Sometimes considered as part of the picturesque Garden Route but more regularly driven past: a town where tranquility and party meet and sports and good food alternate with seeing the world’s best surfers ride the best waves in the world. Welcome to the surf town of Jeffrey’s Bay.
That being said, Jbay (this is the name for locals- but after a few days you’ll never use its’ full name again) has much more to offer than just surfing. In fact, a lot of people visit Jbay and never even get on a surfboard. While that’s something I would surely advise against, surely don’t forget to explore all the other cool activities this paradise has to offer. No matter the length of your stay, you will always run out of time to enjoy everything. For the best restaurants and coffeeshops, check out our other blog post!
What to do in Jeffrey’s Bay
Duh, surf. Also if you’re not a surfer, surf. There are many surf schools all along the beach or a little inland, offering private and group lessons for beginners or more advanced surfers. Surfing is an expensive hobby, but 90-minute lessons start at €15, upgrading to €30 if you’re good but still want a coach. For the best skies, opt for a sunrise lesson! Prepare to wake up early though. Materials come with each lesson, but there is also the option to rent them separately and go out in the ocean yourself. Be careful as the ocean is unpredictable! Surf schools I can recommend are Salted and Jeffrey’s Bay Surf School.
Other activities
If you don’t feel like surfing yourself, head to Supertubes, a world-renowned wave where all of the pro’s have surfed. Something is going on every day and the surfers are cool to watch. Bring some snacks!
The ocean has more to offer than just surfing, however. You can go deep-sea fishing or embark on a whale-watching tour. If the tide, season, and weather allow these activities, these can be a unique experience.
If you prefer to keep your feet dry but just love the sound of the rumbling ocean, stay on the beach for other activities! Practice some yoga (or do this after surfing- stretch those sore muscles!) alone, in a group, or follow a lesson.
Sandboarding Jbay
When there are no waves, you can still get your board out. Your sandboard. Sandboarding sounds easy and boring because those dunes seem quite small, and you just have to stand still. Well, spoke too soon. Carrying your board while walking up the dune, giving it a good wax, attaching yourself while not falling… That’s all part of the easy half. If you’re up for a challenge with a lot of fun regardless, go sandboarding!
Horse riding
Don’t think racing from a dune is quite quick enough? Go horse riding! Whether you’re up for a photoshoot on your dream horse, you’re clueless about how those animals even get moving or if you just love to ride horses, in Jeffrey’s Bay you will find a horse and if needed a guide to cater to your wishes. Just imagine yourself on a beautiful horse, on the beach, illuminated by the South African sun… did you book yet?
City center
But wait, there’s more. Jeffrey’s Bay does not stop at the beach. That’s where the town only starts, after all. Just a few streets following the coastline make up most of the city center. At every corner of the street and probably in between two too, you will find a surf shop. Billabong, Reef, RVCA, Quicksilver, and Boardriders all have a shop and most a factory store or outlet too. And they sell every piece of clothing you can think of! Besides that, these stores are kind to your wallet as they have huge discounts going on almost all of the time. Also, there is ‘Jbay Surf Village’, several boutique-type stores all located in the city center.
Adrenaline!
For more water fun, head to Die Watergat. Afrikaans for ‘the waterhole’, this is a place where you can find adrenaline seekers and sunbathers at the same place: pick your side or opt for both. At this place, where you have to pay a not-so-hefty entry fee of R20, you can safely dive off a 12-meter cliff. You can also opt for half of that. Or just dip your toes in if you prefer. If being a spectator is more your thing, lay down a towel and relax. Watch out to not be in the way of people going for the zipline into the water! Be sure to bring snacks, water, and suncream as there is no place to buy this. And take your trash, of course. Die Watergat is roughly a 20-minute drive from downtown Jbay, and in the vicinity, you can find some interesting hikes through beautiful landscapes, too.
Visit the townships of Jefffrey’s Bay
For the last activity in Jeffrey’s Bay, you will safely go to the place everyone at home told you to avoid: a South African township. While I certainly don’t want to advise you to just go and explore this less fortunate part of the town yourself, there’s a safe way to do so, while contributing something too. ‘Giving back to the community’ is a motto that many more fortunate black South Africans have adopted. One of these initiatives is Jbay Surf House. Run by a local South African, supported by his team in the Netherlands and Germany, they take 12 kids on a surf lesson for them to have a purpose in life. They offer the kids a lesson every week, but 3 groups of kids run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. These kids do not all go to school, have big financial struggles at home, and often live in questionable housing. Surfing helps them to have a purpose, to look forward to something and to learn a skill. They are crazy good for their age! You can help give these kids an enjoyable afternoon. It’s very rewarding to see how little you need to make a group of kids happy. You don’t need to be able to surf at all, there’s probably a lot of other things you can help out with. Send a DM on Instagram (@jbaysurfhouse) or go to their website (jbaysurfhouse.com) for more information!
Party!
