FACILITIES
Coffee Shack has everything you need for a comfortable holiday. The fun and festive Babalaza Bar has a free pool table and Tuesday night theme parties. Our restaurant has good value and tasty meals available all day. We have well equipped self-catering kitchens, braai (barbeque) facilities and fire wood. We have safe parking for your vehicles and safe-keeping for your valuables. All bed linen is provided and we have a laundry service. There are hammocks for you to relax in, daytrips to keep you busy and free Wi-Fi to keep you connected.
THE ‘BABALAZA BAR AND RESTAURANT’
We know you will be in ‘tropical paradise holiday mode’, so we suggest you sit back, relax and let us do the cooking for you. The breakfast bar is open from 7.30am – 10.30am, so if you are bouncing out of bed for a hike, or having a lazy Sunday sleep-in, you are catered for. We serve a range of cereals, toast and jam, espresso coffee, as well as a variety of cooked breakfasts from eggs on toast and omelettes to the Full Monty. See the rates page to see our very reasonable prices.
Our lunch menu includes a variety of toasted sandwiches, burgers, lasagne, fresh line fish (when available) and salads throughout the day.
The best value meal of the day is dinner, our kitchen dishes up scrumptious home-cooked dinners, which are always two courses, (starter and main-course, or main-course and dessert) with our famous home-made Xhosa bread. Our favourite dinner is “Saturday night steak braai”, the Transkei’s best aged “T-bone” steaks, with fresh salad, potato, garlic butter, followed by apple and cinnamon pancakes and cream, for only R120. We offer a vegetarian option for all meals.
FREE SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER
Sunday evenings are a social affair when everyone eats for FREE. We cook up a big potjie, (South African stew cooked in a traditional black pot) for all to enjoy.
SELF-CATERING KITCHENS
If you are keen to cook for yourself, on a budget we have two self-catering kitchens for guests and braai facilities. One kitchen is located on the “Beach side” and the other on the “Main side” of the backpackers. The kitchens have a fridge, gas cookers, microwave, kettle, toaster, and free tea and coffee along with the essentials, (plates, cups, cutlery etc.). There are several braai places located on the beach side, and a large communal braai on the main side of the property. All fire wood and braai (barbeque) grids are provided free of charge.
FREE STUFF
We all love free stuff, and we love to see happy travellers, when they receive a few extra little surprises for free.
Click on topic that you are interested in:
| What time can I check-in? Our reception is open from 7am – 10pm, if you plan on arriving late; please advise the office in advance so we can arrange security to welcome you. The dorm rooms are accessible from 11am; however the private rooms are normally only accessible after lunch. |
| When is check out time? You have to leave your room by 11am, however you are welcome to stay and use the facilities during the day if you are only planning on leaving later. We can also store your luggage for you if needed. |
| What time does reception open/close? Our reception is open from 7am – 10pm; if you think you will arrive late please inform the office so they can arrange security to welcome you. |
| What is your cancellation policy? During peak periods we require a deposit to confirm your booking. Please see our terms and conditions (link) for our cancellation policy. |
| Can I store my luggage if I want to do an overnight hike? Yes, we can keep your luggage or arrange for it to be transferred to your next destination. |
| Can you transfer my luggage if I want to do an overnight hike? Yes, if you are hiking along the wild coast, we can assist you to transfer your bags to your next stop. |
| Do you have Wi-Fi? Yes we offer free Wi-Fi to our guests. Please keep in mind that we are in a remote rural area and have the best connection that is available to our area. Our satellite connection is reliable, but can be considered slow at times; it can also be affected by the weather conditions. But there is so much to do; you really don’t need to be spending hours on the internet! |
| How far are you from Hole in the Wall? We are 9 km from Hole in the Wall. There is a dirt road linking Hole in the Wall and Coffee Bay, it is in reasonable condition and does not need a 4×4 unless it has been raining. It takes about 35 – 40min to drive there and about 3hrs to walk one way. |
| What meals do you serve? The Babalaza bar and restaurant serves all meals. Breakfast from 7.30am – 10.30am, lunch from 11am -4.30pm and a 2-course dinner between 7-7.30pm. See our bar and restaurant page for more information. |
| Do you offer vegetarian meals? Yes, there are vegetarian options for all meals. We can also cater to special needs diets on request. |
