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Jollyboys Backpackers

3.0 star property
Suburban hostel with spa services and an outdoor pool

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Jollyboys Backpackers

Outdoor pool
In-room safe, bed sheets
Bar (on property)
Lobby lounge
Property entrance
Jollyboys Backpackers provides a peaceful getaway with practical amenities for travelers seeking comfort. Guests can book massages and manicures, cool off in the outdoor pool, and use free WiFi in common areas while enjoying the garden setting.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Spa
  • Bar
  • Free airport shuttle
  • Breakfast available
  • Kitchen
  • Pool

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 15 of 15 rooms

View all photos for Double Room, Ensuite

In-room safe, bed sheets

Double Room, Ensuite

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)

Highlights

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

View all photos for Twin Room, Ensuite

In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Double Room, Shared Bathroom

In-room safe, bed sheets

Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

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

View all photos for Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

In-room safe, bed sheets

Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

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

View all photos for Triple Room, Shared Bathroom

Triple Room, Shared Bathroom | In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Quadruple Room, Ensuite

In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm, Shared Bathroom (8 Bed Dormitory)

In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Single Room Ensuite

In-room safe, bed sheets

Single Room Ensuite

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

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

View all photos for Triple Room, Ensuite

In-room safe, bed sheets

Triple Room, Ensuite

Highlights

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

View all photos for Single Shared Bathroom

In-room safe, bed sheets

Single Shared Bathroom

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

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

View all photos for Shared Dormitory, Women only

In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Room, Multiple Beds (9 Bed Private Dorm)

In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Room (7 Bed Private Dorm)

In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Room (6 Bed Private Dorm)

In-room safe, bed sheets

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

View all photos for Room, Multiple Beds

In-room safe, bed sheets

Room, Multiple Beds

Highlights

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

About the neighborhood

Map
34 Kanyanta Road, Livingstone

What's nearby

  • Livingstone Museum - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
  • Mukuni Park Curio Market - 9 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park - 5 min drive - 2.6 miles
  • Victoria Falls Field Museum - 10 min drive - 7.4 miles
  • Devil's Pool - 12 min drive - 8.6 miles

Getting around

  • Livingstone (LVI) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shungu Pool Terrace - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Old Drift - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Boma - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Lookout Café - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Victoria Falls Waterfront - ‬8 min drive

About this property

Jollyboys Backpackers

Hostel near Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
Located close to Livingstone Museum and Railway Museum, Jollyboys Backpackers provides free airport pick-up, a terrace, and a garden. Treat yourself to spa services, such as a deep-tissue massage or a manicure/pedicure. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Stay connected with free WiFi in public areas, and guests can find other amenities such as dry cleaning/laundry services and a bar.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • An outdoor pool
  • Free self parking
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast (surcharge), an area shuttle, and luggage storage
  • A water dispenser, a front-desk safe, and an elevator
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at Jollyboys Backpackers offer amenities such as safes.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Communal kitchens, ceiling fans, and daily housekeeping

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  • Spa
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
8.4 out of 10, Very Good, 270 reviews
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour free airport pick-up shuttle on request
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily cooked-to-order breakfast available 6:30 AM to noon for a fee: USD 5 to 8 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Books
  • Outdoor pool
  • Table tennis
  • TV in common areas

Conveniences

  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Shared refrigerator
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace

Spa

  • 2 treatment rooms
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Deep-tissue massages
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Swedish massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Single sofa bed

Bathroom

  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Shared kitchen access

More

  • Ceiling fan
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

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

Check-out before 10 AM

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

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children 9 and younger are not allowed at this property; All guests older than 9 are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately USD 5 to 8 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Long-term renters welcome
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Children 9 years old and younger are not permitted at this property

Property is 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 have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Jollyboys Backpackers pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Jollyboys Backpackers?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Jollyboys Backpackers?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 8 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Jollyboys Backpackers?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Does Jollyboys Backpackers provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel that runs on request.

Where is Jollyboys Backpackers located?

Located in the heart of Livingstone, this hostel is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Livingstone Museum and within 3 mi (5 km) of Railway Museum and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Victoria Falls Field Museum and Devil's Pool are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Jollyboys Backpackers Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 90 out of 178 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 61 out of 178 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 19 out of 178 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 178 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 178 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Jolly Boys is the best in Livingstone for a hostile.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I stayed in a room with on suit, which was well equipped and had every thing one would need. Place had a good chilled vibe with offering for get togethers in the evening which is ideal for solo travels. Staff friendly.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Esther

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The place was amazing I travelled solo and was worri
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great feel about place and very helpful staff
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Khushnidjon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

Overpriced

The place is okay but not worth the money. The common areas are nice and have lot of areas to relax. However, over 50USD per night is too pricey for a room without wifi. The communal kitchen is lacking equipment and only has one portable stove. The whole place could need some freshening up. The activities they offer are overpriced.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Pamela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

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.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Alli

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was clean and air-condition were nice. Food was good. Staff were friendly. Pool were nice and clean. There was own kitchen for guests, it was really good and handy. Because of covernment the power was off for 8hours per day. There wasnt ability to pay with card, only with cash.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Tamika

Liked: Staff & service
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."

