Hello all,

Hoping i can find an internet link to a website that provides details regarding hostels based in diverse parts of Africa. i am a university student planning to make my first visit to the African continent next year (hopefully). i am extremely excited, but rather apprehensive as well since i know no one on the entire continent. Hence i need to make reliable reservations for lodgings etc., and subsequent to considering it have decided that i could arrange something at a hostel. You know the types i mean - cheap hostels for students. Does not have to be anything fancy. i would love to find a website that provides details regarding hostels based in different African countries - their rates, services offered, etc. It would be of massive help to me as i try to arrange my trip for next year. Is there such a website on the 'net? i tried a little bit of searching for it via google, but unfortunately have not met with much success. i am hoping some kind soul here would be able to help me out:~D

ANY and ALL constructive help would be much appreciated. My thanks in advance.

Hi Noor,

I'm no expert on Africa, but I can recommend the Lonely Planet guides which I have used extensively in other countries. Their website is here.

Specific hostel info can be found here.

Have a look at the International Youth Hostel Federation site too.

Some of the hostiles are not fit for human habitation. They are dirty no facilities. security is almost non exsistant. Insect infestation. not a pretty site including some sites listed by Lonely Planet. Some of their writings are totally unreliable.

Depending on what your agenda is you should be looking into your accomodation very carefully. If you are at University usually there are other students from Africa that might give you a better perspective as far as accomodation. See if there are rooms available at University dorms during the off period of school.

Check out the YWCA get a listing of all African Y's that have rooms.. they are usually very inexpensive some as low as $10.00 per night.
You at least have a clean room, hot water in most cases and you have hot tea jam & bread in the morning either inclusive or at a minimal cost.

I've stayed at the Y's in Zambia a few times, never a problem of any kind

Where are you going and how long are you travelling for? Hostels aren't that common... you do find YMCA's here and there, but these places aren't always to be recommended. You should aim for places where other travellers go, and these aren't always hostels... they can be cheapie 1-3 star places which have earned themselves a good reputation by being friendly places which offer good low cost acommodation and the chance to meet other travellers (very important!)

I prefer the Rough Guides myself, and that is the first place you should look for recommendations on where to stay. Also check out the Lonely Planet forums for the latest travellers info... http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categori...ies.cfm?catid=9

The only hostel I can remember staying at myself was in Harare....

Mambo, the Rough Guides are indeed good too. Rough Guides website

The LP Thorntree is a goldmine of interesting info - definitely worth checking out.

Thorn tree at the lonely planet website always gives me loads of info!!! Best travellers forum.

a deliberate pun!??

~ as a matter of fact..I wondered who'd pick up on that.. you're sharp Mambo!!
If you've ever been in some of the hostels they can be pretty violent..
You sleep with one eye open.....

I did miss it the first time round...

Inevitably there are some dumps that term themselves hostels.. I wonder what the hostel situation is like in Kenya itself. I know there is an active Youth Hostel Association..don't think I've ever had to stay in one. I generally found that hostels were never in ideal locations...which is a big problem sometimes as the last thing you want is to be isolated in a new town... You can usually find equivalent hotels which aren't much more expensive and better placed...

In fact, I think the worst place I've stayed at in Kenya was this dump of a hotel in Moyale. It was more like a prison cell, complete with a very thin, very dirty foam mattress on top of a concrete slab!! And a big drum of dirty rain water in one corner of the room..don't know if I was supposed to dive into that and take a bath or what..!! The only good thing about Moyale is that you can get some decent Ethiopian food...namely spaghetti!

Even staying at some guest houses can be pretty iffy..
Travelling enroute to Zimbabwe I stayed at one guest house that was something out of a horror show.. no lights, a can in a room for a toilet, filthy bed and sheets...I didn't sleep much that night...i had a show watching the creep crawlers jumping over the bed.... then in Lusaka at the South end of town stayed in a guest house it was so cheap.. but spotlessly clean..nothing fancy a room bed hot shower.....ambiance was pure warmth from the owners...

Noor: I'm not sure what University you attend in Canada but I do know most have
access to student accomodation worldwide....
or exchange of accomodation. You should check with your student unions see what they can do as far as help.

Coming for the first time on your own and being female can pose a few more problems...

Sooz, Kat, Mambo, and Humdul,

Thank you all *so much*. Those were extremely prompt, and helpful, replies. Sincerely appreciated. Thank you.

The YWCA suggestion was an excellent suggestion; i never thought of that. Been to the Lonely Planet website several times but never knew about their Thorn Tree forum! *feeling stupid* That's got a massive amount of helpful info, thanks everyone.

Kat, that's a wonderful idea; had to go to the uni tomorrow morning anyways, i'll check with the Students Union re: possible overseas accomodation/referrals. Thanks a million.

