The new generation of travellers isn’t chasing checklists or top-ten guides. They’re looking for meaning, connection and something that might shift the way they see the world. In South Africa, there’s a quiet change unfolding. Food trails in Cape Town, street walks in Johannesburg and unexpected moments of realness are replacing the expected.

This shift is being led by Gen Z and millennial travellers with a passport in one hand and curiosity in the other. Backpacking has evolved, the routes are familiar but with a different intention.

Forget the old image of backpacker stays. That no longer applies. Across South Africa, a new kind of space is emerging. Architecture that’s thoughtful. Lounges that invite conversation. Places where connection feels natural. Hybrid-hotels like ours are leading this shift. Design-led, locally grounded and built to offer a real sense of place.

In both Cape Town and Johannesburg, our common areas spark conversations that turn into plans. Every part of the space is made for people to connect. You’ll find private rooms, design-forward dorms, co-working lounges and calm corners to rest in. The balance between privacy and presence is intentional. This doesn’t feel like a hotel. It feels more like living in a local’s apartment block, with a few extra comforts.

Location has always mattered. But for this generation, it’s not about how close you are to the landmark. It’s about how close you are to the culture. CURIOCITY properties sit inside neighbourhoods that are alive. Not beside them, inside them. You’ll wake up to the sound of music from a balcony or spot someone painting a new wall across the street. You’ll walk to a café that still writes the menu in chalk. You won’t be watching the city. You’ll be in it.

Modern travellers are intentional. Most aren’t here to tick boxes. They want to learn something. Feel something. They’re searching for stories and stillness. They’ll stay longer if the vibe is right. They’ll tell people about the place if it helped them find something unexpected. They’re not looking to be managed. They just want the truth.

That’s why CURIOCITY works. We’re not positioned outside the city’s energy. We’re inside it. Our teams know the rhythm of the neighbourhoods because they live in them. We won’t hand you a printed map. We’ll tell you where the best DJ is spinning tonight, or suggest a corner shop where the best vetkoek sells out before 10 AM. You’re not a guest looking in, you’re already part of the scene.

There was a time when travellers saw South Africa through a nature-first lens; safari then the city. That’s changed. The cities have stepped forward and they’re leading the country’s backpacker revival. Cape Town gives you surfing, street art and spice trails, all in one breath. Joburg carries history, music, movement and an unmatched sense of identity. These are destinations in their own right.

Tips for Travelling Like You Mean It

• Stay in neighbourhoods where people live and create. Choose Green Point instead of the V&A, or Maboneng over Sandton.

• Speak to people. The best moments often come from the most casual chats.

• Travel slower. Leave space for change, missed turns and second cups of coffee.

• Support places that stay true to their roots. Book with spaces and guides that live in the stories they tell, those that are rooted in community.

• Ask what’s happening tonight. You probably won’t find it on TripAdvisor.

South Africa’s backpacker culture isn’t about price anymore. It’s about presence. Travellers are looking for something real and the cities are ready.

They won’t remember the Wi-Fi speed. They’ll remember the wine they shared with the winemaker who spoke about their grandfather’s vines. Or the night they followed a laugh into a rooftop party that changed the way they felt about Joburg.

That’s the story now. And it’s just getting started.