| Fishing The Wild Coast offers some great line fishing opportunities and we can arrange for a local guide to take you to some stunning hidden fishing spots along our beautiful coastline. Please bring your own fishing gear. Make sure that you have valid fishing permit, which can be bought at any South African post office. |
| Weather We are lucky to live in a sub-tropical climate so our winters (June – August) are temperate and for the most part, dry. Our summers are hot and humid! Our favourite time of the year is May to August, generally perfect sunny days, with an average temperature of around 24 C. |
| How do I get there?? Check out our direction and maps. We strongly advise NOT to use a GPS, unless you want to get lost. Ps. We do not do search and rescue. |
| Can I get there in a small car or do I need a 4×4? All cars can make it to Coffee Bay. It is 80km from the N2 to Coffee Bay and would normally take about 1hour 15mins. The road is tarred however it can be in quite a bad condition with potholes, depending on when it was last repaired. You also need to be aware of cows, sheep, goats and other animals, when driving. We recommend that you try and arrive during daylight hours. Please see our directions for estimated travel times. |
| Do you have a shuttle to collect me in Mthatha? Yes, our daily (except for the 1st of January) shuttle leaves Coffee Bay between 11am and midday. It arrives at the Shell Ultra City, just outside Mthatha (Umtata) between 12.30 and 1.30pm. It will then wait at the Shell Ultra City garage for the buses to arrive, and usually leaves between 3-3.30pm. If you need to book a seat on the shuttle we need to know what bus you will arrive on and from which direction. (eg. Baz Bus from Chintsa/Greyhound from Durban). |
| What buses can I get to Mthatha? The Baz Bus (www.bazbus.com) and mainline buses such as Greyhound, Translux, and Intercape all stop at the Shell Ultra City. Do not get a night bus as you will have to wait until the next day to get our shuttle.
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| Can I use the local minibus transport? You can get a minibus taxi from Mthatha to Coffee Bay via Mqanduli, you have to change taxi’s at the Mqanduli Taxi Rank. They are best to get from in Mthatha at the Golden Egg rank outside the Plaza shopping mall (next to MacDonald’s). If you need more information or guidance, just contact us. |
| Do you have an airport transfer? Yes, we can collect and drop you off at Mthatha Airport. However our shuttle only travels once a day to/from Mthatha. We leave Coffee Bay around midday, arriving in Mthatha between 1.30-2pm. The shuttle will leave Mthatha around 3pm to return to Coffee Bay. You would have to select an appropriate flight. |
| What is the closest airport? Mthatha (also spelt Umtata). Currently you can only fly direct from Johannesburg to Mthatha. |
| How many beds are in the dorm rooms? Our dorm rooms sleep 6 or 8 persons in bunk beds. |
| What bed is in private room? Our private rooms have a double bed only. |
| Can we put an extra person in a double room? Yes, we can put a mattress on the floor for an extra person, they will pay the extra person rate. |
| Do you have any twin rooms? Our ensuite room has a double bed and bunk, so can work as a twin. |
| Do you have any single rooms? Our private rooms are the same price for one or two people. |
| Is the 5th night free deal valid all year? Yes, if you stay 4 consecutive nights at Coffee Shack, you will get your 5th night for free in the same type of accommodation. Your stay must be consecutive nights for this deal to be valid. |
| Is linen provided? All our rooms, dorms and privates have bedding but please bring your own shower and beach towels. If you get cold at night with the duvets, just ask reception for an extra blanket. |
| Can I use my own sleeping bag? No, we do not allow guests to use their own sleeping bags in our rooms; we do not have bed bugs and do not want them. Bed bugs usually catch a ride from one accommodation establishment to another, in people’s belongings and bedding especially sleeping bags. To ensure we stay bed bug free you will not be allowed to use your sleeping bags in the dorms or private rooms. |
| Do you have towels available? Towels are not included; however we do have a few towels available free at Reception, if you forgot yours. |
| What size tent can I use? Our campsite is fairly small, we only allow 2-3man size tents. Out of season allowances can be made for larger tents. |
| Do you have a tent I can use? No, you must bring your own tent if you want to camp. |
| Do you have a mattress I can use in my tent? Yes, we are able to help with a camp mattress if you need. |
| Is there electricity in the camping area? No, our camping area does not have any powered sites. |
| Are there Braai facilities in the campsite? No, but you are welcome to use the communal braai area near the campfire. We supply free wood and grids. |
