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Jeffrey's Bay · South Africa

JBay Coliving

6–12 people · 6 private rooms

Typical guests

Surf-Loving Slow Travelers

Surf-passionate remote workers and nature lovers who thrive on slow coastal living, world-class waves, daily wildlife sightings, and a peaceful, early-to-bed lifestyle far from party culture.

Unique features

Surf Access

The coliving is a 5-minute walk from Supertubes, one of the most celebrated surf breaks in the world, with surfboard storage and a nearby beginner-friendly break at the partner coworking space.

Ocean Wildlife

Guests regularly spot dolphins and seasonal whales directly from the house's balconies and deck, making wildlife encounters a cherished part of everyday life.

Safari Proximity

The coliving serves as a launchpad for epic day trips along the Garden Route, to Addo Elephant National Park, Schotia Game Reserve, and Tsitsikamma National Park.

Artisan Interiors

The house is thoughtfully decorated by local artists and artisans, creating a distinctive, magazine-worthy aesthetic that guests — including an interior designer — specifically rave about.

8.3/10 Good
Based on 30 reviews

Ratings are AI-generated only from recent and detailed reviews.

About JBay Coliving

JBay Coliving is a vegetarian coliving house perched on the hill above Supertubes surf spot in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa, on the lush Garden Route. Designed for remote workers who want to incorporate the ocean and surfing into their daily routine, it offers a productive environment, coworking access, and a community rooted in slower travel, low-impact living, and connection with the local community. Minimum stay is 14 nights.

Origin story

JBay Coliving started in an unexpected way: Michael, one of the founders, had adopted a stray cat named Mogi. He lived next door to an old guesthouse and noticed that Mogi loved hanging out in that garden.

Michael also runs the local coworking space in JBay and had observed a growing remote work community in town. When the guesthouse next door came up for sale, he saw a dual opportunity: to ensure Mogi would always be looked after even when he needed to travel, and to address the frequent requests he received from remote workers at the cowork who wanted longer-stay, Airbnb-level accommodation near the beach — but preferred to live in community rather than alone.

With that, he bought the guesthouse, made a few upgrades, and JBay Coliving was born. As the story goes, it is mostly a home for a cat — but one where you can stay for a while, get your work done, and do it all in community.

Community philosophy

JBay Coliving is built around the belief that slower travel leads to a richer experience. Residents are encouraged to stay long enough to settle into JBay's rhythm, get to know the local community, and enjoy a healthy, balanced way of living.

The house actively discourages isolation — many activities in town are more fun enjoyed in a group, and the coliving fosters a sense of community and connection among residents. At the same time, residents have full autonomy over how communal they want to work and live, with various nooks and spaces across five levels offering everything from cosy private work spots to open, sun-filled communal areas.

Communal meals are hosted at least once a week, often featuring someone interesting from the local community cooking something delicious. The house also facilitates opportunities to share time, experiences and talents with the wider local community.

Low-impact living is central to everything: the house uses natural-based and biodegradable cleaning products, runs mostly on solar power, maintains an organic communal veggie garden, and composts all organic waste using the bokashi method. A strict vegetarian-only policy applies — no meat is stored or prepared in the house.

Hosts

Work

Amenities

Spaces

On-site workspace

Calls allowed

The coliving house is designed primarily for remote workers and features various nooks and work-friendly spaces across 5 levels, ranging from cosy private work areas to open, sun-filled communal spots. Residents can choose how communal or private their work environment is.

Green Room JBay Coworking

Calls allowed
External

An ocean-minded coworking space located ~3km from the coliving house (5-min drive or 15-min cycle). Membership is included for all coliving residents. The space offers:

  • Hot Desks: flexible drop-in desks in quiet focus spaces and ocean-facing rooms
  • Dedicated Desks: your own permanent workstation in a shared area
  • Deluxe Workstations: cubicle-style desks with acoustic panels, ergonomic chairs, large desk space, bookshelf, pin board, and lock-away storage (included for Whale Room #1 and Garden Room #5 guests)
  • Private Offices: fully enclosed offices (some with ocean view or afternoon sun)
  • Team Cubes: semi-private spaces for 2–10 people

All tiers include unlimited 100Mbps WiFi and free-flowing locally brewed coffee. Call booths (Zoom Cubes) and two private meeting rooms (with smart TV, whiteboard) are accessible to all members. A printer and an on-site shower (for post-surf use) are also available. Standard hours are 08:00–17:00; private office members may access outside these times.

Kitchen

A large, beautifully designed communal kitchen with open shelving, gas stove, microwave, kettle, toaster, and ample crockery and glassware — all arranged in rattan baskets. Features exposed wooden beam ceilings and a pass-through window. The coliving follows a vegetarian philosophy — only veggie food is kept in the house. The organic veggie garden provides fresh herbs and produce for cooking.

Dining room

A family-style dining room with a stunning view of the ocean and a cosy fireplace for chilly winter evenings. Weekly "family dinners" are hosted here where a resident cooks for the whole house.

