ST FRANCIS CANAL BOAT CRUISE
Experience the beautiful St Francis Bay Canals. Built in 1967, the canal system of St Francis Bay has become a leading South African tourist destination. Sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquil canal waters as you drift along the waterways offering you wonderful views of the architecture, wildlife and as evening draws in, the spectacular sunsets.
A holiday in St Francis Bay is not complete without a boat cruise on the canals. Spend a lazy morning or afternoon on the St Francis canals with your family and have the entire boat to yourselves!
Click here to find out more about the boat cruise. Exclusively for St Francis Bay Villa guests.
ST FRANCIS VILLA GOLF BREAK
Bunkers, lakes, long drives and beautifully tendered greens draw golfers to this area year after year. St Francis Bay is famously known for its surfing, but the area also offers 2 outstanding, and very different, golf courses.
Firstly, there is ‘The St Francis Bay Golf Club’ situated within the heart of the picturesque village of St Francis. This full 18 hole course offers challenging holes for all levels, from short lake holes to long driver par 5s. As you head over the road to the 11th – 15th holes, sea views and crashing wave back drops will emphasize the beauty of where you are playing. The 19th hole or club house offers a wide variety of snacks, meals and drinks with stunning views across the course. Sit back and watch as the golfers finish their round on the 18th.
’St Francis Links’ , the second course in St Francis Bay, may not have been grazing land for sheep and rabbits, but a natural course between the beach and arable land it is. Jack Nicklaus has had the pleasure of taking Mother Nature’s best piece of links land and signed his name to something unique. ’St Francis Links’ challenges all who play it and rewards those who respect it. The layout combines every element of shot making with its undulating terrain, greens and surrounds as well as its variation in length and direction. The bunkers look as though they have been ploughed out of the land. The bunkering truly defines the quality and character of ’St Francis Links’. Others courses have a links “look”. Here you will see what separates ’St Francis Links’ from the rest – a consistent look throughout. One will agree that, almost from the opening shot, ’St Francis Links’ carries a look and feel that breathes history from bygone times. The greens’ shape comes from the natural movement of the land. The greens have simply been placed on top of the sand, changing shape as the wind changed its mind. Some are more undulating than others. All putting surfaces and green surrounds present a mental and physical test.
And finally a lovely little 9 hole course… a short drive to Humansdorp, just pass the N2 junction will lead you to one final course in the area – Zwartenbosch Golf Club. Although set out over 9 holes, this course offers different tee boxes for holes 10 -18. Not as popular as the 2 St Francis Bay based courses, this hidden treasure is usually less busy and therefore can prove a more relaxing and peaceful affair. The course is well maintained and offers a variety of challenging holes.
ST FRANCIS HIKING AND NATURE WALKS
What is so special about these areas?
South Africa is extraordinarily rich in plant and animal life and scientists have classified the different kinds of vegetation across the land. The southwestern Cape region is especially blessed in plant species, so much so that it is recognized as one of only six Plant or Floral Kingdoms in the world. Known as the Cape Floral Kingdom, it extends roughly from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and inland, covering about 90,000 km2 and is home to 9,000 plant species, 70% of which grow nowhere else in the world (i.e. endemic to the Cape).
These plants are not scattered randomly across the landscape. Instead, from one hill to the next, different plant species grow together in their own communities. This means that the entire region is divided into these vegetation types, comprising plant species that grow in their particular area and nowhere else.
Our local vegetation type is the St Francis Fynbos/Thicket Mosaic and only grows on the lime-rich coastal sandy sites scattered between Tsitisikamma in the west and Port Elizabeth in the east. The conditions under which this vegetation type can grow is a relatively small area comprising 0.2% of the Cape region. Botanists from all over the world have visited the area discovering new species of plant life that are only found in this area.
Keep those eyes peeled for wild life
Look out for bushbuck, grysbok, common duiker, bushpig, porcupine, vervet monkey, caracal, yellow and grey mongoose and otters. You can sometimes see the rare African black oystercatcher and occasionally an endangered Jackass penguin. Bottlenose and common dolphins are often seen offshore and, from August to December, southern right whales may be spotted.
Experience the natural beauty of Cape St Francis and the surrounding area via stunning reserve and coastal walks
Cape St Francis is home to no less than five beautiful nature reserves, Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, Seal Point Nature Reserve, Seal Bay Nature Reserve, St Francis Field Nature Reserve and Irma Booysen Flora Reserve.
These reserves offer a wide variety of walks suitable for all levels of fitness and experience. These walks, hikes and trails take you through natural coastal lands filled with indigenous plant and wild life.