How and where you spend the nights on your journey, of course, heavily depends on your budget. Here I would like to introduce you to some options:
Hostels
Hostels are probably the most popular type of accommodation for most backpackers. They are mainly targeted at younger people, backpackers, or individual travelers.
Typical for hostels are shared rooms. So you do not book a room for yourself – just a bed. Sometimes it is also a bunk bed. The room is then shared with several people. Some hostels have quadruple rooms, others accommodate as many as 20 people in a single room. A hostel usually has unisex dormitories – meaning men and women sleep in the same room – or occasionally gender-separated rooms. In addition, there are usually shared bathrooms, common rooms, and often even a shared kitchen where you can cook your own meals. Sometimes even joint activities or tours are offered.
Especially for solo travelers, hostels are an advantage, because you meet many other backpackers, and it is very easy to socialize. In the evening, people usually sit together or parties take place. That is nice every now and then. But if you are on a long-term journey, this can become exhausting. People often celebrate until the early hours of the morning. That means there is a corresponding volume throughout the night.
And it is not to everyone’s liking to sleep in a room with so many people. Because almost always there is someone who snores loudly or stumbles drunk in the middle of the night with a full crash into the room. And, not only once, did I experience that someone suddenly came back from a party with someone else, and then they had unrestrained sex in the dorm. This is of course an absolute no-go, but due to the high alcohol consumption and being away from home, some people lose all their inhibitions. Anyway, you have to expect such situations in hostels.
Many book their bed at the hostel several days or even weeks in advance. Others arrive in a place and then look for accommodation. I myself have never booked a hostel in advance, but never had to look far until I found one. Of course, that depends a lot on the season and the country. While there are plenty of hostels in most countries around the world, this is often not the case in East African countries. In the big cities it is usually not a problem. But in rural, non-touristy areas, this type of accommodation is often not known.
Camping
Camping is certainly one of the cheapest accommodation options. In addition, one is relatively independent.
However, if you travel in the rainy season, a tent is not necessarily the best place to sleep, because it often rains heavily, which can cause flooding.
Since I had hardly planned my route, to my misfortune, I arrived at almost every country in the rainy season. Because of that, camping was not an option for me, although I am usually a camping fan.
Another disadvantage is the extra weight that you have to carry around with you. The weight that comes together quickly with a tent, sleeping bag, mat, etc., should not be underestimated.
In addition, it is said that every now and then, I met travelers with camping equipment. They invited me very often to share the tent with them. I only had to bring my sleeping bag.
Hotels and inns
I have noticed that in many African countries, there is not much difference between the terms "hotel" and "inn". In the very touristy areas, there are often huge and above all expensive hotel complexes. But of these I do not speak here. I mean the small, inconspicuous hotels that you find in every city and also in smaller places.
Sometimes they are also called inns. They are mostly tailored to locals and therefore priced very reasonably. Sometimes they are even cheaper than hostels. My cheapest inn, I can remember, was in a small village in Malawi. There, I did not even pay one Euro for a single room. There was no electricity and no running water. Instead they brought me candles into my room in the evening, and, if I wanted to take a shower, a canister of water.
The typical hostels are usually located in the tourist areas, anyway. However, if you travel off the worn-out tourist paths, you will often depend on inns or hotels. On top of that, they are always a welcome change if you long for privacy.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.com) is a website on the internet where people from all over the world can offer travelers a place to sleep. But it is also possible to offer only a joint meeting or a city tour.
This is mainly about the cultural exchange. The whole thing is completely free. Of course, it should not be the case that you simply stay with someone for free and eat from his or her fridge. Rather, it should be a mutual giving and taking. For example, a small gift is appropriate, or you cook a typical dish from your own home country for your host.
When you sign up for couchsurfing, you first of all create a profile with your interests and hobbies. This allows other people to get a first impression of guests or hosts.
Many are worried whether couchsurfing is safe. I personally would say that it is very safe if you pay attention to a few points:
The advantages of couchsurfing:
The disadvantages of couchsurfing:
My personal conclusion about couchsurfing: I love it.
For me, it is the best and most authentic way to travel. There are so many interesting details about the culture of a country that you would never know as a hostel guest, who is surrounded only by other travelers. I have been shown secret places that are not in any Lonely Planet travel guide and cooked with my hosts the most delicious local dishes. I have received so much hospitality that I was partly moved to tears. Often these were families that did not have much, but nevertheless shared everything with me quite naturally and willingly. And best of all, I have found friends for life.
Workaway
Workaway (www.workaway.info) is a website where you can find volunteer work worldwide in a variety of areas, such as hostels, farms, etc. In exchange for a few hours of work per day, you will receive accommodation and meals in most cases – as negotiated with locals.
Since you have a lot of free time, you can easily do a language course or something along the way. In addition, you learn a lot in your work, such as the national language.
First of all, you have to create a profile on the website. Just like on couchsurfing, after you have worked in one place, you always leave references.
Many employers require a minimum stay of two weeks to a month. Longer stay is usually no problem. Often, you have two days off the week and work a maximum of five hours a day. The Workaway membership currently costs 29 USD and is valid for two years (as of 2016).
The website is very popular with many backpackers, as it makes traveling a lot cheaper. You also get to know foreign cultures and meet lots of great new people. So when you feel tired from packing your daypack, Workaway is the perfect way to spend a few days or weeks in one place.
Another plus is that Workaway is now represented in almost every country in the world.
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