Fairy Knowe Backpackers Lodge — Hotel in George

Wow! I can't say enough about this place. I came with my 2 friends only for a couple nights originally to camp and then we just couldn't leave and kept extending our trip. The new owner, Adrien, is doing wonders with this place! He has created such an inviting and relaxing experience. The staff welcomed us as if we were family and ensured we always felt safe, had fun, and were laughing and smiling the whole time.

The first night a couple guys were giving us a hard time and the owners and staff ensured that the guys were kicked out to ensure we felt good the rest of our trip. They looked after us even as we rented kayaks and went up the river to the waterfall, and the manager even took out his drone to get some awesome videos of us on the river! They even took us with them to a cool and private cliff jumping spot nearby the next day, too! We had dinner with them, drank by the bar, slack-lined, and listened to awesome music the whole time.

We camped in the beautiful forest on the property, then treated ourselves to the bunk on our last night. The facilities were clean with an awesome vibe made by the staff and visitors. The WiFi was also pretty strong and I was able to get some work done, as well.

I can't wait to come back and see my 'Fairy Family' as soon as I can! This place is truly magical and worth a visit for anyone looking for a...

I'm not entirely certain about where to begin this aching emotion, so I will just express this feeling as it progresses through this review. This past weekend my brother had his nose broken by another guest of Fairy Knowe Backpackers. When he approached the manager on duty (Didi Taylor) for assistance, he was impassively told by her to "f* off". After 2 hours of waiting for an ambulance to assist, he was finally taken to hospital for treatment. The unprofessional managerial treatment however, didn't end there. The very next morning, after little-to-no sleep, we were approached by the same manager, who tenaciously continued to bedevil us with unpolished name calling (which I dare not repeat). After some research into other reviews, as well as various opinions by word-of-mouth, I have recently learnt that this is not the first act of mistreatment sustained via the managerial staff (Didi in particular). Additional threats were also made, although I see no reason to elaborate on them - considering the apparent reputation of the current management. I would like to conclude that anyone who is searching for decent, friendly & professional accommodation in or around Wilderness, should alternatively inquire with the Fairy Knowe HOTEL, or Wilderness Beach House...

I have been here twice. The location is very close to the Ebb and Flow campsite. You are in a grove of milkwood stinky trees.

There is a nice social vibe, restaurant, and bar with a pool table. The social vibe comes with more noise at night since the communal kitchen is in the house with most of the rooms.

The last time I went in January 2024, my family ran into a rude experience. The lady with long dreadlocks, who was volunteering there, had quite a dissmive attitude. When we asked about the availability of family rooms, she sounded uninterested. 3 days later, we came back to enjoy a supper there even though we were staying at another backpacker. My dad had been in contact with them, asking if we could come and have supper without staying there. The answer was yes. However, when we arrived, that lady blocked my mother from entering. She told my mother that she couldn't just walk in (which you can). She did not help and try to resolve the situation. My mother then went and showed her the text messages. There landed up being a miscommunication on their side. They weren't clear that you had to place an order before 5 pm to eat there. With that in mind, we left. We couldn't be served, but it wasn't our fault. Hopefully, the service gets...