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Whether you are a dedicated foodie or someone looking to explore the stunning surroundings of St Francis Bay, the Calamari Route delivers an unforgettable blend of culinary delights, outdoor adventures, and cultural exploration.
For more information, contact 060 531 0516 or send an email to info@stfrancistourism.co.za. Alternatively, visit www.stfrancistourism.co.za.
The history of St Francis’ “white gold”
It was filmmaker, the late Bruce Brown, who first put St Francis on the map with his epic movie, The Endless Summer, in 1964 where he described how he found the perfect wave. Then it was Natal sugar cane farmer, Leighton Hullett, who laid the foundation of what the Greater St Francis Area has today.
Hullett bought a property after seeing an advertisement in the Farmer’s Weekly in 1954 and soon set up a simple fishing camp. As the destination’s popularity grew, he started developing his dream of creating a marina, which would be the only one of its kind in South Africa at that time.
The development progressed with the addition of a golf course, an airfield, a small well-equipped shop, and a luxury hotel with a bottle store. More land was acquired, which allowed for the development of Santareme Bay and extended to Cape St Francis and beyond.
In the early 1980s, the value of chokka, the local name for squid or calamari, was discovered. Previously, chokka’s main purpose was bait. European markets appreciated the quality and realised that chokka was very similar to the squid that was caught in the Mediterranean. With the value of the rand declining in the mid-1980s, the demand increased and chokka became a competitive product on the international markets.
This led to the development of Port St Francis in 1997.
This is one of the few privately owned commercial harbours in South Africa and serves as a base for the chokka fleets, hake and pilchard vessels, as well as recreational craft. The commercial fishing industries based at Port St Francis are a significant contributor to the local economy, having created employment opportunities for at least 3,000 people, with the chokka being considered “white gold”.
“A significant part of the charm of the area is the architectural guidelines that have been applied to certain areas,” said Dionne Collett, St Francis Tourism Chair.
“Despite a surge in development in the area, the ethos is fiercely guarded with a view to maintaining the village feel, whether you are in The Bay, Santareme, or Cape St Francis. Add to that the Lighthouse at Seal Point, a structure that remains the tallest masonry building on the South African coast, two great golf courses, and a host of hospitable people, and you have all the ingredients for a sought-after tourist destination.”