Veggie garden

Outdoor

A thriving organic communal vegetable garden where residents can help themselves to fresh produce including herbs, fruit and vegetables. The garden is part of the house's low-impact living ethos.

Sundeck

Outdoor

A wooden outdoor deck with seating and unobstructed ocean views. Residents enjoy spectacular sunrises from here and have spotted whales and dolphins from the deck. Mentioned repeatedly in reviews as a highlight of the property.

Outdoor shower

Outdoor

An outdoor shower available for rinsing off after surfing or beach visits, as mentioned by residents in reviews.

Surfboard storage

Dedicated storage space for surfboards, as mentioned by residents in reviews.

Rooms

Double room

Double bed
Up to 2 guests
Private bathroom

Food

Communal meals

Groceries

The coliving also has a communal organic vegetable and herb garden on the premises that residents are welcome to help themselves to.

Nearby vendors

  • Supermarket (5min walk)
    A shopping centre within a 5-minute walk containing a grocery store, laundromat, clinic, and a popular restaurant

Organised trips & deliveries

  • On-demand grocery deliveries
    Green Box grocery delivery service is available for residents. The website is not prominently displayed but residents can use it to order groceries for delivery.

Activities

Location

31 Mimosa Street, Jeffrey's Bay, Eastern Cape 6330, South Africa

JBay Coliving is situated on the hill above Supertubes — one of the world's most celebrated surf spots — in Jeffrey's Bay (JBay), a small coastal town on South Africa's Eastern Cape, part of the scenic Garden Route. The house enjoys breathtaking ocean views across the bay, and on big swell days residents can hear the waves from their rooms.

The town centers around ocean and surf culture, offering a quiet, peaceful pace of life. Reviewers frequently describe the environment as calm and inspiring, with little nightlife — most evenings are spent at local restaurants or small community events. Nearby natural attractions include the Garden Route, Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Schotia Game Reserve, and beautiful stretches of coastline. A shopping centre with a grocery store, laundromat, clinic, and a popular restaurant is within a 5-minute walk of the house.

Jeffrey's Bay itself is a relatively small surf town — safe, unpretentious, and deeply connected to its natural surroundings. Reviewers note that it is a fantastic base for exploring the wider Garden Route, with several charming towns nearby.

Getting around

  • Very walkable
    Beaches, supermarkets, a pharmacy, a clinic, a laundromat, and restaurants are all within a 5-minute walk.
    Reviews: Guests consistently confirm the area is very walkable, with surf spots, supermarkets, restaurants, and a pharmacy all within easy reach. Many say a car feels entirely unnecessary for day-to-day life in JBay.
  • Free house bicycles
    Bicycles are provided by the coliving at no extra charge, available to all residents.
    Destinations: Green Room Coworking space (~3 km, 10–15 min ride), surf spots along the coast, town centre, golf course, and a gym near the coworking space.
    Reviews: Guests frequently use the free bikes to reach the coworking space and get around town, and many highlight them as a genuine perk. One guest noted some bikes were hard to pedal, though most find them more than adequate for getting around.
  • Local taxi
    Local taxis are available in Jeffrey's Bay for short trips around town.
    Destinations: Green Room Coworking space (~5-min drive, ~€3), restaurants, surf spots, and local attractions around Jeffrey's Bay.
    Reviews: One guest mentions that arranging a taxi in JBay is easy and straightforward, making it a handy backup alongside borrowing a housemate's car for short trips around town.
  • Rental car
    A rental car provides the most flexibility for exploring the wider region. Can be arranged via major car rental companies. The hosts are also known to offer rides and organise group day trips.
    Destinations: Garden Route road trip, Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Schotia Game Reserve, Cape St. Francis, and charming towns along the Eastern Cape coast.
    Reviews: Guests agree a car isn't needed for daily life in JBay, as essentials are walkable or bikeable. That said, many used one (or joined host-organised excursions) to explore the Garden Route, Addo Elephant Park, Tsitsikamma, and Schotia Game Reserve.
  • Free parking
    Parking is available at the house, as mentioned by guests in reviews. No specific reservation appears to be required.

Getting there

How to get to JBay Coliving from the nearest transportation hubs:

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Airport

Policies

Stay restrictions

  • 14 nights minimum
  • 90 nights maximum

Guest restrictions

  • Pets not allowed

    No pet policy is explicitly stated on the website. The property previously had a house cat (Mogi), and neighbouring cats may wander in, but there is no indication that guest pets are permitted.

Payment & cancellation policy

Booking

Prepayment (100%)

Full payment is due within 48 hours of receiving the invoice in order to secure your reservation.

60+ days
before check-in

Full refund (minus fees)

Greater than 60 days prior to check-in – guests will receive a full refund (less any transaction costs).

30+ days
before check-in

Partial refund

Between 30 and 60 days prior to check-in – guests will receive a 50% refund (less any transaction costs).

Less than 30 days
before check-in

No refund

Less than 30 days prior to check-in – guests will not receive a refund.

Check-in

Frequently Asked Questions

About JBay Coliving

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Location & Activities