Eastern Cape - Unexpectedly Exceptional

When Mother Nature shows her unexpected sides she reveals her treasured Eastern Cape.

Defined as one of South Africa’s most naturally diverse areas with 5 ecosystems that include valley bushveld, savannah grassland, fynbos, riverine forest and woodland, the Eastern Cape is filled with unexpected treasures that, once discovered, will rejuvenate the soul and inspire the spirit.

Offering a unique “One World” experience, the Eastern Cape will captivate you. Embrace you. Surprise you. And then offer you even more …………..

An 800km coastline of wide-open sandy beaches, secluded lagoons, sheer cliffs and rocky coves. Where treasured creatures of the sea gently frolic to welcome their new additions.

St. Francis Bay - the exceptional coastal paradise

At the gateway to the Garden route, seawards from the N2 lies St Francis Bay an exclusive and beautiful seaside resort. St Francis bay has an unspoilt style which began over 50 yrs ago by its founder Leighton Hulett.
Black & White are the colours of homes in the village or on the canals changing through Santareame into a Mediterranean style. Port St Francis at the end of Santareame offers access to the sea for pleasure craft as well as St Francis Bays’ giant chokka industry.

St. Francis Bay is renowned for its defined, uncluttered lifestyle where relaxation, true friendship and quality time is found in abundance.

This is a haven where the physical, the mental and the spiritual are well cared for - providing one with the sense of unexpected wellbeing that brings harmony, balance and refreshment of life to all. St. Francis Bay is fresh air, open spaces, gentle pathways, great golf, lots to do and a community of friends for all those fading sunsets……a truly healthy diet for those who are hungry for life.

St. Francis Bay, situated on one of South Africa’s finest stretches of coastline, offers a moderate all year round coastal climate experience - warm summers, mild winters, fair breezes and calm seas.

With a major airport within an easy 90 minute drive and an excellent road network, getting to the exceptional coastal paradise is simply effortless.

St. Francis Bay is ideally located to conveniently offer a wide variety of activity catering for young and old, the active and the not so sporty:
• Scenic hiking trails - in and around the area
• Bird watching - there are more bird species to be found here than in the entire USA
• Game parks - easy drive your way to one of 13 reserves including Addo Elephant and Shamwari
• Snorkelling, diving and spear-fishing
• Sunbathing - St. Francis Bay boasts the highest number of sunshine hours on the S.A. coastline
• World-class surfing at Bruce’s Beauties
• Sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, rubber-ducking, kite surfing and skiing
• Angling and deep-sea fishing
• Cycling - on and off-road
• Adventure sports - bungee-jumping, rafting, sand boarding and treetop surfing
• Fine dining and shopping.

St. Francis Bay is now officially recognised as the “Eastern Gateway” to the Garden Route golfing experience - thanks to a few visionary individuals like Jack Nicklaus, who successfully established the golf course of St. Francis links for an exceptional golfing experience.

St Francis Bay was first sighted by Portuguese sailors in 1575 and is named after the Patron Saint of Sailors, St Francis. Situated only an hour's drive from Port Elizabeth and only 15 minutes off the N2, St Francis Bay beckons.

This unique and exclusive paradise on South Africa's Kouga Coast draws holiday-makers from all over the world to enjoy the glorious beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, excellent water-sport facilities, a leisurely lifestyle and the magical beauty of its unspoilt surroundings.

This magnificent up-market village is unique in that the architecture with its aesthetic uniformity blend harmoniously with the green of the indigenous heritage which surrounds it.

The Kromme River, navigable for 10km's twists and winds its way down to an extensive canal system lined with charming white-walled homes with thatched roofs, offering residents and holiday makers an exotic marina lifestyle. The marina gives way to Mediterranean styled homes crowned with terracotta tiles in Santareme and luxury apartments, encircling the turquoise waters, at Port St Francis.

In the distance lies the informal village of Cape St Francis with its historical lighthouse and 15km's to the west, Oyster Bay. The lighthouse was built in 1878 to warn ships of the dangerous reefs that stretch more than a kilometre out to sea. It is the tallest masonry tower on the South African coast, standing at a height of 27.5 meters and is now a National Monument.

St Francis Bay is truly a paradise for water-sport enthusiasts. Windsurfing, water skiing, snorkelling, swimming, sunbathing, exploring the canals by canoe and diving are only a few of the activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The emphasis is on outdoor life, with the bracing sea air, sunshine and unspoilt surroundings. Fishing in the deep sea, the river, the surf and from the rocks are all exciting possibilities with bait being plentiful while the waters teem with many “good eating” and game fish.

Rediscover healthy outdoor living in excellent company. There are walks and trails, acres of fynbos and in early summer wild flowers carpet a large expanse with purples, yellows and whites. With its sheltered waters in the river and the bay, water sports are very popular in St Francis Bay.

The Kromme River, some days a living mirror, sometimes resembling a strong sea, is navigable for 8 kilometres and is the favourite of many a fisherman and sailing enthusiast.

The beaches epitomize perfection - the whitest, cleanest stretches of sand on the South African coastline. St Francis Bay is home to Bruce’s Beauties, one of the worlds best known beach breaks, featured in the 60’s cult film Endless Summer. Those fortunate enough to stay in St Francis will certainly testify to the extraordinary sunsets and equally invigorating sunrises. It is this harmony with nature that makes St Francis extra special.