Victoria Falls · Zimbabwe
Shoestrings Backpackers
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Google Maps
My stay here was a number of years ago but it left a lot to be desired. I was told prior to arrival that my visa credit and debit cards would work here..turns out that was not the case so I had to spend three days living on minimal cash - ended up eating bread and peanut butter I bought at a local shop. Interestingly enough their processing system was able to take my cards for bookings through them though. I stayed in a dorm which comfort level and space was fine, but ended up getting bedbugs, and I mean all over my entire body. I looked like a pepperoni pizza. The manager at the time told me it wasn't bed bugs, but still did upgrade me to a private room which was nice. However, he continued to say it was definitely not bedbugs so they didn't clean out the mattresses, didn't offer service to have my clothing washed, and immediately moved someone else into the bed I was using. It was in fact bedbugs.
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Possible Booking.com
Ich war im 6-Bett Zimmer - das war etwas enttäuschend, denn die Matratze ist komplett durchgelegen, es ist unglaublich klein, man kann nicht zusperren, das heisst das Zimmer ist immr offen und ich hatte Bettwanzenbisse an den Füssen. Auch die Sofas und das Bad ist alles etwas heruntergekommen.
HostelPunk native reviews
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Vibe Analysis
The Friday and Saturday bar scene is the defining feature at Shoestrings Backpackers: DJ nights, dancing, and very loud music that can run past 1am, and in harsher cases much later. This can make the place feel festive and social, but it can also make sleep basically impossible in rooms and tents close to the action. The location is the main practical win. It is walkable to Victoria Falls, the town center, shops, restaurants, activity offices, and the half-marathon start. The hostel has a pool, bar, snack or restaurant setup, outdoor space, drinking water, and staff who can be friendly and helpful with rooms, taxis, and activities. Accommodation is basic and uneven. Tents can be clean and comfortable, private rooms may have decent beds, hot showers, daily cleaning, and working Wi-Fi, but dorms and older rooms can feel cramped, hot, worn, and poorly maintained. Mosquito nets, mattresses, doors, bathrooms, fans, and water pressure may be a gamble. This is better as a cheap-and-social Victoria Falls base than as a restful hostel. It suits travelers who want a pool-and-bar hangout and can handle noise, rough edges, and a party-heavy setup. It is a bad match for light sleepers, families, couples wanting calm, or anyone expecting a kitchen-forward backpacker setup.
Signals to check
- Weekend music can be extremely loud until late, with rooms and tents sometimes vibrating from the bass.
- There is no shared kitchen, kettle, microwave, or food-storage setup, and outside food or drink may be restricted.
- Cleanliness and maintenance are inconsistent, with recurring issues around insects, bathrooms, bedding, mosquito nets, and worn rooms.
- Food, drinks, laundry, taxis, activities, and card payments can feel expensive; card payments may add a 3% fee.
- One serious card-security complaint involved attempted transactions after a wallet was left in a locked private room, so cards and valuables need extra care.