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St Francis Bay is a working fishing port and holiday destination in the Cacadu district of South Africa.

Understand

Port St Francis.

St Francis consists of three closely related, but distinct areas: St Francis Bay, Port St Francis and Cape St Francis.

Not far from Jeffreys Bay lies the charming town of St Francis Bay. It is known for its endemic white houses with either black tile or thatch roofs blending together with the Sardinian-style red tile roofs. Approximately half of the town is built around the largest web of manmade canals and waterways in Africa. Adjacent to St Francis Bay is the pastoral fishing village of Cape St Francis with its outstanding beach and historic Seal Point Lighthouse while Port St Francis is the harbour. Visit Oyster Bay, a town that caters for those who enjoy quiet time and relaxation. Explore this district with its beautiful beaches, rich wildlife and adventures - surf the waves or swim with dolphins, there is something for everyone in this picturesque and breathtaking Jeffreys Bay area.

St Francis Bay is a beach village of Cape Dutch style thatched roof houses build on canals in the Kromme River estuary.

Port St Francis is a working fishing port for the squid/calamari industry. Also home to Station 21 of the national Sea Rescue Institute.

Cape St Francis is home to a working lighthouse build in 1878. Surrounded by beautiful beaches and good surfing spots.

Get in

St Francis.

By car

Take the Humansdorp exit from the N2. Drive through Humansdorp and follow the R330 to St Francis. St Francis is just 76km from Port Elizabeth. You could also drive in from Durban (901km) or Cape Town (690km).

By plane

There are two airports located in close proximity to St Francis. The closest is the Port Elizabeth airport which is 76km away. The East London airport is 356km away. There are regular flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other South African destinations to the airports in Port Elizabeth and East London.

By bus

All major South African coach companies offer regular schedules to and from destinations like Addo.

Get around

See

Port St Francis.
Cape St Francis Lighthouse.
  • Aston Bay. Situated between Jeffreys Bay and Paradise Beach, this area offers long stretches of untouched sandy beaches surrounded by protected nature reserves. Sightings of small buck, tortoises, a large variety of birds, rabbits and mongoose are part of every day life in this nature conservancy and the creatures are much loved by local home-dwellers. 
  • Cape St. Francis. Cape St. Francis is renowned for its peace and tranquility. Nonetheless,

surfers from all over the world flock to this coastal town in hopes of surfing a wave at the popular Seal Point. There are a number of nature reserves in the area, and another key attraction for the town is its lighthouse, which was established in 1878 and has since been declared a national monument. 

  • Humansdorp ☏ +27 42 295-1361. The pleasant town of Humansdorp can be found en route to Plettenburg

Bay from Port Elizabeth. The Kouga Cultural Centre is a famous attraction due to its symbolism and portrayal of the African Renaissance. 

  • Jeffreys Bay , ☏ +27 42 293-2923. The home of the perfect wave - situated between Port Elizabeth and the Garden Route is Jeffrey´s Bay, the soul of surfing in SA with a terrain of aloes, perfect points & classic reefs. Once a year the best surfers in the world get together for the annual Billabong Pro surfing competition at Supertubes. 
  • Oyster Bay. What originally started off as a coastal farm before 1956, has since

evolved into the small coastal town called Oyster Bay. Found 14km west of St Francis Bay, activities such as swimming, as well as rock, deep sea and surf fishing can all be enjoyed in this seaside town. 

  • Paradise Beach. Paradise Beach promises a relaxing day on a pristine white beach, away from

the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. The name itself, explains it all…it really feels like paradise. Because of its wide and uncrowded beach, it’s also a paradise for windsurfers and kite boarders with good wind all year round. 

  • St. Francis Bay, ☏ +27 42 294-0076. The charming holiday town of St Francis Bay is known for its endemic white houses with black roofs, either tile or thatch, together with Sardinian-style red tile roofs. It is set around the astonishing Marina

canals, offers a delightful escape from the pressures of daily life, in a haven of peace and tranquility. Enjoy the glorious beaches, excellent water-sports, a leisurely lifestyle and the beauty of its unspoilt surroundings. 

  • The Cape St Francis Lighthouse, ☏ +27 42 298-0428. Open daily 9AM to 4:30PM. The lighthouse, called Cape St Francis Lighthouse or Seal Point Lighthouse, was built in 1878 to warn ships of the dangerous reefs

that stretch more than a kilometer out to the sea. It is the tallest masonry tower on the South African coast standing at a height of 27.75 metre. Although it is no longer in full operation, it is open to the public and guided tours of this historic lighthouse are available. R15. 

  • The Penguin Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre, ☏ +27 42 294-0076. The rehabilitation centre offers you the opportunity to view the vulnerable African Penguin up close and personal. Although the conservation focus is on the African Penguin, the centre deals with all sick, injured or oiled marine birds. 

Do

The canals in St Francis Bay.
The river mouth and beaches in St Francis Bay.
  • Surf. Sealpoint is the best place for surfing 
  • Viking Boat Hire, ☏ +27 83 325-1655. Hire a boat to explore the canals and river on your own. Around R400 per day. 

Golf

  • St Francis Links, ☏ +27 42 200-4500. The highly rated St Francis Links is an extremely beautiful and challenging 18-hole, par 72 golf course which compares favourably with some of the best courses in the Cape. 
  • Swartenbosch Golf Club in Humansdorp, ☏ +27 42 291-0569. 9 Hole (18 tee) Golf Course 

Horse, hiking & mountain biking trails

There are a number of small nature reserves in the area, which provide the perfect backdrop for magnificent hiking and hore riding trails in the area.

Buy

Eat

  • Barons Grill, Village centre. 
  • The Butcher Shop, Village centre, ☏ +27 42 294-1982. 
  • Farol Bistro and Coffee shop, Village centre, ☏ +27 42 294-1019. Excellent breakfasts. 
  • Porthole Restaurant And Bar, ☏ +27 42 294-1123. On the port. Serves delicious calamari, fresh from the sea. Sit on the patio and watch the calamari being unloaded from the fishing boats. 
  • Trattoria San Francesco, Village centre, ☏ +21 42 294-0819. Pasta. 

Drink

Sleep

St Francis Bay

  • The Sands @ St. Francis, 8 Frank Rd, ☏ +27 42 294-1888. This splendid luxurious five star African Beach House offers five spacious en suite bedrooms all with uninterrupted views of the majestic Indian Ocean and endless stretches of pristine coastline. 

Port St Francis

Cape St Francis

Connect

For contact details for food and groceries, vehicles, home services, liquor, medical practitioners, nurseries & garden services, pharmacy, professional, cleaning, legal services, photography, security, timber decks, housing, health and beauty call the local or international telephone directory.

Local telephone directory: 1023

International telephone directory: 10903

Important Numbers

Police: 10111 or +27 42 293-1133

Fire Brigade: +27 42 291-0283

Ambulance: 10177 or +27 42 293-1311

Hospital: +27 42 291-0749

Go next

This city travel guide to St Francis is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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