Coffee Shack Backpackers

The Coffee Shack first welcomed guests on the 8th February 2000, after partners Dave Malherbe, Andre Malherbe and Dan Cornick, were given a lease to rent the main property. In April 2000, they also took over the ‘Beach Side’ property, across the stream. In 2003 the proprietor, Deryk Lang ceded his rights to the property to David, Andre & Dan. The partners also own Sugar Shack Backpackers in East London and Away with the Fairies Backpackers in Hogsback. Coffee Shack is managed by husband-and-wife, Dave and Belinda.We were fortunate to have guidance and example of our former proprietor, the late Deryk Lang, who was instrumental in getting many of the schools and clinics built in the area, and contributed greatly to the improvement of the area and community at large. Following on from Deryk’s example, we have invested significant amounts into the local schools; built and manage a Montessori nursery school for 60 children, provide scholarships for high school and secondary education; support the local soccer and netball leagues among other initiatives that you can read about on our responsible tourism page.

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.

Coffee Shack Backpackers is a certified Fair Trade Tourism establishment