Elephant Trail Backpackers

Kasane · Botswana

Elephant Trail Backpackers

HostelPunk Score
50% SHIT
Low confidence 20 reviews
Best in Kasane Best in Botswana
No bed bug reports in 809 analyzed reviews
No incentivized-review patterns detected in 809 analyzed reviews

Tags

Facilities

🏊 Swimming Pool 🍳 COOKER 👕 Laundry 🅿️ Parking 🔥 BBQ 🅿️ Free Parking 🌅 Outdoor Terrace 🌿 Garden 🍺 Bar ☕ Cafe 🍳 Breakfast
Other facilities (17)
Airport Transfers Luggage Storage 24 Hour Reception Tours/Travel Desk Housekeeping Wi-Fi Restaurant Meals Available Linen Included Air Conditioning Towels Included Reading Light Common Room Free WiFi Free Luggage Storage Hot Showers 24 Hour Security

Prices

Dorms $15 / night
Privates $31 - $48 / night

HW prices from today

Worst reviews

Poland Solo traveler Feb 22, 2026 1.0/10

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Botswana Solo traveler Jan 8, 2026 1.0/10

- They should advise customers that the room is a cave and put measurements so people make informed decisions. A refund would really be appreciated as the booking was not used.

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Botswana Solo traveler Jan 8, 2026 1.0/10

- They should advise customers that the room is a cave and put measurements so people make informed decisions. A refund would really be appreciated as the booking was not used.

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Botswana Family Jan 6, 2026 1.0/10

+ The staff was lying on everything. Extremely dissatisfied with staff and service.

- No prompt action was taken on request. They were not prepared to receive us. The rooms were not ready. Very claustrophobic rooms.

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Zambia Couple Dec 30, 2025 1.0/10

+ Bad room and beds- way too small for my husband and I. Location of ablutions also bad as waking up for a pee at midnight and 04am was dramatic Poor ventilation and lighting in the room

- Work on improving those rooms near the gate….they’re horrible

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Germany Family Oct 15, 2025 1.0/10

+ It was clean, we could book tours, the pool

- We stayed in one of the small 'caves' near the entrance. During our stay, there was a construction site two metres in front of us. Initially, we wanted to rest in our room, but the fan wasn't working, so it was too hot. Thankfully, they fixed it in time for nightfall, but then the electricity went off due to the construction site. This meant that we couldn't use the fan to cool the room. Thankfully, they found a solution to this later. I was very surprised by the kitchen. There was hardly any equipment. When we cooked dinner there were no forks, chopping boards or sharp knives, so we just did our best, but it seemed like they didn't care about the kitchen, so we just bought our own stuff. We've stayed in many backpacker places before and normally you can use oil and other items that other travellers have left behind or that the hostel provides. But when we asked for salt, they said we had to go to their private kitchen, ask for it and pay for it. No wonder everyone else got takeaways! On the second evening, after dinner, we wanted to read in our room. However, the generator went off and it got too hot, so we had to sit outside until it was fixed. Overall, there were always some minor issues. When we asked nicely for a small discount when checking out, the lady got angry and accused us of trying to travel around Africa without paying for anything. She also said that we weren't in the room when the electricity went off, so we weren't allowed to complain. I wonder how we could have noticed that our room had no electricity then. I don't know what happened to the possibility of having a nice conversation. Perhaps they often have this kind of problem and take offence easily. We just left. I wouldn't recommend it if you want to cook or relax in your room. I guess it's okay if you just sleep there, order takeaways, and aren't staying next to the construction site.

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Germany Couple Jul 1, 2025 1.0/10

+ Some of the staff members are very friendly. Food is good.

- Houses are very dirty, cold and the owners don’t care for the safety of the people. Would not recommend.

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Namibia Couple Dec 24, 2024 1.0/10

+ Nothing at all

- Where do I even start. This place was horrible. The advertised pictures are not anywhere near what I witnessed. Apparently it’s cave with no AC, lots of mosquitoes and a very old fan. The bedding looks so untidy and really sleeping there would have been a disaster, we ended up booking another place. #Shoutout to global guest house

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South Africa Group Nov 8, 2024 1.0/10

+ The outside area is nice

- The beds were very uncomfortable, hard uncomfortable mattresses and the bases were a different size so the mattress were hanging over them, I also found one of the workers in my room and my money was missing out of my bag. He didn’t have any permission to be in my room and manager was really not cool about it.

