Shoestrings Backpackers Lodge

Shoestrings Backpackers Lodge is set on West Drive in Victoria Falls town, an easy walk from the falls entrance, the craft market, and the town's restaurants and bars, making it one of the most central budget bases in the area. The property is a converted house-style hostel built around a courtyard, with a relaxed, sociable backpacker atmosphere that has made it a long-standing fixture on the southern Africa overland route. Accommodation ranges from mixed and single-sex dorm beds to simple private rooms and a campsite for travelers with their own tents, all sharing communal bathroom blocks. There is no restaurant kitchen for guests to cook elaborate meals, but a shared self-catering kitchen and an on-site bar serving drinks and light meals keep costs down; the bar area is the social hub of the property, especially in the evenings. There is no spa, gym, or fine dining here, in keeping with its budget positioning, but the pool and courtyard bar are well used by guests cooling off between activities. Staff run a busy tour desk that books rafting, bungee jumping, sunset cruises, and transport to Zambia and Botswana, and the laundry service and free WiFi add practical convenience for longer-stay travelers passing through on a regional itinerary.