Gansbaai Backpackers Lodge
Accommodation Services in Gans Bay

This choice Gansbaai Accommodation overlooks the traditional fishing Harbour with stunning panoramic sea views which can be enjoyed from the sundowner deck, in-house pub and outside Braai (BBQ) area. Dyer Island is a breeding colony for Jackass Penguins and Cape Fur Seals. The narrow channel between Geyser Rock and Dyer Island is home to around 60 000 Cape Fur Seals and is a feeding ground of the endangered Great White Shark. Here, a mystical blend of nature and adventure awaits you. The Adventure begins with visitors experiencing the thrill of Diving with infamous Great White Sharks of Gansbaai. The route then follows old wagon trails used more than a century ago. This festival was born with the tradition where fishermen went out, caught Crayfish and Snoek, whereafter it was weighed in at the Festival and bought from the fishermen. Gansbaai normally receives about 407mm of rain per year and because it receives most of its rainfall during winter it has a Mediterranean climate. South Africa has the world’s richest floral kingdom, which produces brief but bright and colourful flowering season. As well as a vast variety of endemic and migratory birds, South Africa is also home to one-sixth of the world’s marine species along its 2954 km of coast. South Africa has more species of wild animals than Europe and Asia put together. South Africa does not change its clocks during the year, and there are no regional variations within the country. All major credit cards can be used in South Africa, with American Express and Diners Club enjoying less universal acceptance. In restaurants the accepted standard is around 10% of the bill, although sometimes a gratuity will be included (often in the case of a large party). It is also appropriate to tip taxi drivers, tour guides and even hairdressers. VAT is refunded at the point of departure provided receipts are produced. There are 11 officially recognised languages, most of which are indigenous to South Africa. English is the language of the cities, of commerce and banking, of government and official documents. All our road signs and official forms are in English and service staff will speak English. South Africa enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate, with warm sunny days most of the year. The seasons of the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere so our Summer runs from November to February, when most of the country is characterised by warm to hot weather. Condoms are readily available and many establishments provide these free of charge. Medical facilities in cities and larger towns are world-class, but you will find that in rural areas the clinics and hospitals deal with primary health needs, and therefore do not offer the range of medical care that the large metropolitan hospitals do. Trained medical caregivers are deployed round the country, so help is never far away. High-quality tap water is available almost everywhere in South Africa, treated so as to be free of harmful micro-organisms, and in any area other than informal settlements, is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap. For the majority of foreign backpackers to South Africa entry is straightforward and hassle-free. All visitors to South Africa must be in possession of a valid passport in order to enter the country and in some cases, a visa.