Mambo, weeell ideally i want to see a bit more of Africa than only Kenya... Ghana, South Africa and Morocco are on my ideal wish-list but that depends upon the extent to which my budget will agree with those plans;~D Actually if i visit Kenya, i probably won't be able to fit in South Africa as well. It has to be one or the other.
As it stands right now i am planning for the trip in its entirety to last at least a month.

Kat, you are absolutely right. That's my primary concern, actually. Never really travelled by myself, except to Pakistan, but i have lots of family members there. This will be my first actual overseas trip independent of everything/one, so yes - secure lodgings is imperative. As far as hostels or guest houses go - i am in the market for something that has a reasonably clean room and hot shower. And yes, Mambo, i would love to meet fellow travellers as well... i think that certainly adds to the enjoyment! :~D

Thanks all for your help. Will save all the links listed above. i really appreciate everyone's helpful advice. Muchas gracias.

Noor, your wish list takes you from north to south and east to west of the African continent! Somehow I don't think a month will be sufficient

There is no way you can do all that... I thought maybe you had 6 months or something...

and if you're a woman, as you seem to be, then forget Morocco.. on your own there, you'll be hassled no end. You should know, coming from Pakistan!

I would do Ghana and Kenya, but realistically, if you really only have one month, I would strongly suggest you do just one, in which case I'd suggest Kenya (all of Africa in one country... ahem ) Especially if you're planning on getting involved in any charities....

This being a Kenyan forum, we can of course give you better tips on what/where/how re Kenya than we can on Ghana

Mambo, I'm not sure Morocco would be so difficult for a woman. There are just a few rules to respect in Muslim countries... eg. dress modestly and don't make unnecessary eye contact with men. I've been to Morocco (not alone) - the people are really delightful there.

I've been to Egypt several times scuba diving and have always walked around the bazaars alone. But I wear a caftan/djellaba (rather than jeans or, God forbid, shorts, eek!) and I've always been treated with great respect. But then again maybe that's because I'm so old and ugly

Noor definitely one month does not give you enough time to do all you want.. I also thought you were taking a few months with your wanting to work.
If you're really interested in something like this NGO's you should look into joining one of the many organizations in Canada that will give you accomodation and a small salary. CUSO for one CIDA another

Also I'd reiterate what Mambo said about Morocco. If you are young/female and especially a student you might find things difficult. there are always unscrupulous characters.....with age you can discern a little better (hopefully) even the wisest traveller has experienced some difficulty travelling esp. to countries like Morocco..

yeah... guess I can't really speak from a female perspective...

Its just that a friend was telling me how she was really hassled in Marrakech, even with her dad next to her... guess it depends on the person and situation. A hiss is one thing, people touching you and pinching your bum is another...

She'd better not go to Italy then!

oh yeah thats right!

But the Italians do everything with style... And I think they're quite tolerant... they even don't mind their President, er PM, calling Italian judges mad and retarded, or something like that...

i would just like to reiterate the point - you all have been so helpful. i really appreciate everyone's thoughts posted in this thread. My incentive for registering in this Forum in the first place, has been more than justified by the quality of help and suggestions i have received in such a short period of time. Thank you all, so much. Sincerely appreciate it.

Regarding the point about the lack of time - i wholly agree. i would absolutely love to stay six months...heck i would love to stay there forever i think:~]
To be quite frank... although i am 23, my family is not very ecstatic about this entire aspect particularly a female travelling alone. In order to convince them, i have to tell them that it is going to last one month; once i am there and am able to assure them that everything is alright, hypothetically speaking, i could extend the trip. But as things stand right now, if i told them i am planning on staying longer than a month, it would make it *extremely* difficult for me to leave Canada. They would be rather reluctant to agree. Maybe if i was in their position, i would feel the same way, i am not certain. That is the reason it has to be a month, at least for now. :~(

Regarding the aspect about security - i spent the first twelve years of my life in the United Arab Emirates and have gone back for visits a few times. i definitely agree with the part about females travelling alone. Some of the things mentioned above have happened. To a certain extent, it occurs in Pakistan as well, *especially* if a female is travelling alone. i will try my best to remember all the common-sense safety tips i have read, while travelling next year. i would love to go with a friend, but unfortunately don't have any friends who would like to visit the same regions i do. Doing this is something that i have dreamed about for (literally) years; there is a saying in Urdu which roughly paraphrased goes something like, kismet mai jo likha hua hai, wohi ho ga. My very poor English translation of this would be - whatever is written in one's fate, will happen regardless. Manifestly, i will try my best to take all the necessary precautions possible and hopefully keep all the tips and common-sense suggestions constantly at the forefront of my mind. Everything else, i will have to leave it up to God;~]

Thank you, all of you, so much for your most kind suggestions. i can't articulate enough how much i appreciate your taking the time to help me. Thank you all so much.

sawa, no problems