five year journey through Africa. They know South Africa better than most South Africans and make sure that they are up to date with all the latest info. They are also not bound to any one tour operator, bus or car hire company so we can give you unbiased genuine assistance. JIKELEZA LODGE offers you a variety of accommodation. There are single rooms, double rooms (Double bed) and twin rooms (2 single beds), 3, 4 and 5 bed family group rooms, dorms and camping. The hostel is never crowded and their dorms only have a maximum of 7 beds and at times are smaller. The dorms are mixed, both male and female, and may not be suitable for some local holiday makers who are not conversant with traveling etiquette. The kitchen is fully fitted so that you can whip up a quick meal or cook up a storm. The owners are fanatical about cleanliness and all the staff are friendly and go out of their way to help you.