{"id":1266319,"date":"2025-06-16T05:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T05:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=1266319"},"modified":"2026-02-02T14:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T14:36:17","slug":"sustainability-stories-africas-first-lgbt-inclusive-soul-fam-hostel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/sustainability-stories-africas-first-lgbt-inclusive-soul-fam-hostel\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability Stories: opening Africa\u2019s first LGBTQ+ inclusive hostel \u2013 Soul Fam Hostel"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpbf-responsive-embed\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Introducing Soul Fam Hostel \ud83c\udf0d | The Most Inclusive Hostel in Africa! \ud83c\udf08\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0Ay7BoMKvGY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>In a city known for its natural beauty and cultural diversity, a new hostel will open its doors in a few weeks \u2013 one that\u2019s designed around belonging.<\/p>\n<p>When Chase King landed in Cape Town as a student back in 2007, he could\u2019ve not imagined that one day he\u2019d open a hostel there. But after nearly 20 years of travelling, one thing had become clear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never found a place where I could fully be me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>So, he decided to build it himself.<\/p>\n<p>This June, Chase is opening <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/p\/330432\/soul-fam-hostel-lgbtq-inclusive\/\" class=\"post links\">Soul Fam Hostel<\/a> \u2013 Africa\u2019s first LGBTQ+ inclusive hostel \ud83c\udf08 in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/africa\/south-africa\/cape-town\/\" class=\"post links\">Cape Town<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/africa\/south-africa\/\" class=\"post links\">South Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want guests to leave Soul Fam feeling more courageous, more connected, and more themselves. Like they were part of something rare, something real, and something bigger than themselves that the world needs,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>We sat down with Chase ahead of the hostel\u2019s opening to hear his story. If you\u2019re headed to Cape Town and this story speaks to you, save the date: Soul Fam Hostel opens on June 27<sup>th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1266339\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1266339\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1266339\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entrance-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entrance-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entrance-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entrance-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entrance-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Entrance-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1266339\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Fam Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>\u201cThe adventure felt lonely at times\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Studying abroad in Cape Town was Chase\u2019s first trip outside the US \ud83c\udf0d and in the same year he also stayed in a hostel for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI loved the community atmosphere of hostels and the spontaneously deep connections I formed with travellers from around the world,\u201d Chase tells.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1266434\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1266434\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1266434\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pool-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pool-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pool-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pool-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pool-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pool-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1266434\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Fam Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He went on to travel for nearly two decades and worked remotely across five continents \ud83e\uddf3But even though he connected with amazing people during his travels, something was missing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI often found myself feeling invisible and struggling to find a more permanent, long-lasting community of kindred souls. As a mixed Black gay man, the adventure felt lonely at times because I constantly had to rely on gay bars or clubs or dating apps to connect with other queer people rather than more organic, real life scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>A hostel where everyone can be their whole selves<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1266358\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1266358\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1266358\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Living-Room-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Living-Room-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Living-Room-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Living-Room-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Living-Room-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Living-Room-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1266358\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Fam Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cQueer people of colour like myself can feel out of place or even have to shrink ourselves to fit in,\u201d he tells.<\/p>\n<p>After years of solo travel, Chase had never experienced an accommodation where he could be his whole self. \u201cI&#8217;ve never come across a truly inclusive space that allowed me to be my full authentic self among other like-minded individuals who celebrated, supported and embraced me for who I was at the deepest level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSoul Fam was always going to be unapologetically queer, a place where you don\u2019t have to wonder if it\u2019s safe to hold hands or be yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cape Town was the obvious choice, a city he had fallen in love with all those years ago, but also as the most inclusive city on a continent where 31 out of 54 countries criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activity.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Inclusion is a daily practice, not a buzzword<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1266415\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1266415\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1266415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Terrace-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Terrace-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Terrace-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Terrace-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Terrace-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Terrace-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1266415\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Fam Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Chase is currently renovating a beautiful old home near the waterfront right next to the buzzing queer-friendly neighbourhoods of De Waterkant and Green Point. With plenty of shared spaces for lounging, Soul Fam hostel also has a lush backyard and a pool to relax after a long day of exploring \ud83c\udf34<\/p>\n<p>Finding the right property was not easy. \u201dThe biggest challenge I&#8217;ve encountered was finding the right property because hostels are still often stigmatized as loud, disruptive\u00a0party\u00a0havens for 20-somethings that have no regard for the local community,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>But with perseverance and patience he secured the incredible property he\u2019s now transforming into a space of belonging where inclusion is a daily practice, not a buzzword \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1266320\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1266320\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1266320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dorm-Room-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dorm-Room-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dorm-Room-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dorm-Room-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dorm-Room-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dorm-Room-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1266320\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Fam Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\nBelonging reaches into every design choice:<\/p>\n<p>\u2714\ufe0fall-gender bathrooms<\/p>\n<p>\u2728pronoun pins<\/p>\n<p>\ud83e\udea7inclusive signage<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udee1\ufe0fsafer space guidelines<\/p>\n<p>\ud83e\udde0 staff training rooted in intersectional hospitality<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Community means chosen family, honest conversation and shared joy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cMy goal is to create a space of radical inclusion where everyone is seen, accepted and loved as they are while forming genuine, long lasting and meaningful connections\u201d, Chase tells.<\/p>\n<p>Think weekly dinners, yoga classes, art nights, and storytelling circles to help guests connect beyond small talk \ud83c\udfa8 Soul Fam Hostel collaborates with queer-led local businesses to offer walking tours, workshops, and volunteer opportunities, so travellers can build real relationships with the people and culture of Cape Town \ud83e\udd1d<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1266396\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1266396\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1266396\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Private-Room-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Private-Room-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Private-Room-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Private-Room-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Private-Room-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Private-Room-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1266396\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soul Fam Hostel<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\nDocumenting the renovation journey on social media has brought a swell of support. \u201cQueer travellers and allies have come together to support bringing this vision to life. People have become extremely invested in the success of Soul Fam Hostels and that means the absolute world to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the future, he hopes to host retreats, residencies for artists and activists, and offer grants for queer travellers to explore the world.<\/p>\n<p>But for now, it starts here \u2013 with purpose turned into a beautiful hostel \ud83d\udc9b<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Chase\u2019s ultimate Cape Town travel tip <\/strong><strong>\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cForget what you think you know about Africa and come to Cape Town with an open mind,\u201d he urges. \u201cBe bold and don&#8217;t be afraid to venture beyond the standard tourist route.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Explore the various nearby small town on a road trip to find all the hidden gems of the region \ud83c\udf04Central Cape Town has its charm, but going even 45 minutes outside of the city will lead you to an endless array of adventures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a city known for its natural beauty and cultural diversity, a new hostel will open its doors in a few weeks \u2013 one that\u2019s designed around belonging. When Chase King landed in Cape Town as a student back in 2007, he could\u2019ve not imagined that one day he\u2019d open a hostel there. But after&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":1266320,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10211,9473],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1266319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sustainability","category-travel-tips","authors-annika-sipila","wpbf-post"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sustainability Stories: opening Africa\u2019s first LGBTQ+ inclusive hostel \u2013 Soul Fam Hostel - Hostelworld Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The founder of Africa&#039;s first LGBTQ+ inclusive hostel, Soul Fam Hostel in Cape Town, tells his story in the Hostelworld blog.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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