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Eastern Cape, South Africa · ZA
World-famous surfing town on South Africa's Sunshine Coast
History & Heritage
Jeffreys Bay was established in 1849 when the trading firm Jeffrey & Glendinnings opened a store at the site, taking its name from the firm's senior partner. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the town emerged as a hippie-era hangout as the international surf community discovered its wave — a faster, more powerful and hollower break than nearby St Francis Bay.
The point break is made up of named sections including Kitchen Windows, Supertubes and the Point, with Supertubes running for over 300 metres and considered the premier section. Professional surfing has been contested here since at least 1984; the World Surf League's J-Bay Open has run most years since.
In July 2015, surfer Mick Fanning fought off a shark during a live-televised J-Bay Open final, one of the most-watched moments in surfing history. The town has also diversified economically, home to the 138 MW Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm, one of South Africa's first utility-scale renewable energy projects.
Key Historical Places
The original 1849 trading post that gave the town its name.
↑ Little of the original structure survives; a heritage reference point.
A small museum tracing the town's surf history through old boards and magazines.
↑ A good rainy-day stop before or after a Supertubes session.
The 300m+ wave section that made Jeffreys Bay world-famous, discovered by travelling surfers in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
↑ Best viewed from the Point car park at dawn before the wind picks up.
River-mouth reserves flanking the town with diverse birdlife and watersports.
↑ Good for an easy afternoon away from the beach crowds.
Timeline
Must-See Attractions
One of the world's great right-hand point breaks, running 300+ metres on a good swell.
Best April-September
A collection celebrating the coastline's shells, anchoring the town's annual Shell Festival.
Festival held each September
Old boards and memorabilia tracing the town's rise to a pro tour stop.
Small, quick visit
River-mouth reserves with diverse birdlife and calm water for kayaking.
Either side of town
A valley bushveld reserve inside town with over 50 recorded bird species along a 3km trail.
3km trail
Accommodation
An 11-room country house and spa on a working citrus farm in Addo, with twice-daily guided game drives into Addo Elephant National Park
A boutique lodge of individually designed suites in dune forest at Chintsa East, with direct access to Cintsa Bay on the edge of the Wild Coast
A 12-room hotel on Uys Street in C-Place, Jeffreys Bay, with en-suite rooms, a garden fire pit, a licensed bar and the beach within walking distance
A 58-room hotel on Marine Drive in Summerstrand, Gqeberha, about 190 m from Shark Rock Pier, with three restaurants and an ocean-view pool
Beachfront boutique hotel on Marine Drive, Summerstrand — rated 8.6/10 Excellent. Wild dolphins at breakfast, sparkling outdoor pool, full-service spa. 12 rooms from R1,007/night.
A backpackers on Bomvu Beach in Coffee Bay on the Wild Coast, with thatched rondavels, a surf school, village walks and a daily Mthatha shuttle
A backpackers lodge owned by Nqileni village above the Bulungula river mouth on the Wild Coast, with rondavels, dorms and village-run tours
A 103-room hotel and conference centre in Blue Bend, Beacon Bay, KuGompo (East London), overlooking the Nahoon River mouth and the sea
Self-catering suites for two around a sunny braai terrace in Summerstrand, Gqeberha, a 600 m walk from the beach, with gated parking
Two self-catering units with a pool in Paradise Beach, a quiet coastal suburb about 10 km from the restaurants and shops of Jeffreys Bay
Four self-catering cottages about 100 m from Coffee Bay's main beach on the Wild Coast, each with a braai, plus a shared pool and secure parking
Seven self-catering suites with kitchenettes in leafy Nahoon, KuGompo (East London), with a continental breakfast included
An owner-run guest house on the Beacon Bay slopes of KuGompo (East London), with Nahoon River views, breakfast included and a pool
A single beachfront self-catering unit for two on the owners' property at Kidd's Beach, about 30 km from KuGompo (East London)
A ten-room bed and breakfast in a renovated heritage house in Summerstrand, Gqeberha, 60 m from the beachfront, with full breakfast included
A studio apartment and a two-bedroom cottage in residential Gonubie, KuGompo (East London), five minutes from Gonubie Beach
Three guest rooms, each with a private entrance, in a hosted home on Marlin Drive in Chintsa East, Cintsa, 300 m from the beach
