St Francis Bay was first sighted by Portugese sailors in 1575 and is named after the Patron Saint of Sailors, St Francis.

Situated only an hour’s drive from the city of Port Elizabeth and just 15 minutes off the N2, St Francis Bay beckons. This unique and exclusive paradise on South African’s Sunshine Coast draws holiday-makers from all over the world to enjoy the glorious beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, excellent water-sport facilities, a leisurely lifestyle and the magical beauty of its unspoilt surroundings.

This magnificent up-market village is unique in that the architecture with its aesthetic uniformity blend harmoniously with the green of the indigenous heritage, which surrounds it. The Kromme River, navigable for 10 km’s, twist and winds its way down to an extensive canal system lined with charming white walled homes with thatched roofs, offering residents and holiday makers an exotic marina lifestyle.

The Marina gives way to Mediterranean styled homes crowned with terracotta tiles in Santareme and luxury apartments, encircling the turquoise waters, at Port St Francis. In the distance lies the informal village of Cape St Francis with its historical lighthouse and 15 km’s to the west, Oyster Bay.

The lighthouse was built in 1878 to warn ships of the dangerous reefs that stretch more than a kilometre out to sea. It is the tallest masonry tower on the South African coast, standing at a height of 27.5 meters and is now a National Monument.

CAPE ST FRANCIS is a small village with approximately 800 properties, and is surrounded by a nature reserve and protected green areas. Herein lies the secret of this special place – it is a “limited edition”. A high level of commercialism and all that goes with it, is not in the long term plans of this special village. Most of the property owners are people who have searched long and hard to find these kind of conditions and as a result, are passionate about preserving them.

Watched over by a lighthouse built in 1878, this coastal town has one of the most spectacular and pristine beaches along the coast. The ambience is still very much that of a fishing village and the housing style tends towards rustic and unconventional.

At this time, about 60% of the residential properties have been built on, but it remains a holiday town having a permanent population of approximately 400 people.

The climate is temperate and the prevailing wind ensures good surfing, which is why the famous surfing spot, “Seal Point” is here. The wild side is a magnificent rocky coastline where excellent fishing, rock pools and rock formations are to be found. Stretching inland are vast expanses of protected reserve through which many nature trails have been cut and offer delightful, non-strenuous walks

This village is truly a gem and those visiting it for the first time tend to describe it as a place they thought did not exist anymore!