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Jollyboys Backpackers

3.0 star property
Travelers can rejuvenate with spa treatments near Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, enjoy made-to-order breakfasts, and relax in the garden or take a swim

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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.
VIP Access

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Free airport shuttle
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

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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)
  • Garden view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Twin Room, Ensuite

In-room safe, bed sheets

Twin Room, Ensuite

  • Garden view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Double Room, Shared Bathroom

In-room safe, bed sheets

Double Room, Shared Bathroom

  • Garden view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

In-room safe, bed sheets

Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

  • Garden view
  • 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

  • Garden view
  • 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

  • Garden view
  • 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)

  • Garden view
  • 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)
  • Garden view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Triple Room, Ensuite

In-room safe, bed sheets

Triple Room, Ensuite

  • Garden view
  • 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)
  • Garden view
  • 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

  • Garden view
  • 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)

  • Garden view
  • 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)

  • Garden view
  • 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)

  • Garden view
  • Sleeps 6
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Room, Multiple Beds

In-room safe, bed sheets

Room, Multiple Beds

  • Garden view
  • Sleeps 8
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

About the neighborhood

Located in Livingstone, Jollyboys Backpackers is in the city center and near the airport. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Devil's Pool, while Livingstone Museum and Railway Museum are cultural highlights. Victoria Falls Field Museum and Victoria Falls are two other places to visit that come recommended. Discover the area's wildlife on a nearby safari, or try your luck with game drives and game viewing. Visit our Livingstone travel guide
View more Hostels in Livingstone
Map
34 Kanyanta Road, Livingstone

What's nearby

  • A great way to get introduced to the Zambezi river and it's wildlife. We got really close to a lot of hippos and crocs. The boat offers a full bar so sit back with a cocktail and enjoy the beauty Africa has to offer.
    Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
    4 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Livingstone Museum
    1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Mukuni Park Curio Market
    9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Railway Museum
    2 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Devil's Pool
    12 min drive - 13.7 km

Getting around

  • Livingstone (LVI)
    8 min drive

Restaurants

  • Shungu Pool Terrace
    10 min drive
  • The Boma
    16 min drive
  • Victoria Falls Waterfront
    8 min drive
  • The Lookout Café
    13 min drive
  • The Three Monkeys
    11 min drive

About this property

Jollyboys Backpackers

Hostel near Livingstone Museum
Located close to Railway Museum, Jollyboys Backpackers provides free airport pick-up, a terrace, and a garden. Treat yourself to spa services, such as a 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 a TV in the lobby
  • A front-desk safe, barbecue grills, 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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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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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?

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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Reviews

Jollyboys Backpackers Reviews

8.6

Excellent

8.4

Cleanliness

8.6

Location

9.0

Staff & service

8.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 92 out of 183 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 63 out of 183 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 20 out of 183 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 183 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 183 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emily

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I loved my time at Jollyboys, everyone was so friendly and helpful, the food was amazing and the room was spacious, clean and comfy. I'll definitely be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

JAIME

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hostel is well run and private rooms at the back are good.The reception staff were efficient and friendly. The bar staff will be extra nice to female guests and extra grumpy with males. Food was generally good.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

6/10 Okay

Mei Fang

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Comfortable stay

Cheap beer at the bar and air-conditioned room was nice except for mosquitoes. Gardener and housekeepers were more friendly than bar n reception staff. Overall, we had a good rest after long camping trip through Africa. The hotels.com booking said one way transfer is free. But, only pick up is free, drop off is USD 5 per person. The listing info is wrong and hotels.om agent didn't care to honour the service. As a long term customer of hotels.com , I was really disappointed.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were very helpful with booking transfers and activities. Lots to do in the area
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Simon

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

Jolly’s

Absolute bliss!! It’s my home away from home! The staff is amazing
Stayed 1 night in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Simon

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

Jolly’s

Absolute bliss!! It’s my home away from home! The staff is amazing
Stayed 1 night in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Understandable why Jollyboys is a back-to-back top hostel champ. Great staff. Chill space.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Eurico

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very safe and quiet area. Good vibes. Clean and the workers were friendly and helpful all the time. Will come back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gary

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mr M

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

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Rirhandzu

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

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
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

6/10 Okay

Raesibe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

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