Wild Spirit Backpackers Lodge

You stay at Wild Spirit Backpackers Lodge on the western edge of Tsitsikamma National Park, in a forest clearing with mountain views. The lodge serves organic meals from its garden — breakfast includes home-baked bread and homemade muesli, while dinner offers free-range meats and vegan options. Meals are communal, served buffet-style in the lodge kitchen.

The accommodation ranges from private en-suite rooms to bunk-free dorms and safari tents in the forest garden. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the mountains. There are composting toilets and outdoor showers for campers, and shared bathrooms for safari tent guests.

Daily yoga sessions take place in the on-site studio, and the lodge has a resident tattoo artist offering hand-poked tattoos. The Wild Shop sells local crafts and pre-loved clothing. A short walk leads to deep rock pools or a 900-year-old yellowwood tree; Nature's Valley beach is ten minutes away by car.

The lodge hosts the annual Festival of Friends, a five-day wellness and music event at year's end. Live music sessions happen sporadically around the fire pit.