8/10 Good

Jia Dan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The hostel was fine and the single room with AC is quite nice for Africa. There’s widespread power shortage and the hotel has backup generators to make up for it. Internet is from starlink so it’s pretty fast. The downside is they’re cash and crypto only for the restaurant, bar, and travel. The ATMs are quite far and having to withdrawal 100s of USD worth of money just to pay for an activity is super annoying. The restaurant food is mediocre and kind of expensive for what it is but there’s really nothing else around in town. The transport they offer is significantly more than what you’d get off the street but at least they are very timely and responsive. The tour prices are a bit higher and you’re better off booking some of those online through other operators, especially if you don’t have cash. In Zambia it’s about $8-10 USD per ATM withdrawal so things do add up. Lastly, Zimbabwe side seems to have more bars, restaurants, and a more lively atmosphere than Livingstone but Zambia side has more activities like rafting and rhino trek so it’s better to split your time between both sides.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sakura

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
深夜のタクシーも呼んでもらえるし、デビルズプールも公式と同じ価格で予約できます。スタッフはみんな優しくて、親切です。
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lucy

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I first stayed at Jollyboys 20 years ago when I was part of an overland truck trip. This time I brought my husband and children and will most definitely be back again, hopefully in less than another 20 years! The staff are so helpful, the rooms are very clean and comfortable and we had an amazing 4 days here.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Didier

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Très sympa
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pawel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay with interesting company

Great time, delicious breakfasts, I loved the relax zone.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Wojciech

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Good stay in nice place

The staff was very friendly, rooms and infrastructure were clean. Place with good style. Only drawback was that we had to wait around hour for breakfast. It is a safe place that I can recommend to everyone.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Selma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Skön atmosfär

Ett ställe med skön atmosfär. Här finns allt du behöver för att koppla av eller ta dig till nya äventyr.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

YONGHO

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

no breakfast service

When I made the reservation, it said breakfast was included, but when I asked the reception, they said there was no breakfast service. How will Hotels.COM be responsible for this? I was disappointed that.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Matt

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was not good for my family. The room’s door had cracks allowing bugs in and the concrete floor was in very poor condition. They refused to give us a refund despite the fact we were there for 30 minutes before leaving to a better location.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mercy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

We had lots of fun at JollyBoys

I had an absolute blast at JollyBoys. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making us feel right at home. The atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed, with a wonderful vibe that's hard to find elsewhere. The highlight of our stay was definitely the paint and sip session with Eric Miti, what a fantastic experience. The reception staff and entire team were amazing, going above and beyond to ensure our stay was memorable. I wouldn't hesitate to return to JollyBoys. If you're looking for a warm, lively, and unforgettable experience, look no further! Highly recommended,
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

4/10 Poor

Sampsa

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

It partly ruined my trip to Zambia

I can't recommend it. On the next day after our arrival, our room was visited twice on the same day without permission when we were out of the room. They left the lock open after their visit. A hundred dollars was stolen from my wallet - not all of the money, just some. So was it someone from the staff? 100 dollars is a big money and stealing is disgusting. The manager offered us a room upgrade and free breakfast as compensation. I can appreciate that but how do you compensate the feeling of safety we lost on our first day after arrival? We thought you as our friends, not enemies. But a friend doesn't steal from you so the rest of the visit I felt like being with enemies. I'm surprised no one else has reported about the stealing and the reviews are so good? This made me so sad and affected my view of the whole Zambia and Livingstone. Pros: - nice pool area - the bar has both food and drinks with good prices - it was mango season, free delicious mangos everywhere - we were offered some compensation after the theft - free airport and falls shuttle Cons: - not safe, they can break in your room and steal your stuff - we got a lot of tickly bites on our bodies, I think it's because of bed bugs - spiders, lizards and mosquitos in rooms because the doors have holes etc. - the power sockets were not working in the room we got upgraded to, they promised to fix it but no one did nothing - not actually "we love you" kind of happy customer service. Do they have that in this country?
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Javier

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

The best Hostel in Zambia

The service of the hostel was excellent, I am very hoary to choose stay with them, everything clean, nice rooms, they have a lot of options, for couples, friends, backpackers, families, has everything, if you want party, if you want relax, any plan they have. The staff sooooo friendly, RUTH!!! was amazing she helped us with some requirements, The atmosphere is so nice, we were sad to don't stay longer because deserves stay minimum 5 days, and also because they have a lot of activities!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Keri

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great if you’re a backpacker. Facilities are very good for that type of tourist to be fair. We however are not backpackers - we booked an en suite room out of desperation because we left it too late to book and are on a budget. Never again. We didn’t expect the Ritz but stained sheets and tide marks where the cleaner didn’t clean surfaces thoroughly are not my idea of good accommodation. The one good thing was that the air con was fab and they were generous with their generator hours during load shedding. Oh, and the guard waa very helpful when we needed help with a puncture!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We love Jollyboys!
Stayed 11 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

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