Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay are two beautiful towns on the South African coast. We made an excursion here for the day, while staying in our friends' summer house, not far from here. A lovely day!
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Jeffreys Bay in South Africa
Jeffreys Bay is a South African town situated on a long, beautiful sandy beach. There are plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as a large dose of holiday spirit.
Jeffreys Bay is about an hour's drive west of the larger city of Port Elizabeth, or Gqeberha as it is known today.
Marina Martinique and Wacky Waterpark
In Jeffreys Bay, the Marina Martinique is an exclusive residential area, with holiday homes and small boats for cruising the canals. There's also the Wacky Waterpark, where you can buy day passes even if you don't live in the area.
Lunch at Die Walskipper in Jeffreys Bay
We continued the last little stretch from Marina Martinique down to the coast, where we enjoyed the view for a while, before it was time for lunch.
The restaurant The whale skippers is dreamily located down by the beach, so you can sit with your feet in the sand while looking out over the sea. The menu focuses on seafood and when we were here it was also set for the wedding party, which started with a wedding ceremony on the beach. For our part, it was really good mussels, which were served with both rice and fries.
St Francis Bay
After our visit to Jeffreys Bay, we continued by car to St Francis Bay, which is a drive of just under half an hour.
St Francis Bay is located on the coast, just west of Jeffreys Bay.
This is another exclusive residential area, with large villas set around beautifully constructed canals.
Almost all the houses in this part of the town are built in the same style, painted white with black thatched roofs.
Is it the case that only rich people live in these towns? No, in South Africa the contrasts are, as always, stark. Not far from the golf course and large villas, you'll find spartan areas where people use corrugated iron and all sorts of loose boards to at least protect themselves from the elements.
Cape St Francis
If you're visiting St Francis Bay, make sure you also head out to Cape St Francis. Out here, the winds pick up and it's very popular to come here to surf the waves.
There is also a beautiful lighthouse and hiking trails that wind along the coast. Bird life is abundant and you should also be able to see seals and otters.
The Seal Point Lighthouse, first lit in 1878, now offers accommodation and a restaurant serving light meals. It is also possible to book guided tours of the lighthouse.
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
From Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay it is relatively close to the larger city of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). We can recommend to book accommodation at Eersterivierstrand, or elsewhere along the coast, and also to visit Tsitsikamma National Park. Upcountry, it's also well worth visiting the wonderfully charming resort of Nieu-Bethesda.
Would you like to visit Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay?
Would you like to visit Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay? Perhaps you've been in the neighbourhood on occasion?
Facts about Jeffreys Bay
- Country: South Africa
- Provins: Eastern Cape
- Location: On the coast of the Indian Ocean, 70 kilometres west of Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha).
- Name: Jeffreysbaai in Afrikaans. Also known locally as J-Bay
- Residents: More than 27 000 (2011) or more according to other sources
Facts about St Francis Bay
- Country: South Africa
- Provins: Eastern Cape
- Location: On the South African coast, approximately 110 kilometres west of Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha).
- Name: St Francisbaai in Afrikaans
- Residents: Around 11 000 (2011)
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Lena - good for the soul says:
Nice to be able to take a holiday from the holidays 😉 No, I know you work hard! How lovely it seems to be. I can definitely imagine visiting the area.
Hug Lena
20 February 2024 - 12:48
Helena says:
Many nice places along the coast here in South Africa!
21 February 2024 - 6:51
BP says:
The housing estate you show is absolutely fantastic and not a single black person is likely to live there, but probably maids, gardeners, cleaners etc. are available to the rich white South Africans.
Considering that more than 80 per cent of the population in South Africa is black, it's almost difficult to understand that the few whites are doing so well in the country, while 80 per cent of the population lives in shanty towns... I guess it's dangerous to visit "black" areas for you as white tourists...
The price level in restaurants seems to be about half that of Sweden, which is perfect for you.
20 February 2024 - 19:37
Helena says:
The contrasts are very high in South Africa, which also leads to major challenges. Most people we talk to (both white and black) see corruption as a major problem. Elections are coming up, but many seem concerned and don't really see any good solutions. As you say, people are strongly discouraged from travelling in shanty towns and similar areas. But you see these areas all the time, they are often on the outskirts of cities. Yes, the price level is low. Going out to eat, having a beer and the like is much cheaper than in Sweden.
21 February 2024 - 7:00