St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
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Positives
- J-Bay's world-class rights
- Consistent swells
- Frequent offshore winds
- Surf town facilities
Negatives
- Cool water and wind chill
- Sharp mussel covered rocks
- Packed J-Bay line-up
- Sharks
St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape surf travel guide
Halfway between Durban and Cape Town is South Africa’s best and most consistent surf zone. The frequent winter SW swells turn on dozens of classic pointbreaks that are hidden away inside crescent shaped coves. Jeffreys Bay (J-Bay) is obviously the most renowned wave and is considered one of the best righthanders in the world. St Francis Bay is blessed with other quality waves, including the fickle Bruce’s Beauties, which featured in the seminal ‘60s film, Endless Summer. Jeffreys Bay has quickly grown from laid-back hippie town into South Africa’s major surf hub and a solid tourist destination in its own right.
Surf spots in St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
Research the 21 surf breaks in St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 21 breaks in St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring St. Francis Bay, Eastern Cape.
Virtual Eye: Corona Open J-Bay - This Is Why Jeffreys Bay Is The Best Right-Hander On Earth
- MeteorologyOceanography
From Biltong To Bungee Jumping To An Epic Freesurf, This Is The Other Side Of J-Bay | No Contest Ep6
- TravelSurf
Before there were surfers: The Discovery of surf at Cape St Francis
- DiscoverHistory
- By Miles Masterson for The John Whitmore Book Project
- 5 minute read
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 10,472,000
- Population
- 59,308,690
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- ZAR
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 7.24 ZAR ZAR
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +27
- Dialing out
- 09
- Emergencies
- 112
- Language
- Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venḓa, Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans and English are all official languages. Plus there are many other non official languages.
Electricity
- Plug Type
- dmn
Visas
Currently nearly every country in the world can go to South Africa without needing a visa but always check the latest news to be sure
Getting There
Most international airlines only fly to Johannesburg (JNB) and a connection to J-Bay’s closest airport, Port Elizabeth (PLZ), is required. Otherwise driving from Johannesburg to J-Bay takes 13hrs.
Getting Around
Hire a car in Port Elizabeth to get around. It's an hours drive or bus journey to get to J-Bay.
Accommodation
During summer all accommodation may be full. In winter the crowds die down and prices drop and beds can be had in surfer’s hostels for as little as $20/n or camping from $14. Better quality options include Jeffreys Bay Surftrips from ($40/n). Cape St-Francis Holiday Resort (fr $40/p/n), On the Beach Guesthouse (fr $50/p/n) and a multitude of others. A good meal costs $8. The fish is excellent.
Activities
There’s very little to do here other than surf. The Drakensberg Mountains are a long but worthwhile trip. Port Elizabeth is known as the Friendly City, as well as the Windy City. Attractions include the Seaview Lion Park, Marine Rehab Centre, whale watching tours or the Shamwari Game Reserve.
Hazards & hassles
Sharks are everyone’s big fear, as Mick Fanning will testify, yet the first fatal J-Bay attack was in Oct 2013 on a swimmer. Avoid surfing during the sardine runs, heavy rain and at dawn or dusk. More realistic threats are the razor sharp mussels that line the rocks.
Handy Hints
Car rental, fuel and living costs are cheap. Surf gear bought from the J-Bay surf shops can be a very good deal.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.