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.
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.

• St Francis Tourism Bureau

  phone: +27 42 294-0076

By car

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

By plane

There are two airports located in close proximity to St Francis. The closest is the Port Elizabeth airport which is 76 km away. The East London airport is 356 km 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.

• Budget Car Rental

  phone: +27 42 294-1152
  address: Sanriver Lodge

• Cape St. FrancisCape 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.

• Oyster BayWhat started off as a coastal farm before 1956 has evolved into the small coastal town called Oyster Bay. Found 14 km west of St Francis Bay, activities such as swimming, and rock, deep sea and surf fishing can all be enjoyed in this seaside town.

• Paradise BeachParadise Beach promises a relaxing day on a pristine white beach, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. The name 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

  phone: +27 42 294-0076

• The Cape St Francis Lighthouse

  phone: +27 42 298-0428
  The lighthouse, called Cape St Francis Lighthouse or Seal Point Lighthouse, was built in 1878 to warn ships of the dangerous reef that stretch more than a kilometre out to the sea. It is the tallest masonry tower on the South African coast standing at a height of 27.75 m. Although it is no longer in full operation, it is open to the public and guided tours of this historic lighthouse are available.

• The Penguin Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre

  phone: +27 42 294-0076
  The rehabilitation centre offers you the opportunity to view the vulnerable African Penguin up close. Although the conservation focus is on the African Penguin, the centre deals with all sick, injured or oiled marine birds.

• Jetski in the Krom River and out to the ocean

  phone: +27 82 939-4081

• Krom River Expeditions

  phone: +27 84 506-6396
  Go on a canal cruise.

• Paintball

  phone: +27 74 342-2644
  address: The Rabbit Farm, off St Francis Dr

• St Francis Safaris

  phone: +27 82 569-3750 or +27 83 441-6397
  Game fishing, dolphin and whale cruises, boat and jet ski hire

• SurfSealpoint is the best place for surfing

• Viking Boat Hire

  phone: +27 83 325-1655
  Hire a boat to explore the canals and river on your own.

Golf

• St Francis Links

  phone: +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.

• St Francis Bay Golf Club

  phone: +27 42 294-0467

• Swartenbosch Golf Club in Humansdorp

  phone: +27 42 291-0569
  9-hole (18 tee) golf course.

Horse, hiking & mountain biking trails

Small nature reserves in the area provide the perfect backdrop for magnificent hiking and hore riding trails in the area.

• Eastern Cape Tours

  phone: +27 82 824-3124

• Oyster Bay Lodge Hiking Trails

  phone: +27 42 297-0150

• Grasmere Ostriches

  phone: +27 42 295-2325
  Ostrich leather belts, wallets, handbags, etc.

• Barons Grill

  address: Village centre

• The Butcher Shop

  phone: +27 42 294-1982
  address: Village centre

• Farol Bistro and Coffee shop

  phone: +27 42 294-1019
  address: Village centre
  Excellent breakfasts.

• Porthole Restaurant And Bar

  phone: +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

  phone: +21 42 294-0819
  address: Village centre
  Pasta.

St Francis Bay

• Cape St Francis Resort

  phone: +27 42 298-0054
  This is a luxury 5-star resort with three separate villas and 12 en suite bedrooms. You can opt for either self-catering or bed and breakfast accommodation

• Osbosch Lodge

  phone: +27 42 294-1001
  Self catering and B&B.

• The Sands @ St. Francis

  phone: +27 42 294-1888
  address: 8 Frank Rd
  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.

• Sandriver Lodge

  phone: +27 42 294-1052
  address: St Francis Dr
  Nice B&B close to shopps and golf course

• Thatchwood Country Lodge

  phone: +27 42 294-0082
  They offer various rooms with both double and twin beds

Port St Francis

Cape St Francis

• Beach Break

  phone: +27 42 298-0054
  On the beach

• Lyngenfjord House

  phone: +27 42 298-0444
  address: 7 Lyngenfjord Rd
  4-star.

Local telephone directory: 1023
International telephone directory: 10903
Important u

• 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

Nearby

• Aston BaySituated 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.

• Jeffreys Bay

  phone: +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.

• Humansdorp

  phone: +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.

Further away

• Addo
• Baviaans
• Grahamstown
• Karoo
• Sunshine Coast
• Tsitsikamma