The Lions Guesthouse

Moises was the bright spot. He was around at the house and helped keep things running. The accommodation itself had potential, but the owner wasn't on site and didn't respond to our requests. We found homeless people outside the entrance each morning, and parts of the house weren't clean, including the fridge; there were also rats in the garden. For a six-person shared flat, there weren't enough kitchen items. We raised it, the owner promised to buy more, but nothing arrived, so I bought some myself. We also only found out about paid laundry and cleaning when leaving, and getting the deposit back was a struggle. The owner made plenty of promises and kept very few. It felt like money mattered more than people.

The room was listed for €450 on a South African website, while I paid €780 per month for the exact same room. I felt the owner was charging French or European tourists almost twice as much, which seemed dishonest and unfair. During my five weeks there, the owner also took over three weeks to return the security deposit and barely answered my calls or messages. We found rats in the house near the end of the stay, and were asked to pay laundry fees that hadn't been mentioned in advance. Homeless people often stayed right outside, which made safety a serious concern for the price. There was too little honesty, clarity, and security here. I strongly advise against booking.

The staff helped us set up day trips and adventures, and they even got on the phone with the airlines when my luggage went missing on the way to Cape Town. They helped get my bags back before I headed off on safari. That kind of care made the trip, and I felt welcome from the moment we arrived. Our room was just right, the staff were wonderful, and breakfast was a delight. I stayed at the lions guest house about a year ago and meant to write this sooner. We made lovely friends there too, and I still keep in touch with them. One of the best places I've stayed while traveling, and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting cape town.

The breakfast was amazing, and the hosts were so kind and helpful. It's a lovely base for paragliding, climbing, or just spending time in the city. The place is close to Kloof Street, with its lively night scene and lots of nice bars. Hope I can come back soon, it's a must try!