Jollyboys Backpackers

3.0 star property
Suburban hostel with outdoor pool, near Livingstone Museum

Choose dates to view prices

your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Jollyboys Backpackers

Outdoor pool
Room, Multiple Beds (9 Bed Private Dorm) | Executive lounge
Aerial view
Helicopter/plane tours
Outdoor pool

Reviews

8.6 out of 10

Excellent

Guests liked:

Friendly staff

Popular amenities

  • Airport transfer
    Airport transfer
  • Bar
    Bar
  • Spa
    Spa
  • Pool
    Pool
  • Laundry facilities
    Laundry facilities
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFi
Main amenities
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Restaurant and bar/lounge
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast available
  • Free airport pick-up
  • Spa services
  • Massage/treatment rooms
  • Area shuttle
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Front-desk safe
  • Snack bar/deli
Feel at home
  • Sofa bed
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry facilities
  • Elevator
The price is $55
includes taxes & fees
$47 per night
Nov 25 - Nov 26

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 15 of 15 rooms

Room, Multiple Beds (9 Bed Private Dorm)

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 9
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds and 1 Twin Bed

Room (6 Bed Private Dorm)

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 6
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

Shared Dormitory, Women only

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

Room (7 Bed Private Dorm)

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 7
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm, Shared Bathroom (8 Bed Dormitory)

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

Single Shared Bathroom

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 Double Bed

Quadruple Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Air conditioning
Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

Triple Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

Double Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Air conditioning
Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Twin Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Air conditioning
Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Single Room Ensuite

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 Double Bed

Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Room, Multiple Beds

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 8
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

Triple Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

Sofa bed
Ceiling fan
Shared/communal kitchen
In-room safe
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Twin Bed and 1 Twin Bunk Bed

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About the neighborhood

Map
34 Kanyanta Road, Livingstone

What's nearby

  • Livingstone Museum - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Mukuni Park Curio Market - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park - 6 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Victoria Falls Field Museum - 9 min drive - 9.6 km
  • Devil's Pool - 10 min drive - 11.0 km

Getting around

  • Livingstone (LVI) - 8 min drive
  • Victoria Falls (VFA) - 39 min drive
  • Free airport pick-up
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)

Restaurants

  • ‪Munali Coffee - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪The Boma - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Lookout Café - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Royal Livingstone Lounge - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Rainforest Cafe - ‬10 min drive

About this property

Jollyboys Backpackers

Jollyboys Backpackers is just 3.7 mi (5.9 km) from the airport and offers free pick-up service (available 24 hours). Guests can indulge in deep-tissue massages or mani/pedis, then grab a bite to eat at the restaurant. An outdoor pool, a bar/lounge, and a snack bar/deli are other highlights. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff.

Languages

English

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 30 rooms

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 8 PM
  • Late check-in subject to availability
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
  • Check-out time is 10 AM

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions.

Special check-in instructions

  • This property offers transfers from the airport; guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
  • The front desk is open daily from 7 AM - 8 PM
  • Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
  • To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 48 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
  • If you are planning to arrive after 8 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required
  • Minimum check-in age is 18

Children

  • Children (9 years old and younger) not allowed
  • No cribs (infant beds)

Pets

  • Pets not allowed

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas

Parking

  • Free onsite self parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking on site

Transfers

  • Free airport pickup on request (available 24 hours)*

Offsite

  • Area shuttle*

Other information

  • Designated smoking areas

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Cooked-to-order breakfast (surcharge) each morning 6:30 AM–noon
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/lounge
  • Barbecue grills
  • Shared refrigerator
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Water dispenser

What to do

  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rentals nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Safari nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Segway rentals/tours nearby
  • Ziplining nearby
  • Fishing nearby

Services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Dry cleaning/laundry services
  • Luggage storage

Facilities

  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace
  • Television in common areas
  • An outdoor pool
  • Spa services
  • Massage/treatment rooms

Accessibility

  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Accessible airport shuttle

Room amenities

Home comfort

  • Ceiling fan

Sleep well

  • Single sofa bed
  • Bed sheets provided

Freshen up

  • Towels

Food and drink

  • Shared kitchen access

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe

Special features

Spa

Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the onsite spa services. There are 2 treatment rooms including rooms for couples. Services include deep-tissue massages, Swedish massages, and manicures and pedicures.

Dining

Onsite venue - This restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Fees & policies

Optional extras

  • Cooked-to-order breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately USD 5 to 8 per person
  • Area shuttle service is offered for an extra charge

Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)

  • Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation

Policies

Long-term renters welcome.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher on site.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Cashless transactions are available.

Also known as

Jollyboys Backpackers Hostel Livingstone
Jollyboys Backpackers Hostel
Jollyboys Backpackers Livingstone
Jollyboys Backpackers
Jollyboys Backpackers Livingstone
Jollyboys Backpackers Hostel/Backpacker accommodation

Frequently asked questions

Does Jollyboys Backpackers offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Jollyboys Backpackers does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at Jollyboys Backpackers?
Yes, there's an outdoor pool.
Are pets allowed at Jollyboys Backpackers?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at Jollyboys Backpackers?
Yes, there's free self parking.
Is airport shuttle service offered by Jollyboys Backpackers?
Yes, a free shuttle from the airport is available.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Jollyboys Backpackers?
Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 8 PM. Check-out time is 10 AM.
What is there to do at Jollyboys Backpackers and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities like cycling, boat tours, and fishing. Additional recreation nearby includes game drives, game viewing, and safari tours. Enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool or use the hostel's other amenities, which include spa services and a picnic area. Jollyboys Backpackers also has a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near Jollyboys Backpackers?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant that offers international cuisine.
What's the area around Jollyboys Backpackers like?
Jollyboys Backpackers is a short 8-minute drive from Livingstone (LVI) and 2 minutes' walk from Livingstone Museum.

