Lebo's Soweto Backpackers
Hello from Lebo's !
Overview
Whilst being a craft seller at the Hector Pieterson memorial in the township of Soweto and interacting with tourists on a daily base, Lebo went on his first backpacking excursion with fellow craft sellers to the Drakensberg, and got first hand knowledge as to what a Backpackers really is.
Lebo started hosting the random guest in 1999 at his grandmothers house in Orlando West, as there was nowhere for travellers to stay in Soweto. Realising the need for a backpackers in Soweto, Lebo founded "Lebo's Soweto Backpackers", the first black owned backpackers in South Africa in August 2003.
Lebo's Backpackers is situated in a relaxed community in Orlando West. The backpackers has a distinct rustic township feel, with overtunes of Jamaica meets Africa, 
which reminds one a little bit of 'Cool Runnings'. The backyard 'chill area' has been built in such a way that it feels like you could be somewhere on a tropical island, complete with a bamboo bar and raked sand under your feet.
Here you'll find hammocks, a foosball table, music instruments and a firepit to chill around.
Lebo is a community man and everything that happens at the backpackers reflects this. Even the park across the road was transformed from a rubbish dump to a beautiful recreational park where the community comes to relax and children are helped with their homework, by Lebo's team.
His popular bicycle tours through Soweto is designed in such a way that visitors get to meet the local community. In the evenings local musicians, artists and performers visit the backpackers to show off their artistic skill and do cultural exchanges with guests.
Another popular activity is the Shebeen tours. Shebeens were in essence illegal taverns in the backyards of township residents, in the days of apatheid. Some were merely resellers of beers and other alcohol, while some brewed their own beers, and still do till today. The essence of a shebeen, however lies in the interaction with the community in a very up close and personal way and getting to know the real Sowetans and their lives over a cold beer.
You can also visit a local healer, the equivelant of an African Shaman, better nown as a Sangoma who practise traditional healing methods, founded on the belief in ancestral spirits.
Accommodation
Lebo's offer double rooms, private single rooms, dormatory beds and camping in the garden. 
You can also rent a tent to pitch, if you don't have your own. Rooms are cneat and clean, with soap and towels supplied. During the busy months, Lebo transforms the park across the road into a temporary caravan park to meet demand.
Meals
In the mornings, you have an option between a hot or cold breakfast. 
The cold breakfast consists of fruit, youghurt, cereals and juice, tea or coffee, and the hot breakfast takes the form of bacon, eggs, sausage, toast and cheese also with juice, tea or coffee.
For lunches you can order pies, choose from a variety of sandwiches, see what specials there are on the black board or head out to one of the local restaurants.
Dinners are done real Soweto style and range from braais to the local soweto curries and famous township chakalakas.
Prices
| Accommodation | |
| Dormatory beds | R95 |
| Double room |
R250 |
| Single Room |
R150 |
| Camping pppn |
R65 |
*You can also organise wth Lebos to arrange you a custom family room
| Meals | |
| (Breakfast) |
|
| Fruit, youghurt, cereals and juice, tea or coffee | R35 |
| Bacon, eggs, sausage, toast and cheese, juice, tea or coffee | R35-R45 |
| (Lunch) | |
| Lunch of the day or sandwiches, pies |
R25-R65 |
| (Dinner) | |
| Stews, curries and braais with salad pap, samp or another starch |
R65 |
*This is a rough menu and changes from time to time
Getting There
From OR Tambo Airport
Take the R24 to Johannesburg. Take the Durban/Kimberly off ramp and thereafter the M2 West Johannesburg. Then take the M1 South in the direction of Bloemfontein/Soweto. Take exit 7 (Booysen road) and keep left. Turn left at the second traffic-light (Mentz Street) and left at the T-junction (Ophir Booysen Rd). Drive straight ahead, where you will pass the construction of the soccer stadium and then you will see signs leading you into Soweto. Keep on driving straight ahead, going past the newly built rapid bus terminals. You will pass the Engen petrol station and the Chicken Licken restaurant on your left. After going under a railway bridge turn left into Carr Street. Take the second road to your right and then the second road to your left. There is a mural-painting on the front wall of the backpackers and it is right across a park with lots of flags in it.
From Johannesburg
Take the M1 South in the direction Bloemfontein/Soweto Take exit 7 (Booysen road) and keep left. Turn left at the second traffic-light (Mentz Street) and left at the T-junction (Ophir Booysen Rd). Drive straight ahead, where you will pass the construction of the soccer stadium and then you will see signs leading you into Soweto. Keep on driving straight ahead, going past the newly built rapid bus terminals. You will pass the Engen petrol station and the Chicken Licken restaurant on your left. After going under a railway bridge turn left into Carr Street. Take the second road to your right and then the second road to your left. There is a mural-painting on the front wall of the backpackers and it is right across a park with lots of flags in it.
From Pretoria (N1 North)
Follow N1 Johannesburg. Take the M1 South Johannesburg off-ramp. Continue on the M1 South direction Bloemfontein. Take exit 7 (Booysen road) and keep left. Turn left at the second traffic-light (Mentz Street) and left at T-junction (Ophir Booysen Rd). Drive straight ahead, you will pass the construction of the soccer stadium and then see signs leading you in to Soweto. Keep on driving straight ahead passing the newly built Rapid Bus Terminals. You will pass the Engen petrol station and the Chicken Licken restaurant on your left. After going under a railway bridge turn left into Carr Street. Take the second road to your right and then the second road to your left. There is a mural-painting on the front wall of the backpackers and it is right across a park with lots of flags in it.
From Kruger Park / Witbank (coming on N12)
From N12 Johannesburg take the N1 Pretoria/Roodeport off ramp. Take the Soweto highway off-ramp (M70) taking you into Soweto, drive straight ahead passing the newly built Rapid Bus Terminals. You will pass the Engen petrol station and the Chicken Licken restaurant on your left. After going under a railway bridge turn left into Carr Street. Take the second road to your right and then the second road to your left. There is a mural-painting on the front wall of the backpackers and it is right across a park with lots of flags in it.
Baz Bus
If you are on the Baz Bus and are staying in one of a couple of selected backpackers in Johannesburg, Lebo's will organise you a free transfer. Be sure to contact Lebo's beforehand to make arrangements.
Lebos GPS Coordinates: S26.22417 E27.91278