Kouga / Baviaans
From romantic horseback beach excursions to kayaking, hiking and indulging in local cuisine, Kouga / Baviaans encompasses some of the most boast worthy settings in the region. Where the Gamtoos Valley meets the wilderness and the wilderness spills onto the coastline, the Kouga Rout include; Humansdorp, Patensie and Hankie, the Langkloof Valley, the Baviaanskloof Wilderness as well as Oyster Bay, St Francis Bay, and Jeffreys bay.
Get Out And About and Explore!
Supertubes – Jeffrey’s Bay
Hankey
Hankey is one of four towns that make up the Gamtoos Valley – an exceptionally beautiful part of the world that stretches up to Komdomo at the start of the Baviaanskloof wilderness, now a World Heritage Site. Hankey is the oldest and probably best known because of its claim to the largest sundial in Africa (18m high and weighs a ton) as well as the burial place of Sarah Baartman – now an icon for human rights. Her life story is one of abysmal treatment during which she was cajoled into leaving her place of birth to be exhibited as a ‘freak’ in the UK and Europe. Years of negotiation with the French government, spearheaded by Nelson Mandela, finally culminated in her remains being returned to a burial place just outside Hankey, her final resting place, something of a victory for humanity and a symbol of freedom.
4 X 4 ROUTE – http://www.kougatourism.com/activities/4×4-routes/?highlightmarker=76
Patensie
Patensie is the last stop before entering the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area. Guarded by the majestic Cockscomb Mountain, this little town’s activities revolve around the Citrus Industry. It has become a very popular tourist destination with many B&B’s and self-catering establishments, as well as fuel-stops, banks and shops to choose from. Tourism Information can be obtained from the Tolbos Country Shop and Tea Garden. Visit the impressive Kouga Dam built in 1967 – the first double-arched dam engineered in South Africa. Along the way, look out for unique rock formations – you may even be surprised to see Queen Victoria’s profile!
HIKING AND 4 X 4 TRAILS – http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/easterncape/bysuburb/patensie/
BAVIAANSKLOOF WORLD HERITAGE SITE – https://www.visiteasterncape.co.za/parks/baviaanskloof/
Humansdorp
Humansdorp is a country town that lies at the foot of the Kouga Mountains and is surrounded by magnificent Fynbos (Indigenous Flora). In 1849 Matthys Gerhardus Human donated a section of his farm Rheboksfontein, to the church for development of a town. The town was originally named Alexander, and only in 1859, ten years after the start of its development did it become known as Humansdorp. Humansdorp is the ideal base from where to explore the surroundings. A magnificent coastline boasting sandy beaches, some of the best rock angling and the best waves for surfing enthusiasts are only minutes away.
FISHING – http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/easterncape/gamtoos-river-mouth/
4 X 4 TRAIL – http://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/easterncape/brakkeduine-4×4-trail/ MUSEUM – http://www.ectour.org.za/listing/humansdorp-museum
GOLF – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/directories/zwartenbosch-golf-course
Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay is one of the undiscovered gems of the Eastern Cape. This small holiday outpost however has long been popular with avid fishermen and lovers of nature. The unspoilt stretch of coastline between the Tsitsikamma National Park and Cape St. Francis remains largely inaccessible by vehicle. Hours of fun can be had exploring the rocky shores and pools, soaking up the sun or swimming along the pristine beaches and coves. The area is rich in its coastal biodiversity and appeals to ecologically friendly visitors. Oyster Bay remains a perfect place to unwind, destress and get in tune with the environment.
TOWNSHIP TOUR – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
HORSE RIDING – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/things-to-do/on-site-activities
DAIRY FARM EXPERIENCE – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities SAND BOARDING – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
PICNIC – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
MASSAGE THERAPY – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
FAT BIKE TOURS – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
HIKING TRAILS – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
BEACH DUNE SAFARI – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
BOMA BUSH BRAAI – http://www.oysterbaylodge.com/activities
St Francis Bay
The first thought that jumps to mind is that this was the site of “ten-million-to-one” surfing waves seen in the 1966 surf/travel documentary, The Endless Summer. The town boasts a beautiful canal system surrounded by picturesque homes in a uniform building style, black thatched roofs and white walls. Towards Santareme and Port St Francis, the uniformity is repeated, this time with Mediterranean and Tuscan homes filling in the dune fields and fynbos.
The unique and exclusive St Francis Bay draws holiday makers and visitors from all over the world to enjoy the glorious beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean. The sportsman can enjoy over 50 different sporting codes, which includes various water sports, two world class golf courses and two glass backed double squash courts. A leisurely lifestyle in the magical beauty of natural and unspoilt surroundings.
The canal system offers residents and holiday makers an exotic marina lifestyle. If fishing off your own jetty, swimming or exploring the canals with a canoe or SUP is not enough, the canals are linked to the Kromme River, navigable for 10km, where more fishing, boating, paddling, kite and windsurfing, waterskiing can be enjoyed and jetskis have access to the ocean through the Kromme River Mouth.
Whales can be spotted in the Bay from May to late October and dolphins can be seen daily on their way back and forth between the bays of Cape St Francis and St Francis Bay. The Cape clawless otter is also ever present, frolicking in the waves and rock pools around Port St Francis and at Otters Landing. Bird life is abundant with over 200 species recorded in the area including the rare African oystercatcher and fish eagle.
Port St Francis includes a commercial and recreational harbour, built to host the squid industry freezing vessels, as well as a small harbour resort village. It lies in a sheltered nook of the bay and provides a safe anchorage for the boats, pleasure craft, and oceangoing yachts. St Francis Field is an airpark close to the Port that caters for those who wish to fly in. The gentle sloping beach stretches for kilometers all along the curve of the land between the estuary and the Granny’s Pool, from where Bruce’s Beauties, world famous surfing spot, lies. St Francis Bay is the business centre of the greater St Francis and boasts two shopping centres and an industrial area, mainly for the building and boat building trade.
CANAL CRUISE – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
HIKING – http://chokkatrail.co.za/ and http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/ and http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
WHALE / DOLPHIN WATCHING & DEEP SEA FISHING – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
DAY TOURS – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
CRUISES – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
FISHING – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
NATURE RESERVE – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
FROG SAFARI – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
LIGHTHOUSE – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
SANDBOARDING – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
KITE AND WINDSURFING – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
WATER SPORTS – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
PADDLING AND SUP – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
GOLF – http://www.stfrancislinks.com/ and http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
MOUNTAIN BIKING AND TRAIL RUNNING – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/and http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
CALAMARI TASTING – http://www.balobi.com/stfrancis.html
SURFING – http://www.stfrancistourism.co.za/
AQUA TRAINING – http://www.liquidlinesunsalted.com/
BETTY’S TOUR – http://www.capestfrancis.co.za/we-care