A two-bedroom house and three self-catering flats above the Mcantsi River at Kidd's Beach, 500 m from the coast and 25 km from KuGompo (East London)
A guest house with seven en-suite rooms and a family flatlet in tropical gardens on Bunkers Hill, KuGompo (East London), with full English breakfast
Self-catering units and king rooms around a pool in Beacon Bay, KuGompo (East London), 2.5 km from the beach, with daily cleaning
A beachfront guest house on Waterkant Street in Jeffreys Bay, with nine bed and breakfast rooms, most with ocean views, and two self-catering family suites
A bed and breakfast on Pepper Street in Jeffreys Bay, with most rooms looking out over the Supertubes surf break and breakfast served on the deck
Two self-catering cottages on Anglestraat in Kirkwood, at the top of the Sundays River Valley, within 30 minutes of Addo Elephant National Park
Five self-catering units on a private farm on the banks of the Sundays River in Addo, 13 km from Addo Elephant National Park, with a riverside bird hide
A self-catering flat for four on the lagoon at Morgan Bay on the Wild Coast, with a lagoon-view deck, two kayaks and solar power
A full-board resort hotel with bungalows, a spa and a private beach at the Mngazi River mouth, south of Port St Johns on the Wild Coast
Three self-catering units with river and farm views in Dorchester Heights, KuGompo (East London), between Vincent and Beacon Bay
Four self-catering units with private entrances in a quiet Beacon Bay cul-de-sac, KuGompo (East London), 400 m from Beacon Bay Retail Park
Klein Plekkie Self-Catering, Sunland near Addo Exceptional 4.7/5 self catering in Sunland (near Addo), Addo Elephant Park. 3 rooms. From ZAR 2,900/night. Property Details Type: Self Catering Guest Rating: 4.7/5 (LekkeSlaap, 12 reviews) Price Range: ZAR 2,900 per night Check-in: 14:00-16:00 Check-out: 10:00 Rooms: 3 Amenities 3 bedrooms, 4 beds, 2 bathrooms, sleeps 5, Whole-home...
A seven-room guest house on a quiet street in Walmer, Gqeberha, near the airport, with a pool, two self-catering units and meals by booking
Storms River Mouth Rest Camp Excellent 4.5/5 sanparks rest camp in Storms River Mouth, Tsitsikamma, Garden Route. Property Details Type: SANParks Rest Camp Guest Rating: 4.5/5 (Google, 2415 reviews) Amenities Shop, Campsite and caravan park, Information centre, Adventure bookings office Contact & Location Address: Garden Route National Park, Humansdorp, 6308, South Africa Phone: 042 281...
A three-bedroom self-catering apartment for six in Wavecrest, Jeffreys Bay, listed as about 200 m from the beach near Supertubes
A family-run beach lodge with rooms and family suites in tropical gardens on Chintsa Bay, Cintsa, about 42 km from KuGompo (East London)
Sea-view studios and a two-bedroom cottage on the crest of Bunkers Hill, KuGompo (East London), looking over the beachfront and golf course
Tsitsikamma Village Inn Excellent 4.4/5 country inn in Storms River, Tsitsikamma, Garden Route. 49 rooms. Property Details Type: Country Inn Guest Rating: 4.4/5 (Google, 964 reviews) Rooms: 49 Amenities De Oude Martha Restaurant, Hunter's Pub, Cafe Bacchus, Marilyn's 60's Diner, Tsitsikamma Microbrewery, Conference venue, Swimming pool Contact & Location Address: Darnell St, Stormsrivier, 6308, South...
A family-run bed and breakfast on Valentine Road in Addo village, with garden rooms, kitchenettes, a splash pool and caravan and camping sites
A safari lodge near Colchester, 1 km from the southern entrance of Addo Elephant National Park, with air-conditioned tents and its own game drives
A 260-room hotel on the Quigney beachfront Esplanade in KuGompo (East London), next to the East London International Convention Centre
SANParks' main rest camp inside Addo Elephant National Park, with a floodlit waterhole, an underground hide and stays from camp sites to guest houses
Restaurants & Dining
A beloved beachfront braai-and-seafood institution.
A popular casual spot known for healthy and street-food-style options.
A scenic-view spot known for craft cocktails and pizza.
Upscale dining with ocean views, mixing seafood and grill.
Activities & Experiences
Multiple surf schools operate along the point for beginners through to advanced.
Flat, sheltered water makes these river mouths a kitesurfing draw.
Guided horse rides along the open beach at Papiesfontein.
The coastline attracts dolphins and whales, with scuba diving and sea kayaking also on offer.
Events & Entertainment
The world's best surfers compete on the Supertubes wave as part of the World Surf League tour.
An annual festival tied to the Shell Museum celebrating the coastline's shell life.
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