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India Group Jun 21, 2024 1.0/10

+ The pets (dog Rambo) is super cute

- The staff/owner is very rude

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Recent reviews

Spain Solo traveler May 15, 2026 10.0/10

+ El trato del personal, Chedu la chica de respecto muy linda persona, los chicos de cocina en general todos son muy amables, los guías de los safaris muy atentos, fue una experiencia espectacular.

- No recuerdo nada que fuera mal.

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Germany Solo traveler May 11, 2026 9.0/10

+ Organisierte Touren, faire Preise, tolle Anlage

- Ameisen im Kochgeschirr

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Japan Couple May 10, 2026 10.0/10

+ スタッフの方が親切でした 現地通貨 プラを使わずクレジットカード使えました 6時間のゲームサファリと3時間のボート サファリでゾーにライオンにカバにワニ と たくさん見ることができました

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China Couple May 10, 2026 10.0/10

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France Couple May 10, 2026 8.0/10

+ Super séjour à Éléphant Backpackers Merci à Chedu pour son accueil chaleureux et sa disponibilité tout au long des 3 jours où nous sommes restés, le meilleur que nous ayons eu au Botswana ! L’organisation des tours et excursions était parfaite Chambre avec sdb privée, clim et petit frigo,simple mais parfaitement fonctionnelle Cuisine commune propre et assez grande pour tout le monde

- Rien !

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Japan Group May 10, 2026 10.0/10

+ •The staff member, Chedu, was very cheerful, friendly, and kind. •The shower had good water pressure and temperature. •The hotel grounds were beautifully maintained and very comfortable. •The meals were delicious and the portions were generous.

- •The room facilities were quite basic (for example, there was no hair dryer). •Since the supermarket was far away, it would have been nice if light meals or snacks had been sold at the reception desk.

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Namibia Family May 9, 2026 8.0/10

+ A very charming and beautiful place tucked away in Kasane, our room was simple yet comfortable. The staff is very helpful and friendly. We had a wonderful, quiet and stay, highly recommend for budget travel.

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Germany Couple May 8, 2026 9.0/10

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India Solo traveler May 6, 2026 10.0/10

+ Food and reception staff behaviour

- Locking the room is difficult

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South Africa Solo traveler May 6, 2026 8.0/10

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United States Solo traveler May 5, 2026 10.0/10

+ Everything except that not enough other people signed up to go on a tour with me so I had to go with another company

- AC was toooo chilly

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Australia Couple May 2, 2026 9.0/10

+ Great place … range of accommodation options. Super friendly staff. Well maintained gardens in pleasant swimming pool.beautifully lighted up in evenings.

- Self catering kitchen doesn’t have enough , pots plates and pans …fridge is dirty inside

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Botswana Solo traveler May 2, 2026 9.0/10

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Germany Solo traveler May 1, 2026 8.0/10

+ Gestaltung der Anlage, große Küche mit gratis Kaffe und Tee, beleuchteter Pool, sehr zuvorkommendes Personal, Angebot Mahlzeiten und Aktivitäten

- Einrichtung Schlafsaal

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France Solo traveler Apr 30, 2026 9.0/10

+ Accueil chaleureux (Mention spéciale à Masha) - Chambre et salle de bain assez spacieuses Lieux communs propres et bien aménagés

- manque de luminosité naturelle dans la chambre - problème d’isolation phonique

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France Solo traveler Apr 29, 2026 9.0/10

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South Africa Solo traveler Apr 27, 2026 9.0/10

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Japan Solo traveler Apr 24, 2026 9.0/10

+ スタッフが親切。シャワー、WiFi、キッチン、ツアー、全てが良かった。

- 特になし。

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France Solo traveler Apr 22, 2026 9.0/10

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Ireland Couple Apr 21, 2026 8.0/10

+ Really cute set up, so many trees and it really feels like it fits in the area. Comfy bed in the private room. The staff is the best part of this place - special thanks to Masha and Tafanana and everyone else who helped arrange great activities (at the most affordable prices). We also really enjoyed the guide Chief and the driver Ali (who even showed us hippos on one of the drives back from dinner).