Explore Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay is an enchanting coastal town located on the Sunshine Coast in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is about a 1-hour drive (90kms) west of Port Elizabeth International Airport and about 3 hours 15 minutes (287 kms) east of George Airport in the Garden Route.
The town has been known for many years as a surfer’s haven. It has one of the best right-hand surf breaks in the world. Surfers, from beginners to pros, flock to Jeffreys Bay from across the globe, to experience the legendary waves.
These days however, Jeffreys Bay is more than just a surf town. It is a delightfully friendly, intriguing and bustling beach town with a plethora of land and water activities for all visitors to enjoy.
No matter your age, you are sure to have a fabulous time and fall in love with this idyllic spot.
Jeffreys Bay Weather
The temperature in Jeffreys Bay is moderate all year round with rain scattered throughout the year. In general Summers are wam with mid-level humidity and Winters are mild and pleasant. Water sports are practiced all year round which shows how mild the winter temperatures can be.
Jeffreys Bay has its lowest rainfall (25mm) during January and its highest (43mm) in October. Its coldest month is July where average midday temperatures are 19°C. The month of February is its warmest month, with average midday temperatures of 25°C.
Things to do, see and enjoy in Jeffreys Bay
Surfing
The wave season in Jeffreys Bays runs from June to August, but good waves can occur as early as April or as late as September.
Jeffreys Bay is the best surf spot in South Africa and South Africa’s premier wave is at Supertubes. For 10 days each July the Surf Pro, a World Championship Tour event is hosted in Jeffreys Bay. At this time of the year the waves are one-to-three meters high, making them amongst the top ten swells anywhere in the world.
As well as the famous Supertubes however, there are several other surf spots along the beach.
The Point, Albatross, Boneyards, Magnatubes, Kitchen Window and Main Beach, to name a few. Whatever level your surfing ability is, you will find a wave to suit you.
In addition, there are several specialist shops with all kinds of surfing equipment available to hire.
If you are an absolute beginner there are plenty of surf schools to help you learn and hone your surfing skills.
Fishing
Jeffreys Bay offers a multitude of excellent fishing opportunities from surf fishing to river and estuarine fishing.
The two estuaries, the Kabeljous and the Seekoei located either side of Jeffreys Bay, are rich in marine life. These two estuaries, together with the excellent surf fishing from Jeffreys Bays long sandy beaches and the reef fishing from the coastal rocky outcrops and jetties, provide amble different fishing experiences for the avid (and beginner) fisherman.
Fishermen can hope to catch a variety of species within the coastal and inland water ways. These species include kob, garrick, blacktail, mullet and grunter.
It is advisable to always check the tide conditions before heading out on a fishing trip.
Beach Days
If your idea of the perfect holiday is more about relaxation, or you want to take your kids to a safe swimming beach, the best place to head is Dolphin Beach.
This Blue Flag beach always has lifeguards on duty, making it the perfect place for the family to spend the day. (Blue Flag is an eco-grading given to beaches or marinas that meet the highest safety and environmental standards).
Alternatively, if you prefer peace and tranquility, Jeffreys Bay has miles and miles of unspoiled, sandy beaches. With a little bit of searching, you will find your own little private spot to settle down and enjoy.
For those who prefer some dryer activities, nearby you can experience tandem skydiving, sand boarding, whale and dolphin watching, zip lining, bungy jumping, game drives, kiting and quad biking.
The Shell Museum
If you love scouring the beach for shells and are fascinated by the huge diversity of different shapes, colours and sizes of shells found along the coastline of Jeffreys Bay, be sure to visit the The Shell Museum.
This Museum is home to the largest collection of seashells in South Africa. It also showcases the beauty of marine life and represents the dedication and community spirit of Jeffreys Bay.
Shopping
Da Gama Road is one of the main roads in Jeffreys Bay Central and here you will find plenty of shops to explore.
At one end of De Gama Road is JBay Surf Village, the heart of shopping in Jeffreys Bay. It boasts some of the best surf clothing stores, factory outlet shops and surf schools in town.
In addition, JBay Village is where you can also find the JBay Padel courts and a superb Skate Park. , There are also coffee shops, a leather shoe shop, boutique clothing shops and a jewellery store.
Unwind, Tapas bar is also located here and has a great vibe and tasty food.
Make sure you find some time to visit JBay Surf Village during your stay in Jeffreys Bay.
Restaurants in Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay has a huge variety of fabulous restaurants to chose from, with cuisines to suit all tastes and budgets.
We couldn’t possibly begin to list them all here, nor have we managed to sample them all, but here are a couple of our favourites that we have tried and would recommend:
Kitchen Windows Beach Restaurant
Kitchen Windows Beach Restaurant is located only a 350 meters walk from Jeffreys Bay Getaway on the beach. It is a fabulous spot to enjoy a delicious meal close to the ocean.
The name “Kitchen Windows” refers to the surf spot to the right of the restaurant. It was a popular surf spot during the 60’s and became known as Kitchen Windows as the surfers used to look through their kitchen window to see if the surf was firing.
Kitchen Windows is a family-friendly restaurant with exceptionally tasty food and a stunning view. There is a grassy lawn in front of the restaurant and kids activity packs are available.
The menu is regularly changed, keeping it feesh for those who are regular visitors.
Die Walskipper
Die Walskipper Restaurant has the most incredible location, it is literally situated at the edge of the ocean, with the waves breaking on the beach beside the restaurant.
Since 1997, Die Walskipper has been serving deliciously tasty food. It is one of the oldest established restaurants in Jeffreys Bay.
Most of their food is prepared on open fires, to give an authentic home cooked South African flavour to the dishes.
A mouth-watering array of seafood and other traditional South African dishes are served, in this landmark restaurant.
The Greek Restaurant and Wine Bar
The Greek Restaurant and Wine Bar is located a stones throw from Jeffreys Bay’s Main Beach and De Gama Road.
The restaurant proudly serves authentic Greek flavours and uses family recipes of the Mediterranean, whilst sourcing the best local produce from the Eastern Cape & surrounding areas.
Dishes showcasing the local calamari, lamb from the Karoo, the best South African beef and locally grown greens that are fresh & full of flavour, are offered on the menu.
This combination of Mediterranean flavours and recipes and South African produce provides diners with the best of both words.
As well as the food, the atmosphere at The Greek is just as popular and one thing is for certain, you will not leave the restaurant at the end of the night feeling empty, not in your stomach nor in your soul!
More restaurants to try:
As we mentioned above, these are a couple of restaurants we have enjoyed dining at, but there are many more.
Please click the button below to find reviews given by other people of Jeffreys Bay’s fabulous eateries.