WITH a year-round moderate climate, masses of activities on offer, plus the added cool factor of being a world-renowned surfing destination, Jeffreys Bay is an ideal destination for South Africans looking for a fun-filled getaway over the winter holidays.
Jeffreys Bay has a lot to offer: museums, adventure sports, great food (especially seafood), shops packed with locally-made curios and, of course, beautiful beaches. There’s good reason why JBay, as locals and frequent visitors fondly call it, is a hotspot for surfing, surfing and more surfing.
According to Jeffreys Bay Tourism, the seaside town is “home to the best right-hand surf break in the world” – attracting surfers from around the world to catch “legendary waves” in “a paradise of sunshine, aloes, dolphins, shells, perfect points and classic reefs”. The town is a true surfing destination with “many different surf breaks, each possessing its own magic”, an abundance of surf shops, and even a museum dedicated to the sport.
Airbnb’s surfing experiences are among the most popular on the platform. So much so, in fact, that the home sharing platform recently teamed up with the World Surf League (WSL) to bring more than 75 unique and local surfing Airbnb Experiences to travellers around the world, hosted by surf pros, certified coaches and influencers across dozens of destinations, including Jeffreys Bay.
The JBay leg of this tournament unfolds from July 2 to 13, and it’s perfectly timed to coincide with the JBay Winterfest that is set to take place from July 2 to 17.
Other than surfing, visitors can participate in a range of adventure activities like stand-up paddling, kayaking, sandboarding, beach horse riding, or ziplining. For something more relaxing, the festival will be hosting live music from a number or top South African bands.
Visitors can also take a tour to a nearby waterfall or go on a craft beer or township tour. And there are also plenty of activities for kids, including an ocean-themed art competition.
And if you aren’t a surf pro just yet, there are many surf schools in the area, so you can try out a beginner’s lesson. To completely round off your surf immersion, visit the Surf Museum. Here you’ll learn how surfboards have evolved over the years, and what makes Jeffreys Bay one of the top ten surfing destinations in the world.
The town is also a haven for nature lovers, not just for its beautiful beaches but for its rivers and nature reserves. Visitors will be able to spot bottlenose dolphins in the waves along with surfers, penguins, and even whales in the winter months.
