Jeffreys Bay

Jeffreys Bay is located within the Cacadu District on the Sunshine Coast of South Africa. Also known as J-Bay, the town is famous for surfing, white sand beaches and an abundance of sea shells. The town became popular with surfers after the 1966 movie Endless Summer.

Understand


The Jeffreys Bay region is renowned for its gorgeous beaches, never ending summers, plentiful shells and is best known as “the Surf Mecca of the World”. The beautiful beaches are safe for bathing and provide endless excitement for water sports.

2 km south of JBay is Marina Martinique, a development on 5 km of man-made saltwater canals. 2½ km north, is the beautiful valley of Kabeljousriver with its waterfall. These are good places to stay if you like a bit more peace and quiet than accommodation in town can offer. Aston Bay borders on Marina Martinique and if you cross the causeway over the lagoon of the Seekoi River, you come to Paradise Beach.

Paradise Beach is relatively undeveloped with 6 km of unspoiled beach all the way to the Kromm River which separates it from St Francis. It is not recommended to swim across the river.

Ocean temperatures are around 23°C in summer.

By car
Follow the N2 West from Port Elizabeth (75 km) or the N2 East from Garden Route and use the turn off to Jeffreys Bay. Jeffreys Bay is 876 km from Durban and 356 km from East London.

By bus
The BazBus stops on its way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in J-Bay and there are a number of intercity bus companies stopping in Humansdorp (drop-off for St Francis) and Jeffreys Bay.

Minibus taxis depart from the corner of Goedehoop and St francis street going to and from Port Elizabeth. one hour. R50.

Eldo Coaches have buses from Jeffreys Bay going to Cape Town and East London. The fare from Jeffreys Bay to Cape Town is R360, and the fare from Jeffreys Bay to East London is R310.

By plane
The nearest airport is the Port Elizabeth International Airport, which is approximately 75 km away. Despite its name it only has domestic services, but you can fly in from other world cities with a change of planes in Johannesburg or Cape Town. The latter is approximately 650 km away and you can travel that trip overland if you have time and want to see more of southernmost Africa.

For general aviation, there is a good gravel airstrip - 1300 m for small planes in Paradise Beach.

Get around
You can easily walk around in town. Most places you want to be are centered around Da Gama Road, the main beach and Supertubes. Car rental, taxi, and bike rental are also available.



Do


The best beaches for sunbathing and swimming are Dolphin Beach (the main beach) and Kabeljous-on-Sea. The best surfing location is the. Other spots include the Boneyards, Kitchen Windows, Magna Tubes, Point and Albatross. The area offers kite surfing on the Seekoei and Kabeljouws rivers, regular kite flying, canoeing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, and some great angling from the rocks or out at sea. Game drives, mountain and quad biking and are but some of the other options to consider.



Surfing
Be a spectator at the annual Billabong Pro surfing competition, watch surfers at Supertubes all year round or hit the waves yourself. With numerous surf schools, surf shops and surfboard manufacturers based in the town, there is no excuse not to learn.





Fishing
A number of companies offer deep sea fishing charters. Most of the boats operate from nearby St Francis.

Horse, hiking & mountain biking trails
There are a few small nature reserves in the area, such as the Kabeljous Nature Reserve, which is a walk-about reserve with a safe beach for swimming and excellent fishing spots, as well as bird watching. The reserve includes a 4-km hiking trail and its own flock of pink flamingoes (when in season). Nature lovers can also enjoy the Noorsekloof Nature Reserve, which runs through a popular residential area. Here you can look out for small buck and many birds while walking the 3-km trail running alongside the stream, while breathing in the magnificent fragrances of indigenous fynbos. The Seekoei River Nature Reserve, situated on the Seekoei River estuary, is a bird watcher’s paradise with hides overlooking the river. For the energetic, Jeffreys Bay can also be explored from the seat of a rented mountain bike. There are some exciting places to visit of which the waterfall, located just outside of town, is perhaps one of the best. The natural pools are refreshing to say the least, while the waterslide and cliffs from which to jump off is perfect entertainment for the more adventurous.



Buy
Most shops and businesses are along the main road (Da Gama Street) or concentrated around the small main town area.



Surf gear
J-Bay is a good place to have a custom board shaped, as a number of surfboard manufacturers have made the town their home.

Clothing
There are many shops selling surfer wear and this is the place to buy an exclusive Billabong or Quicksilver outfit. Apart from the retail stores, there are also surf brand factory stores where you can find great surf gear at bargain prices.

Budget


You can have almost all fast foods delivered by making use of special delivery services.

Drink
The main swimming beach, Dolphin Beach, is an alcohol-free zone.

There are many pubs and two nightclubs in town.

Sleep
J-Bay caters for all kinds of accommodation. Backpacking hostels, caravan and camping, bed and breakfast, self-catering and hotels can all be found.

Budget




Stay safe
Robberies of tourists and less careful locals are becoming more frequent. Be careful when walking alone on the beach, or while walking in town at night. Do not leave valuables visible in your car.

Be careful when travelling along the road between Jeffreys Bay and Aston Bay at night, as pedestrians do cross without warning between the small informal settlements on both sides of this road. Also watch out for stray animals on the road.


 * At the closest airport, get directions and information from marked information counters
 * Stay alert and keep an eye on your valuables and luggage at all times
 * Use only registered and qualified tour guides. Contact tourism offices for a list of qualified tour guides

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

There are a number of internet cafes in town. Some offer wifi access and some are equipped for Skype calls. Places to sleep often also offer free wi-fi, and mobile operators have 3G networks (see South Africa).

Nearby
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.






 * Visit Hankey and see the grave of Sarah Baartman just outside the town and the largest sundial in Africa (36.4m in diameter).
 * Take a relaxing drive to Patensie and have breakfast at Tolbos.

Further away
Wildlife and game viewing is only a short drive away
 * Go to Port Elizabeth (75km to the east) and its attractions.
 * Tsitsikamma and the Tsitsikamma National Park is worth a visit to relax a day.
 * The Gamtoos Valley and Baviaanskloof
 * See the Great Train Race during August or September where runners race The Apple Express steam trains from Port Elizabeth to Loerie.
 * Baviaans – valleys inland to the west of Jeffreys Bay
 * Grahamstown – the "city of saints" about 200 km northeast
 * Karoo Heartland – the plains to the north
 * Sunshine Coast – the coast itself east and west
 * Karoo Heartland – the plains to the north
 * Sunshine Coast – the coast itself east and west