Sondzela Backpackers

Malkerns · Swaziland

Sondzela Backpackers

HostelPunk Score
64% MEH
Medium confidence 67 reviews

Tags

Drip perks

🚲 Bicycle Hire

Facilities

🏊 Swimming Pool 🍳 Kitchen 👕 Laundry 🅿️ Parking 🔥 BBQ 🅿️ Free Parking 🌅 Outdoor Terrace ♿ Wheelchair Friendly 🍺 Bar
Other facilities (20)
Bicycle Parking Tours/Travel Desk Shuttle Bus Housekeeping Card Phones Reception (Limited Hours) Late Check-out Linen Included Towels Included Ceiling Fan Meals Available Mini-Supermarket Tea & Coffee Making Facilities Hot Showers Common Room Games Room Pool Table Foosball 24 Hour Security Safe Deposit Box

Prices

Dorms $13 / night
Privates $28 / night

HW prices from today

Recent reviews

Germany FEMALE Feb 23, 2026 Atm 100%

We just loved our stay! So relaxed and quiet, the Rondavel very cosy.

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England MALE Dec 26, 2025 Atm 60%

Nice backpackers in the middle of a nature reserve where you can walk around on your own. Some nice marked trails in the reserve. Very friendly and helpful staff. Kitchen had most things you will need to cook yourself. Swimming pool, pool, darts and table tennis available. Single beds in the dorms are comfy. Have stayed before and would stay again

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France COUPLE Nov 24, 2025 Atm 100%

Super endroit reculé, bungalows très bien agencé, bonne organisation pour la plongée. Par contre, quand c'est complet ça doit être moins bien.

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South Africa MALE Nov 3, 2025 Atm 80%

Its great to offer this backpacker service in Swaziland, where backpacker hostels are almost non-existent. The only critique is they lack 2-point plugs to charge your phone. There was only old-school 3 point plugs in my room, thus you need to bring a converter. The animals are separated from the accommodation by a fence. Outside the fence is Mlilwane Reserve. Great place to go for a run or to cycle between antelopes. The kitchen is available for guest's own meal prep if u bring food from town.

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England MALE 31-40 Oct 23, 2025 Atm 100%

Wonderful spot - I'm so glad I booked.

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Germany MIXEDGROUP Aug 19, 2025 Atm 100%

Sehr nettes und hilfsbereites Personal. Schöne entspannte Atmosphäre. Viele Aktivitäten mit tollen Guides. Die Rondavels im afrikanischen Stil haben uns gefallen. Sehr schöne Sitz-und Essensmöglichkeit am Lagerfeuer. Perfekt für alle Warthogfans! Eine schöne Aussicht auf das Tal.

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Switzerland FEMALE 31-40 Jul 31, 2025 Atm 60%

Not a good place to stay in winter. Rooms are cold and there is no heating. No room service (cleaning/making beds/filling up toilet paper or tea). Location would otherwise be great. I've been here in summer and it was a complete different experience.

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Japan FEMALE Jul 28, 2025 Atm 100%

2泊しましたがとても楽しく過ごせました。施設は公園内にありアクセス悪いですが、近くのタクシーランクまで無料送迎があります。ホステル近くには沢山の動物がいます。夜はホステル内外両方で火を焚いてくれるので暖かく過ごせました。 ドミトリーの部屋にはロッカーや鍵が無いのでセキュリティの面では不安がありましたが、私が泊まった時は1人だった為の...

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Spain MALE Jul 26, 2025 Atm 100%

Preciosa cabaña en encantador entorno . Cena alrededor de la hoguera. Un sueño

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South Africa FEMALE Jul 9, 2025 Atm 100%

We had a great stay. The rooms are lovely and very clean and spacious. (The private en-suite huts). The kitchen not so clean at main house. Lots of stuff broken. We enjoyed the staff, they so friendly , helpfull and very informative. Lucky the night guard, was so kind and is so proud of his job. If you want to know anything about the reserve, animals and the local culture he will assist you. Hopefuly we can visit someday in the future again.

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USA FEMALE Jul 4, 2025 Atm 100%

Super helpful and friendly. Great location (monkeys, warthogs, etc right outside your door), and wonderful hiking. Great breakfasts, and dinner. Definitely worth the trip. We’ll be going back!

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USA FEMALE 18-24 Jun 10, 2025 Atm 100%

Wonderful gem! So beautiful

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Brazil MALE May 20, 2025 Atm 100%

I stayed four nights at Sondzela and it was a very special experience. The hostel is located inside a sanctuary (Milwane) and you will be surrounded by nature, in a very calm, safe and peaceful place. The animals live freely, and you see them all day long, like on a self-safari. For those who, like me, like to explore and walk, you can easily access the main road and from there you can take local transport to explore other activities. Thanks to Mr. Valetine and the entire Sondzela team!

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England FEMALE May 8, 2025 Atm 80%

The hostel is in a beautiful setting and we saw so much wildlife just driving to the backpackers. We visited off season so it was very quiet but I imagine peak season there is more atmosphere. Some of the facilities are a little tired such as bathrooms and the kitchen (which wasn't as great but could be!). For the cost, offers good value. A nice hostel that could be excellent

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France COUPLE 25-30 Apr 14, 2025 Atm 100%

People are very welcoming. Thank you! It is a peaceful place!

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Belgium COUPLE Apr 12, 2025 Atm 100%

We couldn’t fault the place. We booked a private room and got an entire rondavel to ourselves. There was place for 3 instead of two. The hostel was in the park with only the sounds of animals. Sunrise and sunset were beautiful and uninterrupted. They cooked us fresh meals every night. And the meals were delicious. The staff were very friendly and polite. There was a shuttle to the main road. The shared facilities were clean. When I return I would certainly stay again.

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France MALE 31-40 Apr 4, 2025 Atm 100%

Great place, great staff!

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Netherlands COUPLE Apr 1, 2025 Atm 100%

a beautiful hostel in a beautiful nature park, where you can walk or cycle. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Clean room and good beds. Highly recommended to relax.

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France FEMALE 31-40 Mar 23, 2025 Atm 60%

Superbe environnement, cadre idyllique peuplé par singe, zèbre, phacochère, antilopes… Auberge très bien entretenue, espace commun, cuisine et piscine nettoyés tous les jours. Hutte confortable malgré odeur de terebenthine très présente. Accès compliqué, panneaux pas clairs, indications contradictoires (il fallait savoir que parce que le pont est hors d’usage l’entrée se fait uniquement par l’accès piéton à côté du magasin Vickery Seedlings). On regrette aussi l’accue...

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Portugal FEMALE Mar 8, 2025 Atm 100%

This place is amazing, quiet, great views, nice staff, inside the park so you see lot's of animals, but they need to improve the maintenance of facilities, the Fan on our firs room wasn't working and we could't close the door of the rondavel, we had to move to another room, and we couldn't use the pool because they had put chlorine. But we reccomend this place to stay for sure

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