Gibela Travellers Lodge

we're two families on a three-week trip to south africa, three adults and four children. Not only is this accommodation extremely well located and the rooms very clean, but Elmar is also very kind and available to his guests. We would be delighted to recommend it!

Had a fantastic 3-night stay at Gibela. It was very quiet, which was exactly what I wanted but the was close to Florida Road so if I wanted to enjoy the nightlife I could. It's also very short walk to a supermarket and laundromat, so I got everything done without needing to go very far.||I wish I had known before that the wifi there is not unlimited (400MB/night) but I found it to be enough for me if I didn't stream anything. Plus Starbucks, with all the free WiFi you could need, is only a quick walk away.||Very helpful staff and a fun cuiro shop. Breakfast was also great!||Definitely stay at Gibela if you're looking for a quiet and clean hostel with a central location! Definitely would recommend!

Thank you for the nice time in your hostel. The pool was our highlight. The site and the breakfast were great. At our next time in Durban we will choose Gibela Backpackers Lodge again. The rooms and the Bathrooms were very clean.

TLDR Version: safe, clean, close to local events and amenities. Although a little more expensive than your average backpackers, Gibela also offers more. It is obviously well maintained, and has a lovely air to it. The units are clean and there is a pool available (ESSENTIAL in Durban summers). Its central location means you can walk to most tourist attractions in Durban, or even down the road for a drink or bite to eat. A large driveway offers safe parking for those who are passing through.

Giving 5 stars - not because of the rooms which have comfortable beds and are clean, also not because of the quiet ambience and the laid back atmosphere. Because of the owner Elmar who is really extremely helpful! He'll provide you a good package of knowledge about the area and helps you with bookings and other information. +++ Elmar + laid back and quiet + super central to Florida road - an area packed with restaurants and bars and considered as a safe area + swimming pool and good "continental" breakfast + nicely decorated lobby + fully equipped kitchen area - fans in the rooms are old and make some unpleasant noise. - wouldn't mind having mosquito screens at the windows or mosquito nets for the beds - It's a bit pricy for a backpackers - however you are really in an beautiful place..

Well... Gibela Lodge. Our bus arrived at Durban station on Friday morning at 5am and we were at the lodge by 10. The owner Elmar refused to let us check in before 4... But he did allow us to iron, change and brush our teeth in the toilet at reception even though the was nobody occupying the rooms. Lungi was very helpful and nice during our stay and the other guy...forgot his name who's helping at reception went out of his way to help us with everything we needed. What amazed me is that de following morning we were woken by a group of American students who were allowed to check in before 4 o' clock. They showered and they we were all over the unpacking and checking out the place by 10 in the morning... Was is racism? Am not sure... Thanks Lungi and the guy at reception for making our stay pleasant... Not sure if I'll go to Gibela next time am in Durban ||Elizabeth Keele

Had a very relaxing time at Gibelas, we had our room upgraded for free as it wasn’t very busy which was lovely. It’s in a good location, walking distance of most things you want. The owner was very helpful with all our needs and the hostel was in very good order. Not party central but nice to unwind

Very clean and nice looking place with lots of attention paid to details. The location is good too. Very quiet (too quiet) when I stayed there. Disadvantage is that the older man that works there, is not always available, which can be quite inconvenient if you need something. One time I was supposed to talk to him at 20:00 but he was not there. I could not reach him, even though I tried calling by phone and rining the door bell. After about 15 minutes I found him snoring in a dark corner of the couch. He seemed a bit tipsy and was not very able to help me. If you are staying by yourself and depend on help or things being organised, this may not be the right place for you.