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

8.2/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

4-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Colin, 8-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Outstanding stay
Thank you Jollyboys for an amazing time in Livingstone. Sam, Lloyd and Moyo were always most helpful. Memory too was very kind and knowledgeable. Even though the country overall is struggling with load shedding, Jollyboys did a wonderful job with making sure we had electricity. The most that i can remember being without was 4 fours hours in the dorm but light was still available near and around the bar. The bar/restaurant has really good food (the chicken sandwiches with fries, the free veggie dinner and the french toast with eggs) and the portions were good. Be sure to speak with staff on arrival about interested activities because some bucket list items dont happen everyday (rafting/Chobe). I'd recommend Jollyboys over and over as a quality, clean and cost conscience accommodation in Livingstone. I did visit a competitor which was not bad, however it was not as nice as Jollyboy's.
3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Great thanks!
Cristina, 4-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Nice time
Our room was very nice - the beds were comfortable and the room was nicely decorated . The downside was that the bathroom door did not have a latch, so it would not stay closed. Also the bath mat was not very clean. The breakfast was good and we enjoyed our stay.
Pamela, 1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Jollyboys could do with more TLC
Jollyboys was the first hostel in Livingstone which I can appreciate. Pros: The staff were absolutely amazing, Moyo, Mallias, George to name a few. Those people are gems. Thank you to the staff for also arranging my activities and ensuring that I explored Livingstone. The restaurant had great food and a nice vibe during the day. Cons: The WiFi does not reach the rooms. I booked a private room and yet I could only use the WiFi when I was in the common areas, this was highly inconvenient. The bathrooms need help. Between the showers, and the actual toilets you could tell that it was all old and could do with a facelift. My overall stay at Jollyboys was okay.
Raesibe, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Very safe and quiet area. Good vibes. Clean and the workers were friendly and helpful all the time. Will come back.
Eurico, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Good price-quality ratio!
Very nice experience! Good location, clean rooms, nice territory, affordable prices, both - rooms and kitchen/bar. Price-quality ratio is high. You get quality for the price you pay here.
Khushnidjon, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

LUIZ F, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Jolly’s
Absolute bliss!! It’s my home away from home! The staff is amazing
Simon, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Understandable why Jollyboys is a back-to-back top hostel champ. Great staff. Chill space.
Kenneth, 4-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

CS, 1-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

2/10 Poor

Not worth it, best years have passed
I recommend to avoid this place. The hotel/hostel has passed its best years, now it is rusty and dirty place with typical slow service. We got a room with filthy, beaten-up mattresses, incorrectly placed mosquito nets which smell musty and are full of holes. Upon request of the room change we were offered an upgrade for 35$/night, without a receipt and update of hotels.com booking. The shared bathroom is disgusting, no soap provided (even at the shared toilets). The restaurant service was slow, offering nothing special. Avoid paying extra 8$ for a breakfast through hotels.com - the price only includes one dish from the menu where the most expensive one is 4,5$ and coffee is 1,5$. It’s just a rip off. They do not offer any compensation of unused breakfast or package in the morning before departure for activities (despite organised via the hotel).
Milan, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Kallie, 15-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Staff were very helpful with booking transfers and activities. Lots to do in the area
Michael, 2-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Very well run and nice amenities. A/C in the dorm was a huge plus. It’s a very social place, great for meeting other guests and locals. Staff is fantastic. You can’t help but enjoy it here.
Gary, 4-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

awesome stay
It was amazing , the receptionist has the best service. the outside showers need to be washed every now and then because they were dirty
Rirhandzu, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Excellent Stay
Really good stay. Great value for money. Brought the family which is not what one usually does with a hostel/backpackers type place, but it was great and I would do it again. Well run and managed by staff - very helpful all around. I will probably need to go back down to Livingstone again in December and will stay here again.
Mr M, 2-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

Michael, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

The staff here were amazing and always helpful with booking and suggestions. Loved the bar/restaurant in Jollyboys, made lazy days so easy
Samantha, 9-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

ms vivian, 3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

I really enjoy this hotel. And I will definitely stay there again one when I come back to Livingston. It is great for everyone, backpacker, families, solo travelers, nomads.
Verified Travelocity guest review

6/10 Good

Pros: 1. Walkable distance from the town centre. 2. Budget friendly 3. Easily accessible Cons: 1. Not very sanitary, the bathroom had hair on the walls in the shower stall. 2. Incorrectly listed rooms. The Ensuite is listed as having a flat screen TV and it turns out "all the ensuite rooms don't come with a TV."
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

We had a nice stay here. We had a private room and it was clean and quiet. It’s very cute in the main area of the hostel. The staff is very helpful in booking activities and calling taxis. They are helpful and nice. One thing is I feel that some of the prices for the activities is too high so instead of relying directly on the hostel, I would suggest calling other companies yourself and then booking the activity with a the place with the lowest price. Overall it is a great place and I would highly recommend.
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

We needed a two day stay mid travels. Ticked all our boxes , clean basic rooms , nice small pool for a dip and a bar. Safes in room for valuables. Would definitely use agsin.
Tracey, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review