Brown Sugar Backpackers

This very spacious, comfy, safe and secure 'Ex-Mafia' mansion was built in the 1970's by an infamous drug lord. When the Godfather moved out the backpackers moved in and they made this castle their home since 1999. The current owner (since 2005) has made many renovations and improvements to the hostel to accommodate all types of travelers. We have everything you need and keep improving our facilities and services because the owner is an experienced traveler herself.

LOAD SHEDDING (Controlled power outages as per stages announced by our energy supplier)
1. We have a backup GENERATOR in case of power outages that ensures the lights, internet and all plugs are working.
2. We have gas geysers and gas for cooking meals and make a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate

HOT OR PACKED BREAKFAST IS OPTIONAL AS PER YOUR BOOKING SELECTION
1. We serve a hot breakfast to guests that booked or selected this option between 07h00 and 10h00 daily
2. Breakfast can be booked and paid for at reception, should you arrive early and need to line your stomach
3. If you leave before 07h00 the next day, the staff will prepare and pack a take-away breakfast as follow: One sandwich (brown or white bread), 1 x boiled egg or a muffin (if you don't eat eggs), 1 x fruit, 1 x small yogurt and 500ml Still bottled water. The packed or take away breakfast will be ready the previous evening by 20h30 and must be booked or requested by the guest before 20h00 the previous evening

FREE Wi-Fi (Fibre Internet) to all guest and available in the common areas and we are currently looking into extending the service to all rooms. Use your own device, get the code, log on and share your African experience with your friends and loved ones back home. (All guests stations removed or closed due to Covid-19). Guest stations will be available soon

ROOMS: Private Rooms are equipped with wall heaters, wall fans, wall safe, international plugs to charge your electronic devices for Europe, USA, Asia and wherever you come from. We sell adapters at reception. Outside private rooms have electric blankets to keep you warm in winter.

GAS GEYSERS: You will always have HOT water and be able to cook and stay warm during the colder months because the whole property runs on natural underground piped gas, which is much safer than LPG or bottled gas.

RECEPTION HOURS: We are open from 07h00 to 22h00 on weekdays and extended to 23h00 on Saturday and Sundays. The bar area will remain open until 23h00 or later, depending on the vibe and guests.

We are a haven for people who prefer to do their own thing. You will experience a next to home feeling at our establishment and never feel crowded or boxed in, unless you want to join in on the action.

The property stretches over 3000 square meters and set on a variety of levels with a sparkling swimming pool at the top of the hill. The bar area doubles as a reception after 22h00 in the evening from Monday to Friday. You can book all your transfers, car hire, Baz Bus tickets (Hop on Hop off Bus), pub lunches, dinners, and tours to Soweto, Apartheid Museum, Kruger National Park and the big bad city center.

TRANSFERS: Download the UBER and BOLT APP on your mobile phone and make use of them for the cheapest option. Public transport 200m from our gate or use Standard Meter taxi's, which can be more expensive than UBER.
We are 5 minutes from Eastgate International Shopping Mall, which contains all the major banks, money exchange, shopping, eating and cinema facilities you could ever want. Across the road from this mall is Park Meadows Shopping Mall where you will find Pick 'n Pay, Food Lovers Market and other shops.
Oriental City (Chinese stores) is walking distance from us where you can buy cheap electronics, travel gadgets and cheap African Arts & Crafts to take home as gifts or souvenirs

The staff at Brown Sugar are specialists in advising travelers on the best and quickest ways to obtain visas for countries such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe and, on request, we take our guests to the relevant embassies and help them with application forms and photographs and more. For those travelers needing visas for Angola, the embassy is within walking distance of the house.

Brown Sugar has all the amenities and facilities you would expect. We have a large communal and self-catering kitchen with a gas stove and all the crockery, cutlery, pans and pots to whip up and enjoy your own meals. Free tea and coffee on offer daily from 08h00 to 10h00 and again from 18h00-21h00 for our paying guests. We offer pub lunches (truly South African) between 11h45 and 13h45 daily and prepare fresh home cooked dinners every evening, served between 19h00 and 19h30 and very popular with guests and we cater for vegetarians. Vegetables and salad served with all dinners.
Note: We cater for Vegans, Vegetarians and Pescatarians.


SWIMMING POOL (Not heated, this is Africa)
Relax at the sparkling swimming pool and soak up the African sun for a golden-brown tan to show off to your friends when you return home (Northern hemisphere). The swimming pool terrace, rooftop and bar patios offers some of the best views of the Eastern suburbs.


We cannot wait to meet you and show you Jo'burg!