To end the day with a jol (party), there are plenty of options to choose from. Check out Club Two Floors Up, go to Island Vibe Hostel (with a club/bar in the hostel!), head to a pub or just stay for some beers after dinner in any given restaurant. Jbay nights are to remember, or to forget…
What to do around Jeffrey’s Bary
Within the vicinity of Jeffrey’s Bay, there are numerous unique experiences for you to have a blast of a day. I’ll walk you through a posh town, a safari day, and bungee jumping.
Colonial towns
You can enjoy the posh towns of St Francis Bay and Cape St. Francis, where world stars have their houses in a Venice-like canal district. At Cape St Francis, you will find the ‘most southeastern point of Africa’ and a nice little bakery inside that lighthouse. Surely worth a visit, although mostly for the pastries!
Safari
What’s South Africa without a good safari day? Well, still South Africa, but you’re not doing it justice. Addo Elephant National Park is just over an hour’s drive from Jbay and is the country’s third-largest NP. As the name might suggest, you will surely find elephants here. The other members of the Big Five (leopard, buffalo, rhino, and lion) are also the ones you can be on the lookout for. Hippos, zebras, baboons, and birds everywhere make this park a perfect escape for a day tour from Jeffrey’s Bay. There is the possibility to self-drive and you don’t necessarily need a 4×4 for the main roads. If you prefer to be taken into the park on a guided drive, there are lots of options. Arrange these at the park itself or from Jbay! It might take a little asking around but there should be multiple companies able to assist.
Bungee!
For the daredevils amongst us, South Africa also has a lot to offer. I think the ultimate example for the true thrill seekers, is a bungee jump. How about the world’s highest man-made bungee jump? A frightening 216 meters above the Bloukransrivier, there is the Bloukransbridge. From the arch of this bridge, a company offers bungee jumps right into the nothingness of 216 meters of free fall. If you’re cool enough for a second jump, go for a backward dive or run as fast as you can from the platform! At just over an hour from Jbay, this is a very exciting experience. For the lesser daredevils, there are also beautiful hikes around this area, in the Tsitsikamma NP.
This all covers a lot of activities to do in and around Jeffrey’s Bay. Since you’re now, obviously, convinced to go, you need a place to stay.
Find all the culinary hotspots!
We wrote another post on the best restaurants and coffee places in Jeffrey’s Bay. Check it out here!
Where to stay in Jeffrey’s Bay
There are roughly three budget-friendly options: Island Vibe Hostel, African Ubuntu Backpackers and Surf Lodge South Africa. Besides these, there are a lot of Airbnb’s available, as well as other private properties.
Island Vibe
Laid-back on the day, eventful at night: Island Vibe is a cheap hostel with both dorms and private rooms as well as camping places. The showers and toilets are very clean although the kitchen is not great. To make up for that, they have a restaurant in the hostel, which turns into a bar or even a club almost every night. If you’re up for a game of pool, some dancing or just some easy beers, this is all you need. Magically, the rooms catch barely any noise from the party! The hostel has a chill vibe with hammocks and a sea view over the main surf area for beginners, and there’s also direct access to the beach from Island Vibe. It is located just outside of the main area of the town. It’s on the edge of the community, the lesser part of Jbay. That being said, on the day you should be all good. At night probably too, but just stay alert and never be alone (like everywhere in South Africa).
African Ubuntu Backpackers
African Ubuntu Backpackers is on the other side of the town, a little further away from the main area of the town. It is closer to Jbay’s best supermarket, which you will unavoidably need to go to. All in all, it is further from the place where it all ‘happens’, except for Supertubes, which is a short walk. Don’t underestimate how long a beach town can be, so be prepared for some taxi rides to get to and from the hostel. Luckily, you are still in South Africa so these are quite affordable, just like renting a car. The hostel offers dorm, double, private, and en-suite rooms for very affordable prices.
Surf Lodge South Africa
Last but not least, there is Surf Lodge South Africa. Don’t let the name fool your wallet, although it might look like a lodge, there are dorms (but also private rooms) available here. This multi-level place looks astonishing and is well worth the little extra pay. There is a direct access to the beach and even a pool! A great breakfast is served every morning, and there are multiple surf packages you can book through the Surf Lodge. The kitchen and other communal areas are top-notch. The only downside is that Surf Lodge South Africa is actually in Paradise Beach, a neighboring town. Over a 1.5h walk or a 15-minute ride to Jbay’s center is something to consider, although with the surf packages, you are brought and picked up every day at no cost. The staff is the absolute best and often joins the activities. Add in that the owner’s 2 dogs come around to play often, and Surf Lodge South Africa is a great place to stay.
Come back!
Jeffrey’s Bay is a destination not often visited once. A lot of travelers tend to come back, as this place has a special place in their hearts. Whether it’s the surf, nature, beach, or party vibes; JBay has a lot to offer for everyone and I am sure that anyone would enjoy a few days or even a week here.
Credits to: Joep van Beek