St Francis Bay is situated midway between Port Elizabeth and Knysna on South Africa’s Sunshine Coast. Just an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth at the beginning of the Garden Route, and two hours away from the famous Tsitsikamma Forest, you will find wide unspoilt beaches, a picturesque fishing harbour, a river to delight water sport enthusiasts and much more besides.

The village of St Francis Bay is situated close to the Kromme River Estuary. A series of tidal canals lined with white walled thatched homes offers a wonderful marina lifestyle, with a small boat harbour catering for fishing and other sea-going vessels. Residents fish from their jetties and children navigate the waters with ease, paddling to and fro between the nearby beach and the canals.

Locals take to their boats in the late afternoons to cruise the gentle waters of the canals and sip on sundowners as they watch the sun go down. The more energetic who are into waterskiing or jetskiing can head for the estuary which is a watersport lover’s paradise. The Kromme River itself is 10 kilometres of navigable water, and you can spend a day exploring the river by boat, stopping here and there for a picnic or a spot of birdwatching, and generally enjoying the tranquility of the river.

Golf enthusiasts are well catered for – there are two golf courses, the St Francis Bay Golf Course and the newly opened St Francis Bay Links, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.

Take a drive down to Port St Francis, where you will find a small harbour which accommodates both a busy fishing industry and anchorage for visiting yachts. Watch the “chokka” (squid) boats come in, and enjoy the busy and vibrant atmosphere of the harbour, then head off for a superb and simple meal of fresh calamari and hake in one of the restaurants overlooking the harbour.

St Francis Bay offers miles of dunes and wide white sandy beaches lapped by the Indian Ocean. Stroll the dunes, take a dip in the sea or sandboard on the nearby Sand River Dunes. Visit the historic Seal Point lighthouse, built in 1878. Adjacent to St Francis Bay is Cape St Francis, famous worldwide for its surf break. Surfing film legend Bruce Brown immortalised the perfect wave found here known as “Bruce’s Beauties”, in the 1960s cult film “Endless Summer”. In July of each year the International Billabong Surf Contest is held here and you can watch world champion surfers in action.

Need to wind down the day? Watch a spectacular sunset as the sun goes down over the sea, chilled glass of wine in hand (something of a local tradition around these parts).

Nature reserves surround St Francis Bay, protecting the dunes and fynbos. The Cape Floral Kingdom is internationally recognised for its huge diversity. The area is rich in natural beauty and animal life and a must for nature lovers. Guided walks can also be organised through the Cape St Francis resort office, and will introduce you to the splendours of the fynbos.

• St Francis Tourism
  Phone : 042 294 0076
  Email: info@stfrancistourism.co.za

• Cape St Francis
  Phone: 042 298 0428