Cape St Francis Adventures

• Cape St Francis

Nature Breaks

Experience the natural beauty of Cape St Francis and the surrounding area viastunning reserve and coastal walks.Cape St Francis is home to no less than five beautiful nature reserves, CapeSt Francis Nature Reserve, Seal Point Nature Reserve, Seal Bay NatureReserve, St Francis Field Nature Reserve and Irma Booysen Flora Reserve.These reserves offer a wide variety of walks suitable for all levels of fitnessand experience. These walks, hikes and trails take you through naturalcoastal lands filled with indigenous plant and wild life. Amongst the mostpopular are Blowhole Hike, Shark Point Hike with calamari tasting at Port StFrancis.

River Breaks

Many options here. The tranquil waters of the Kromme River Estaury, tidal and navigable for approximately 14 kilometers. The river, winding from the Elandsjacht Dam to the sea, has created a haven for birds and animals and a playground for humans. The fishing is good and the river is a favored venue for all forms of a variety of recreational activities tailored to suit the client’s needs. Based in the canal system of St Francis Bay, the luxury barge River Break cruises these canals, Kromme and Geel hout Rivers.

Canal cruise lasting an hour – drinks and snacks can be arranged at an additional cost. Price per person R190, children under 12, half price. Minimum number of 3 pax. Transfer to canals at R60 per person , return. Group rates are negotiable.

Day outing up the Kromme

Start at the small craft harbour of St Francis Bay . On your way you are likely to spot a variety of buck species as well as the ever present fish eagle. Once at the farm, enjoy a walk through the fynbos, canoe, SUP, view the wild life or simply enjoy the sights and sounds of the river whilst basking in the sun. Your late afternoon lunch takes the form of a traditional South African braai with all the trimming. Rates at R850.

Golf Breaks

With 2 well maintained courses within 10 km’s of our location golf is the game . St Francis Links recently rated as the number 6 golf course in South Africa where green fees with shared cart can set you back at R750 per person. A well-equipped pro shop should take care of any golfing needs that guests may have. Clubs are for hire.

At St Francis Bay Golf Course - links and parkland style golf you will pay R350 for a round . You do not really require a cart as the course is easily walked but these are available. Caddies available from the caddy master. All guests with handicaps are invited to join in the afternoon’s competition on certain given days i.e. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays. Advisable to book tee times through our front desk in advance.

Fishing Breaks

Board Fiona M departing from Port St Francis offering deep sea fishing trips ranging from reef fishing to deep sea. There are a few operators that offer deep sea fishing trips ranging from reef fishing top deep sea. Estuary fishing along the banks of the Kromme River with rod, reel and bait. There are also fly fishing options.

Dolphin and Whale watching excursions leave from Port St Francis.

Surf Breaks

With Seal Point on our doorstep surfing still rocks. Lessons for beginners are available and includes board and wetsuit hire.

Whale watching excursions

Departing from Port St Francis. This excursion is Seasonal as our whales are here from end of May till virtually the end of November. Minimum number of 4 persons and a rate of R850 per person. Children under the age of 12 attract a reduction of50%.

Betty’s Tour

We invite you to share a unique and local experiences with us.

Depart from Resort after breakfast. Our first stop is the Seal Point Lighthouse built in 1878 and the tallest masonry tower on the South African coastline. You will also be standing on the most south eastern tip of Africa. From there we proceed to the Talhado Children’s Haven which originally started off as a haven for street children. It has now grown into a Montessori school and also serves as the social hub for the school going children of our local community. We have the chance to interact with the children and may even enjoy their break time with them. From here we proceed to Nomvula’s knitters, a craft shop where the ladies and 1 gentleman knit the most beautiful garments, scarves, coats and in fact any type of clothing apparel. By simply purchasing a Nomvula product you will be helping the local community support their families through job creation, training, education and health. From here we go Port St Francis, the calamari capital for a unique calamari tasting. Total cost per person without Calamari tasting is R350. With Calamari tasting it is R600.

Calamari Tasting

Whether you are a foodie , interested in sea creatures or our local community the unique Calamari Tasting is a must on any itinerary.

Port St Francis is the only privately owned working harbour in South Africa and home to the squid (ink fish) industry. Over 60 freezing vessels come and go for 8 months of the year, leaving for up to 21 days with crews of between 14 and 26 to find what is known locally as Chokka.

So combine a beach walk or Betty’s Tour with a calamari tasting where you can hear about the sustainability of the industry, the method of catching and showing guests the raw product and then the tasting itself, freshly prepared. It showcases not only the difference between the local and imported calamari but also the elements of the fish.

A must do, a unique once off opportunity to taste the best local calamari our country has to offer and to appreciate why it is called “white gold”. This can be tasted at a price of R250.

Chokka Trail

A slack packing trail with a difference! Enjoy four days of stunning coastline, sand dunes, tidal reserves and wetlands.

Experience nature on foot, at your own pace and with overnight accommodation in beautiful guest houses. You only carry a lunch pack whilst your luggage is transported to your next overnight stay. This 56km trail includes a canal cruise, a visit to a working chokka boat as well as a calamari tasting.

Sandboarding

Cost is R300 for 2hrs, times are 10:00 and 14:00 daily. Transport to Jeffrey’s Bay is not included.

Picnic at sunset rock

Watch the sun set at this very popular spot - we pack a picnic basket which includes bottle of wine, rate of R320 of 2 persons includes transport to the beach and return. A lot of our groups did this outing and love it.

Horse Riding

Experienced guides escort riders twice daily along the 13km circular route. The trail takes about two hours to complete, leading through beautiful fynbos coastal vegetation, towards the Gamtoos River with breathtaking views from the dunes and finally returning along a 6km stretch of deserted beach. Here on this isolated beach, riders can canter their mounts in the shallows or have an exhilarating gallop on the sand.

The trail provides magnificent views of the area and affords ample opportunity to spot a variety of bird species, tortoises, bushbuck, plant and marine life. Imagine whale watching from horseback!

Total cost per person is R600 lasting 2 hours

Activities for children

A walk on the wild side – An Outreach programme for the Seal Point Nature Reserve at Cape St Francis

A coastal education trail has been developed in a critically endangered ecosystem. The Seal Point Nature Reserve, managed

on behalf of the Kouga Municipality by FOSTOR (Friends of the St. Francis Nature Areas). The programme is co-funded by

FOSTOR, the Table Mountain Fund and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature.

Features:

• Participants must be prepared to sign an indemnity form and to provide their own refreshments.
• Activities for children
• A walk on the wild side – An Outreach programme for the Seal Point Nature Reserve at Cape St Francis
• Interpretative facilities (Education signboards and pamphlets)
• Wetlands and associated fauna, including the Cape clawless otter
• Strandveld which has been identified as a Critical Biodiversity Area
• A wave-exposed rocky coastline
• The historic Cape St. Francis lighthouse managed by the National Ports Authority
• Later Stone Age and Khoe-Khoe middens.
• To provide biodiversity and conservation-related information to local residents and holidaymakers in the St. Francis area
• To maintain integrity of the nature reserve system through fundraising And raising of awareness

An excursion takes roughly two hours to complete, and involves a walk about two to three kilometers long. It is moderately physically taxing, and can be undertaken by persons of all ages in reasonable physical condition. Donation to FOSTER will be gratefully accepted.

Participants must be prepared to sign an indemnity form and to provide their own refreshments.