A guesthouse with no frills

With prices ranging from R150 to R600, guests can tailor-make their rate on the kind of room and service they take

SOWETO has loads of B&Bs and guesthouses that offer almost the same thing. So when someone told me about The Krwaxa guesthouse in Orlando West, I thought: "Oh no not another Soweto guesthouse."

But The Krwaxa is not your average guesthouse. It is tailored for those who just need a bed and a roof over their heads.

The guesthouse in Maseko Street, with more than 20 beds, is a dormitory-styled house that is aimed at attracting not only tourists, but local people too.

With prices ranging from R150 to R600, guests can tailor-make their rate on the kind of room and service they take.

The set-up is homely.

Their target guests are soccer lovers, family events attendees to those going to funerals, weddings, tombstone unveilings and church events.

Owner Zuko Krwaxa says they turned the family house into a guesthouse because they saw a gap in the market.

"Many people come to Soweto for family functions and soccer matches. We have bed rates and room rates, depending on what people want. We also have dormitories for groups. A family can book the whole house at special rates. It's ideal for people who do not want to trouble relatives."

The place has showers, solar geysers, Wi-Fi , single and double beds and a dinning and lounge area.

This house is not far from Vilakazi Street and is in the same street where celebs Abigail Kubeka and Jimmy Sonjana live.

If you just need a simple room to spend the night, it's fine. But if you want luxury, then you should look at another guesthouse.