KOUGA boasts arguably some of the best beaches in the country, with three receiving the ultimate stamp of approval – Blue Flag status – recently.
Not only do the area’s beaches, which include Jeffreys Bay, Aston Bay, Paradise Beach and St Francis, boast top notch accolades, but offer something for everyone in terms of holiday activities. It doesn’t matter which beach you choose to spend your summer holiday on, activities include anything from strolls along unspoilt stretches of golden beaches, surfing, paddle boarding, sand boarding, mountain biking, fishing, marine life watching and much more.
Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay has over the years become synonymous with world class surfing, attracting some of the world’s best in the sport to well-known spots such as Supers, Boneyards and Impossibles and is host to top surfing competitions.
A holiday to JBay won’t be complete without a taste of the adrenaline one experiences when riding a wave – often with dolphins as spectators. For this there are several companies that offer surfing lessons as well as board hire for novices.
It is also the abundance of dolphins playing in the waves that provide a free and spectacular show for visitors to the area. Many flock to Jbay to watch the plentiful marine life ranging from whales and dolphins to marine birds and fish.
Jeffreys’ Bay’s array of fish also attract fishermen from all over the country and is a must for anglers who need to get their fix over the holidays.
Other water-related activities offered in Jbay include Stand Up Paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, surfing and many more activities.
For those who prefer terra firma, Jbay won’t disappoint with sand boarding, beach fat bike riding, horse riding or just a stroll along the beach. It is also here you will find one of Kouga’s Blue Flag beaches: Dolphin Beach. Aston Bay and Paradise Beach
The small coastal villages of Aston Bay and Paradise Beach are less developed than Jeffreys Bay and offers visitors a special holiday beach town atmosphere with great views of the ocean and a host of beach-related activities including swimming, sand boarding, kite surfing and many more. It also offers great fun for young and old with the Wacky Waterpark in Marina Martinique. It offers a full range of activities including an inflatable obstacle course on the water, slides, splash pools, swimming and many other activities.
These two enclaves also offer views and walks in both directions to Jeffreys Bay and St Francis.
The Marina Martinique beach also recently received Blue Flag status.
St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis
These two Kouga gems have become Meccas to watersport enthusiasts. Surfing has always been a popular attraction due to the stretch of magnificent beaches in and around the area. They also have warm waters, mostly calm seas and fair breezes which have inspired many ocean sports including surfing, kite surfing, surf skiing, paddleskiing and SUP.
Fishing is also very popular here with the Seekoei and Kromme rivers offering fishing and boating in the area. Rock fishing along the area’s rocky coastline is also always a favourite activity among locals and visitors. There are also a few fishing charter companies in Port St Francis, as well as game fishing competitions, especially over the festive season.
Other beach activities in the area also include sand boarding, marine life watching – including the bottlenose dolphin, surfing and other activities.
It is also home to South Africa’s tallest masonry lighthouse, the 27.75m Seal Point Lighthouse, situated on the South Easternmost point of Africa. Built in 1878, the lighthouse is still operational with a modern radio beacon, fog signal and fog detector. It was also declared a national monument in 1984.
Cape St Francis beach also received a Blue Flag award recently.
- For more info, visit www.kougatourism.com or www.stfrancistourism.co.za.
