Fairy Knowe Backpackers

Fairy Knowe could be such a lovely place to stay. It’s comfortable, the setting is beautiful, there’s plenty to do nearby, and it’s a laid-back option compared with some of the more party-focused hostels along the Garden Route. I know living in a wild area can mean sharing the surroundings with animals, and staff may not be able to get rid of every rat. Still, guests should be warned, and there needs to be a secure place for food that rats can’t reach. The kitchen also needs more frequent cleaning, because rat droppings were often on the counters. I stayed two nights. At first, when I saw something that looked like rat droppings on my bed, I told myself it was dirt. Later, other guests warned me to secure my food because rats were around and had gotten into people’s groceries. They made it sound like this had been going on for a while. I often heard rats moving around at night, and after my second night they’d gotten into all my food, despite it being in the metal cage cubby provided for storage. They ruined a week’s groceries: rice, bread, granola, chocolate, tea, apples, and honey. I threw everything away because nothing had been left untouched and I was worried about getting sick. It was disgusting and really frustrating on my tight budget. Apparently the fridge is the only safe option, so it’s overcrowded. Management hadn’t warned me about the rat problem. When I checked out, reception asked how my stay had been. I said it was all right until rats ate my food. They apologized, but didn’t seem surprised, and said they’d been meaning to put traps in the kitchen. I wasn’t impressed by that response. I don’t enjoy leaving critical reviews, but this was a frustrating experience, and I’m not sure they’ll actually improve the rat situation.