Backpackers in Johannesburg, Gauteng

Welcome to SA backpackers guide

Backpacking in Johannesburg, one of the most exciting cities in South Africa and appealing to all kinds of people and backgrounds especially those looking for a good time attracting young travellers with its amazing night life and diversity of cultures and except for those young travellers on a budget you might not get to see the real Johannesburg therefore we offer cheap accommodation in a great atmosphere.

A unique experience

By staying in our hostel, you will be able to enjoy the real and outstanding experiences that Johannesburg has to offer and will give you the opportunity to get you more value for less money, we will provide you with good quality service, clean and safe accommodation for people travelling on a budget.

Low cost hostel

Our Johannesburg backpacker provides budget accommodation for backpackers and international travellers. We are amongst one of the best backpackers in Johannesburg with facilities and amenities readily available for our entire budget traveller

Home away from home

The friendly hostel is in a well located and safe residential neighbourhood, seconds away from transport, shopping and all local amenities. The hostel offers beds in dormitory style accommodations, both single sex and co-ed rooms. Other facilities include, guest kitchen, common lounge with TV, pool table, internet facilities and public phones.

Central Johannesburg Hostels

Looking for a great central Johannesburg hostel while travelling? Your search can come to an end at SA backpackers guide in Johannesburg. We take pride in providing an excellent central Johannesburg hostel facility for your stay, whether for a single night or several. We offer a clean, contemporary environment with all the amenities you will need.

Our staff at Backpackers SA can assist you in booking train, flight, or coach tickets or arranging day trips to local area attractions. As your Backpackers in Johannesburg we offer many free services, including free internet access, free linens and blankets, free TV access, free food storage space and free literature for sightseeing while staying at our convenient central Johannesburg hostel.

Our kitchen is open 24 hours a day and is fully fitted with all the appliances, cookware, and utensils necessary for food preparation. During your stay at our modern central Johannesburg hostel, you can enjoy a relaxing game of pool or darts in the clean and comfortable game room or watch television in the TV lounge.

Numerous services are available at the receptionist at SA backpackers guide including laundry soap, booking assistance, telephone calling cards, and sightseeing information for Johannesburg. Our central Johannesburg hostel offers well maintained showers, washbasins, and toilets – plus we guarantee hot water 24 hours a day! For your convenience during your stay at our up-to-date central Johannesburg hostel, we offer a laundry room with full washing and drying capabilities and for your security; we have lockers and a luggage room. SA backpackers guide wants your stay with us to be carefree, inexpensive, and a memory that brings a smile to your face.

Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Johannesburg & Easy Day Trips

Johannesburg, affectionately called Jo’burg, Jozi, and E’Goli, the “city of gold,” is the financial and industrial metropolis of South Africa, built on a rich history of gold mining. The city is rapidly evolving from a crime-tainted safari stopover to a vibrant hub for arts and culture. Cutting-edge contemporary galleries and the new Maboneng Precinct, with its funky restaurants, cafes, and art studios, now rank among the city’s top tourist attractions along with the poignant Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. Glaring disparities still remain – the shanty towns of Soweto, birthplace of the nation’s struggle for democracy – still contrast sharply with the walled villas of wealthy enclaves and the city’s gleaming skyscrapers. However, rapid changes are coaxing tourists to linger. Travelers can hop aboard one of the new Gautrain trains and buses to explore or take a guided tour. Not far from the city’s borders more adventures await. Visitors can commune with wildlife at a popular lion park; stroll among the beautiful gardens and parks in Pretoria, the country’s administrative capital; and explore the UNESCO-listed Cradle of Humankind, one of the richest paleoanthropological sites in the world.

1 The Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum graphically portrays the apartheid story through photos, artifacts, newspaper clippings, chilling personal accounts, and film footage. The sights and sounds of the apartheid era assail visitors as they move through the thought-provoking permanent exhibits on an emotional journey through South Africa’s history. Paths follow the country through decades of oppression to the birth of democracy. Reserve at least two hours and preferably longer to get the most out of a visit here. Those interested in learning more about South Africa’s struggle for freedom, should also visit Liliesleaf Farm Museum, the former center for the leaders of the liberation movement

2 Constitution Hill

Overlooking the city of Johannesburg, Constitution Hill is a former prison that provides fascinating insight into South Africa’s history. At the site, visitors can explore provocative exhibits at the Number Four museum, the Women’s Gaol museum, and the Old Fort museum. Together, the precinct was once known as The Fort, and it forged a reputation for its brutal treatment of political prisoners, common criminals, and passive resistors; famous former prisoners include Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. Today, the old Awaiting Trial building has been transformed into the Constitutional Court of South Africa, a symbol of freedom, which works to protect the rights of all the nation’s people. The court welcomes visitors who want to attend hearings and watch the judicial process. Guided tours of Constitutional Hill offer valuable insight into its rich history.

3 Gold Reef City

At Gold Reef City, eight kilometres from the city centre, visitors are whisked back to the gold rush days through a series of thrilling theme park rides and historical exhibits. This family-friendly attraction hosts reproductions of buildings and businesses from the era, including houses, shops, the Royal Theatre, a hotel, a Chinese laundry, a tailor’s workshop, a chemist’s shop, a newspaper office, and Johannesburg’s first stock exchange. Visitors can also tour a disused shaft of the Crown Mines, one of the richest gold-mines in the world, which gives a vivid impression of the work of the gold miners.

 4 Soweto & the Mandela Museum

Soweto (an abbreviation for Southwestern Townships) lies 20 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg and offers visitors a journey into the soul of the fight for freedom. This was an area of planned segregation, where black laborers were housed far from the city centre, many in shacks made of corrugated iron. It was also the birthplace of the struggle for democracy. In 1976, the Soweto Uprisings sought to overthrow the apartheid state and spread from here to the rest of the country. Today, visitors will see a land of contrasts. Mansions have sprouted up among the shanties, and the democratic government is trying to establish much-needed infrastructure and green spaces. Guided tours of the townships bring visitors here to meet the residents and see how they live. The tours often include a visit to Mandela House Museum, where Mandela lived with his wife Winnie before he was imprisoned for 27 years, as well as the Hector Peterson Museum, and Freedom Square, where the Freedom Charter, the ANC’s guiding document, was adopted.

5 Editor’s Pick

The Maboneng Precinct

The vibrant Maboneng Precinct is a fantastic example of a successful mixed-use urban renewal project. Once a rather run-down neighbourhood, Maboneng, meaning “place of light,” now fizzes with life. Funky restaurants, cafes, art galleries, shops, hotels, and entertainment venues mix smartly with residential buildings. A top attraction here is the weekly Market on Main with food from all over the continent. Arts on Main and Revolution House are two of the first developments where warehouses are transformed into artists’ studios, galleries, and shops. Other developments host Bioscope, an independent cinema; a community centre; designer hotels; and boutiques. This is a wonderful area to wander around and feel the vibe of the city and grab a bite to eat or a cool drink.

zulu war as well as modern day treatments used on the battle field. Another exhibit unveils life in the trenches during World War I.