Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge

Arriving at Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge was exactly the kind of peace and warmth we needed. A heartfelt thank you to the manager, Tshengi, for the genuine kindness shown to us from the moment we arrived.

Your generosity and hospitality will never be forgotten. There's something truly special about Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge.

It has a welcoming atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. The peaceful surroundings, comfortable room, and convenient self-catering kitchen made it feel less like an overnight stop and more like a place where we could truly rest, recharge, and catch our breath.

It's those thoughtful touches that turn a place to stay into a place you'll always remember. Thank you Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge.

We were hesitant because of negative reviews but decided to give it a shot as this place was recommended through word of mouth.

Honestly, it was perfect. Our room was cleaned everyday and spotless when we arrived, kitchen was equipped and clean. It’s in a beautiful location with a huge garden and views of mountains, very well kept grounds. Great communal area with bar, pool table, lots of space to hang.

Location great, a million hikes to get to if you have car.

Staff - all staff were very friendly and super helpful. Particular shout-out to Muzi the guide who took us on the Tugela Falls hike. He was super friendly, very knowledgeable and a great person to hike with. Strongly recommend him for tours.

We loved our stay and recommend this place to everyone.

We paid 920 per room (we booked two rooms), expecting a decent and enjoyable stay. Unfortunately, it turned into one of the most terrifying experiences we have ever had.

While we were visiting friends, we received a call informing us that there was extremely loud music at the lodge and people fighting near the rooms. When we returned, we went to our separate rooms, hoping things would settle down. Instead, the situation only got worse.

Late that night, well after 10:00 p.m., a man wanted to enter one of our rooms to "fix the shower battery." As three women travelling alone, we did not feel comfortable allowing someone into our room at that hour, so we refused entry.

Because we already felt unsafe, we struggled to sleep and took turns staying awake to keep watch. During the night, one of our friends, who was awake, was assaulted by an intoxicated staff member and struck in the face. She immediately woke the rest of us to tell us what had happened. To make matters worse, the door to our room could not lock properly, so we had to barricade ourselves inside.

We were so frightened that we decided to leave the lodge at 1:30 a.m. and drive the five hours back home rather than spend another minute there. No guest should ever feel that leaving in the middle of the night is the safest option.

I have never experienced anything like this before. If you value your safety and peace of mind, I cannot recommend staying here. We genuinely feared for our lives, and I sincerely hope the management takes immediate action to address the safety and security of future guests.

We just left this hostel with a heavy heart. The location is perfect if you’re interested in hiking the northern Drakensberg, if so, please ask the front desk for Muzi’s contact to hike Sentinel Peak/Tugella Falls.

The rooms are perfectly clean, the staff very friendly and helpful and the views from the garden are incredible.

I highly recommend!

The room was very clean and the staff was very helpful.
It is a good place to go hiking.
The property is huge and in a beautiful place