ABOUT US
Thanks to European Union (EU) involvement by way of a loan, in 2005 the local Tshezi Community Trust, which represents the Tshezi Community under Chief Gwenyati Pali, bought 30% shares in Coffee Shack, and an arrangement was formulated to lease the land from Tshezi Community Trust. The community trust is represented by two community members on the Coffee Shack board of directors, with whose patience, assistance and guidance has grown our partnership with the community to even more significant levels.
We have come to believe that by investing in our community in a sustainable, meaningful manner, we are making our wonderful part of the world a better, healthier environment for everyone including our guests and other visitors to the area.
Amongst all the fun, there has been constant effort, work and a high degree of organization put into making Coffee Shack one of the most successful and popular backpackers in the country. The logistics of running a business at the ‘end of a long road from anywhere’, in an area, that has always been remote, due to the terrain and intentionally sideline by the former governments, is usually overlooked by most people.
MORE HISTORY OF COFFEE SHACK
COFFEE SHACK CREW
Coffee Shack has seen many changes within the crew; initially it was run by a rag tag bunch of travelers and surfers. Now over 90% of our crew are from the immediate area and we take pride in the training and development that we are able to give our employees. Some staff members have started out as room attendants and ended up as managers. You will find ex-Coffee Shackers in high-level tourism jobs, government departments, lecturing at tourism facilities and running their own businesses.
We have been the breeding ground for many relationships (and families!!) and there are many Coffee Shack children running around the world, and loads of guests and staff who met their loved ones here in Coffee Bay.
Coffee Shack is very thankful to all the staff and guests who have helped us become what we are today, and left a part of themselves behind, to making Coffee Shack a better place.
TAKE A WALK
VISION & ETHOS
ETHOS
Coffee Shack is committed to environmentally friendly practises, and the promotion there of. Encouraging the preservation and protection of the natural environment. By developing a beautiful environment, we make space for creativity at every level – in the ways we do drum making, host our craft centre, have local entertainers, welcome guests, treat each other, prepare food, serve drinks and take Guests out to explore the splendour of the magnificent Transkei.
Coffee Shack staff are handpicked because we believe that they will be able to “add value” to Coffee Shack and it’s ethos. We (Staff) all have 2 characteristics in common; namely “friendliness and energy”. We strive to welcome and “touch” all new Guests, to ensure they feel comfortable and at home immediately.
We strive to know our guests by name, showing an interest in all our guests, thus allowing us to help them make the most of their stay. We encourage Guests to participate in all available activities thus allowing them to discover and experience more of the Wild Coast’s natural and cultural attractions. Through the activities available we hope guests meet other guests and staff, making new friendships and lasting bonds. Ultimately encouraging Guests not to leave after one day, having therefore missed the beauty of the Wild Coast and having not had the “Coffee Shack experience”!
COFFEE BAY AND FORMER TRANSKEI
Coffee Bay can be found on the Wild Coast, in the former Transkei, 200km north of East London along the N2, 80km down the coastal road to the Wild Coast. The Wild Coast got its name from the sailors of the 1700s and 1800s, who considered it as one of the most treacherous bits of coastlines in the world, and the long list of ship wrecks makes intriguing reading. To this day it is still one of the most beautiful and untouched sections of coastline in the world, due to its remote and difficult assess.
The former Transkei was a “homeland” of the apartheid government, and comprised of the area between the Mtamvuna River, as the Northern boundary with Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Kei River being the Southern boundary with the then Cape Province. This area was populated by mainly Xhosa speaking peoples, and has proud heritage of producing some of South Africa’s most distinguished leaders, like Tata Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Govan Mbeki, King Sabata Dalindyebo and many more, who were instrumental in the bringing about change to a democratic government.
Now Coffee Bay is in King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality, in the Eastern Cape Province, and even though the current government has made enormous strides in building critical and life change infrastructure developments, like providing running potable water, electricity, more and better access roads, more clinics and schools, the area is still one of the poorest in South Africa.