| I have a camper van or roof top tent on my vehicle; can I stay at Coffee Shack? Of course you can stay with us, although there is not vehicle access to our camp site, there is usually enough space in the parking for you to camp there. |
| Do the rooms have electricity? All private rooms have power outlets where you can charge your devices. Most dorm rooms have power outlets; however you can also charge your device in the reception. |
| How many people share the communal bathrooms? Coffee Shack has excellent communal bathroom facilities. On the main side there are 6 showers and 5 toilets that are shared. Coffee Shack main side accommodation can hold 45 people at its capacity. This means there are 7 people sharing a shower and 9 people sharing a toilet. The beach side accommodation has 3 showers and 3 toilets and can hold 18 people at its capacity. This means there are 6 people sharing each toilet and shower. |
| Is there electricity in the camping area? No, our camping area does not have any powered sites. |
| Are there Braai facilities in the campsite? No, but you are welcome to use the communal braai area near the campfire. We supply free wood and grids. |
| Do you have safe parking? Yes we have safe parking at the hostel. |
| Where is the closest petrol station? At Ngcwanguba Store, approximately 20km from Coffee Bay, you can get unleaded and diesel. The next petrol station is at Mqanduli (65km) or Mthatha (100km). |
| Is there a pool table? The bar has a free pool table. |
| Do you have self-catering facilities? Yes. We have two well-equipped and clean guest kitchens, (pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, oven, gas-burners, micro wave ovens, toaster, fridge, dry-goods storage space, free tea and coffee facilities). Freezer facilities are limited but available upon request. |
| Is breakfast included?? Rates are for room only; we have a full a la carte breakfast menu that has something to suit everyone. Our prices are exceptionally reasonable and servings decent size. |
| How close is the beach? Coffee Shack is right on the Bomvu Beach and about 7 minutes’ walk to the Coffee Bay beach. |
| Is there a safe for my valuables? We have a safe in the reception to keep your valuables. |
| Do you have a laundry facility? Yes, we have assisted an employee to start her own laundry business. She now has a washing machine and is responsible for all Coffee Shack and guest laundry. |
| Do you have a TV to watch sporting games? Yes we have a large flat screen TV that is turned on for sport games. |
| Can you drink the tap water? Yes, the tap water in Coffee Bay is safe for drinking. |
| Where is the closest grocery shop? There is a small store next door to the backpackers that has a limited but convenient supply of goods, (tinned foods, milk, bread, pasta, rice etc.). The closest good grocery store is 20km from Coffee Bay at Ngcwanguba Store. |
| How much do children pay? Children under 12 are free of charge unless they are sleeping in a dorm bed, then they will pay full price. |
| Can I pay with cash? Yes, we accept South African Rand and you can also pay with credit and debit cards. There is no ATM in Coffee Bay so if you want to pay with cash, please bring it with you. |
| Do you accept Credit or Debit cards? Yes, we accept most credit and debit cards; we do not take a commission (sur-charge) if you pay by Visa or Master Cards. |
| Do you charge extra for paying with a credit or debit card? No, we do not apply a surcharge to card payments when using a Visa or MasterCard Credit or Debit cards. We do apply charges for American Express and Diners Club cards, as they take too much commission. |
| Can I pay in foreign currency? No, we do not accept payment in foreign currency and there are no exchange facilities in Coffee Bay. |
| Is there an ATM in Coffee Bay? No, the closest ATM is 20km away at Ngcwanguba. When you stay at Coffee Shack you will have a tab. All your accommodation, activities, bar and food can be charged to this tab and you will pay when you check out so cash is not very necessary, if you pay by Credit or Debit card. You may want to have some spare cash with you for buying any local crafts or eating out and you will need to bring this with you. |
Every full moon we go a bit crazy, starting with free vodka at sun set, normally on a cliff top overlooking the bay, watching the sun set and the full moon rise over the sea. Usually we are lucky enough to have free fresh oysters and mussels as well. After the sun goes down we make a fire, play some cool tunes and have a drumming session in the garden with the moon rising over the bay.
Every Tuesday night, we have a different theme party, we like to get dressed up, slurp free punch, play “killer pool” and have a wicked party, make new friends.
FREE, FREE, FREE, can you believe it? Yes, every Sunday night the kitchen cooks up a big potjie, (meat and vegetable stew cooked in a traditional three legged black pot) for everyone (There is always a vegetarian option). And of course it is served with our famous home-cooked Xhosa bread.