Jabulani Backpackers Hostels

+ They canceled my reservation even though I booked one month ago, and notified about this cancellation on the same day I am going to stay.

+ Nothing the owner lady is very arrogant

- She is so disrespectful

- Very Disappointed I had a very disappointing experience with Jabulani Hostel. The place is not clean, and the shower, faucets, and water heating system have problems. The bathroom door upstairs couldn’t be locked, and the bathroom and toilet on the ground floor were shared. The host also gave me wrong information about my bus booking with DreamLine. She told me it was necessary to reserve in advance, so I booked and paid through her. But when I arrived at the station, they said I could have easily bought the ticket there — no reservation was needed. I wasted the whole day waiting and had to travel at night because of this misinformation. She also told me that taking the bus was easier than the train, but the company she recommended — DreamLine — was terrible. I booked a VIP seat for 7:30 p.m., but the bus was delayed and didn’t leave until 11 p.m. Even though there was a 9 p.m. bus with single VIP seats available, they didn’t let me board and made me wait until late at night. She recommended this terrible company because they work together, and the company’s poster is even displayed on the hostel wall. In addition, the price for the Nairobi National Park tour suddenly increased after I confirmed and paid, which was very unprofessional. I was a guest in their country and expected honesty and proper communication, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I’ve learned not to trust every recommendation — especially when someone benefits from it. I truly don’t recommend booking tours or transportation through this hostel.

- Do NOT Stay at Jabulani Hostel - Stolen Money and Unsafe Conditions My stay at Jabulani Hostel in Nairobi from August 12-15, 2025, was a complete nightmare. I chose this hostel based on its high ratings, believing it to be a safe place to stay, but I was gravely mistaken. During my safari trip, I left my backpack in a supposedly secure locker. The lockers are made of flimsy wood and are easily accessible from other locker rooms, as the wooden partitions are not properly fixed. My locker was locked, yet someone managed to steal $800 in cash from my bag. The staff's behavior was highly suspicious. I was the only person whose bed was cleaned, which immediately raised my suspicions. When I reported the theft and asked to see the security camera footage, they initially claimed to have checked it and found nothing suspicious. However, when I insisted on viewing the footage with them, they suddenly claimed the camera in the hallway was not working. Their unprofessionalism escalated when they started laughing when I told them I would report the incident to the police. This experience was a shocking and deeply disappointing one. Having traveled to over 41 countries, I have never encountered such blatant disregard for guest safety and well-being. It is outrageous to think you are staying in a top-rated, safe place only to have your belongings stolen and be met with laughter and lies from the staff. I know I will not get my money back, but I feel it is my duty to warn other travelers. Jabulani Hostel is not a safe place to stay, and you should be extremely cautious and vigilant with your belongings if you choose to stay there. Their so-called "security" is a joke, and their staff cannot be trusted. Stay away from Jabulani Hostel if you value your safety and possessions.

+ The cancellation policy is worst

- Had to wait for 3 hours to check-in it was already 10am

+ The staff are very friendly and welcoming

- Work on providing lockers padlock for guests.

+ Location, general vibe, wifi

- The facilities are a bit old, but it's generally great. Great value for money!

+ Die Lage hat mir sehr gut gefallen.

- Leider steht das Hostel an einer sehr lauten Strasse.

+ It’s a correct hostel, they also have private rooms which are better for me who likes privacy, the staff is friendly, WiFi good and the place is clean. Breakfast is basic but enough for the price.

- Location could be a little bit better, the road is kinda sketchy specifically after sunset

+ Susan var så hjälpsam, och om man reser ensam i Nairobi: Jabulani! - Bonus: ligger i Westland (bra/tryggare område) och är definitivt prisvärt. Susan was helpful, and if you travel alone, or want to get to know new people: Jabulani! - Bonus: it's at Westland and definitely worth the price.

- Mitt skåp var trasigt, annars var det inget att klaga på

+ The ambience was homely and I got to make new friends