Accommodation is one of the things that can make or break a trip. For me, staying at Jollyboys in Livingstone made a fantastic trip even better! If you’re looking for accommodation in Livingstone, this hostel has it all. Here is my full review!

Location: The location was ideal for exploring both Livingstone and Victoria Falls. Jollyboys was basically across the street from the Livingstone Museum, a 5-minute walk away from the big Spar supermarket on the main street, and around a 10-15 minute walk to the bus station. It’s around 15 minutes (by taxi) to the Victoria Falls entrance.

Room: My friend and I stayed in a private twin room for our 3-night stay. The room was basic but had air conditioning and plenty of space for our stuff. The beds were very comfortable, and had their own mosquito nets. In addition to private rooms, they also have small private lodges, dorms, and campsites (bring your own tent).

Price: I thought the price ($32 per person, per night) was pretty high—I’ve paid much less for private rooms in some parts of Europe. However, the services and amenities the hostel offered made it 100% worth the price: restaurant, bar, pool, and activity booking were all included.

Bathrooms: My private room was ensuite, so included its own toilet, sink, and shower. The shower was huge! While the bathrooms (both in my private room and the common bathrooms) weren’t necessarily the cleanest, they weren’t dirty and I have no complaints. The common bathrooms were always well stocked with toilet paper!

Staff: All of the staff, either at reception or at the restaurant, were friendly and very polite. They were particularly helpful in booking activities for my stay in Livingstone, including my microlight flight, the sunset (booze) cruise, and the game drive. The security staff were also kind enough to go and get a taxi for us on our early morning departure.

Common Areas: The hostel has a kitchen for guests to use, as well as plenty of seating around the pool and comfy chairs/couches across from reception. The restaurant/bar also has lots of seating, and offered loads of good food for very reasonable prices! I ate here quite a bit—my favorite was the tomato and basil pasta salad. The restaurant serves breakfast until 3:00pm, which I absolutely loved! They also sold beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, which was very convenient.

Amenities: Of course, the best part of this hostel was undoubtedly the pool! I spent most of my afternoons hanging out here, either relaxing or swimming. While there was wifi in the restaurant/bar area, it worked sporadically at best—I was able to access the internet only rarely. This was just about the only downside to the hostel. I got a free towel with my private room, and I believe they have free parking in their parking lot as well. They run a free shuttle to Victoria Falls everyday, so definitely sign up in advance instead of paying for a taxi!

Security: I felt incredibly safe here. There is a security guard at the gate 24/7, so only guests (or approved visitors) can enter the hostel premises. My room had a key lock, as well as a padlock for a little extra security. My room also had a safe, so I could store my valuables (passport and laptop) at all times.

Jollyboys is one of the coolest hostels I’ve ever stayed at—between the pool and the restaurant/bar, I never wanted to leave! I will definitely stay here again next time I pass through Livingstone.

You can check out the Jollyboys website for more information and reservations here.

Have you ever stayed at a great hostel? I’d love to know your recommendations!

I was not compensated in any way by this hostel—my opinions are always my own.