ST FRANCIS BAY

When intrepid Portuguese explorer Manual de Perestrelo weighed anchor in this beautiful sheltered bay in 1575 he named it Bahia de Sao Francisca, after the monastery of St Francisca, in his hometown of Santareme, hence the name St Francis Bay.

The picturesque holiday village lies nestled among the green clad dunes lining the beautiful Bay of St Francis. Dolphins and whales play along the shoreline while the sound of gulls echo lazily overhead.

Just an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth, nestling in the dunes of an unspoiled stretch of the Eastern Cape spectacular coastline lies the safe, tranquil holiday village of St Francis Bay. It’s pristine white-walled luxury thatched houses, the tidal canals and the long white sandy beaches makes it quite unique in South Africa. It boasts the highest concentration of thatch roofs in the world.

The Kromme river, navigable for 10km upstream from the mouth, twists and winds its way down to the sea creating a paradise for fishermen and water sport enthusiasts.

Linked to the river is a magnificent marina where the unique architecture, gracious white walled thatched homes, is reflected in the tranquil waters of the canals.

Whether a golf or water sport enthusiast St Francis Bay is the perfect place. We boast two golf courses one of which is the famous Jack Nicklaus Links course, which is also fast becoming South Africa’s most favoured wedding venue. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy anything from surfing our world famous Bruce’s beauties to windsurfing, kite surfing, jetskiing, canal cruising, whale and dolphin watching or fishing both off and onshore.

Less than an hours drive away are National Safari reserves where you can view the Big Seven as it includes whales and sharks. Elephants are abundant in the Addo Elephant National park, Whilst the Lion park in Seaview offers a sanctuary, where you can get up close and personal with Lion cubs. Tsitsikamma is also less than an hours drive away, famous for its Otter trail hikes, the big tree and of course for the adrenalin junkies – Bungy jumping, black water tubing and Tree Top canopies.

St Francis Bay, is hence a most unique jewel where you can either laze on the beach or have as a base for an exciting adventure.