It’s official—Jeffreys Bay is the number two surf spot in the world. The Cacadu District is home to the 7 Wonders of our World including luscious evergreen forests, incredible landscapes, gorgeous vistas coupled with superb accommodation, restaurants, and activities for families, couples and experienced travellers.
Equally as wondrous, is the 4th Wonder of Our World, Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay, home to the world’s best right hand surf break that attracts international surfers and tourists the world over. In a recent study of the world’s best spots by internationally renowned news source, CNN, with the help of Surfing Magazine editors and experts alike, Jeffreys Bay was ranked number two in the world against 49 other great surf spots.
Beaten only by the incredible Pipeline of Oahu, Hawaii – Jeffreys Bay has been officially regarded as not only boasting the world’s best right hand break, but also offering “long, fast barrels off an intense point break.”
Not only this, but CNN’s report has ranked it ahead of other prestigious surf spots from Australia, Fiji, the USA(both California and Miami), Costa Rica and the Maldives. Residents and visitors alike flock to the beauty of Jeffreys Bay and surrounding areas that offer these world-renowned surf spots, as well as gorgeous nature reserves, top-notch accommodation, restaurants and unspoilt beaches. The area boasts a vineyard and wine farm, a challenging 18-hole, par 72 golf course known as the St Francis Links and is also home to the tallest masonry tower on the South African coast – the Seal Point Lighthouse with a height of 27.75m.
– The 7 Wonders of Our World include: Addo (1st Wonder), Baviaans and Gamtoos Valley (2nd Wonder), Grahamstown (3rd Wonder), Jeffreys Bay and St Francis (4th Wonder), Karoo (5th Wonder), Sunshine Coast (6th Wonder) and the Tsitsikamma and Langkloof (7th Wonder).
Traveling to the coastal town of Jeffreys Bay, from both Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, offers you an exciting and exhilarating experience with views of landscapes, mountains and vast blue seascapes. This town is nestled where the famous Gamtoos Valley and river meets with the sea, the lagoon of Kabeljous form part of the bay and where many people already make it there destiny to spend a well deserved holiday.
Nearby, from the eastern side, Van Stadens offers several attractions while the main attractions on the western route are Storms River and inland it is the Baviaanskloof which call the 4 X 4 nature fans. When making Jeffreys Bay your holiday destination you can firstly be assured of a fast growing town which offers a wide variety of attractions.
Walking the white beach of the bay, gives you the opportunity to soak your feet in the sea water and enjoy the vast variety of sea shells. The main attraction which makes Jeffreys Bay so popular is Dolphin Beach which has Blue Flag status and is familiar with thousands of holiday makers. On the edge of this beautiful beach is the fun park which offers Putt Putt, a play park, a massive slide and lots of water fun during open season. If the sun gets to hot, several shops invite you to partake in what this holiday destiny offers… something to cool down with or several curio and clothing shops. Billabong Village is within walking distance and with a brand new look and surrounding shops; it is still one of thé attractions in Jeffreys Bays.
Something you can’t afford to miss is to pay a visit to the ever famous Skulpie/Shell museum. When you take a stroll through town, make sure you pop in and take note it is situated right next to the Jeffreys Bay Information Centre. Taking into consideration your daily needs for groceries and other necessary purchases, the main grocers are situated in various spots through the town and the Fountains and Equinox malls have enough to meet your most urgent needs.
Jeffreys Bay offers accommodation such as hotels, backpackers, guesthouses, self-catering, lodges, holiday flats and homes to rent. You have a choice of accommodation walking out on the beach, mid-town or also on the outskirts of the town… whatever suits your pocket or taste.
Did someone mention taste? Jeffreys Bay is privileged to have an incredible variety of menus covering the best fish, white meet, red meet and salad dishes. To try and list some of the best will be a problem, because they are all worth a visit. Therefore make yourself ready for a big “restaurant-crawl”.
In season, one of the biggest treats on a summer evening is to drive through the town and experience the buzz which makes you want to park your car in the nearest parking and become part of the night life, pop into the nearest restaurant and just sit down and enjoy the music, food, drinks and laughter of people enjoying every moment of a well deserved break.
We all know that Jeffreys Bay is known world wide for its surfing! Surfing spots starts right next to Dolphin Beach, Kitchen Window, Secrets, Supers, Point, Lower Point and even down at Albatross, at Kabeljous. This town boasts for hosting the most famous surfers and world champions coming to enjoy the best waves in South Africa.
Sand boarding, wind surfing, fishing, canoeing, tandem skydiving, kite flying, horse riding and many other activities are but a few activities which make Jeffreys Bay one of the top of the list holiday destinations. There is not one day that you will not find surfers in the water.
One can continue an endless conversation on Jeffreys Bay, but when you get curious about the surrounding attractions, you can visit Aston Bay, Paradise Beach, Krom Rivier, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis, Oyster Bay, Kareedouw, Hankey, Patensie (the gateway to the famous Baviaanskloof) and of course do not forget about the Gamtoos, Langkloof, Tsitsikamma and of course the Garden Route. What makes it an even more wonderful experience is the fact that; they all are within an hour or two from Jeffreys.
To the eastern side of Jeffreys Bay are the famous Van Stadens, Blue Horizon Bay and several other smaller holiday towns along the Seaview coast, which you can find on your way to Port Elizabeth.
The second best advice I can give you now is to have a look at www.jeffreysbaytourism.org, but the best advice ever… is to get yourself here and see for yourself.
I assume most of us, when we have to dig deep in our pockets, expect every penny’s worth in return. Fair enough! We all work hard and therefore we can certainly think that way. The same applies to when going on holiday. What makes Jeffreys Bay a good choice for a holiday destination is what you can reach within an hour or two’s drive, from Port Elizabeth all the way down to the Tsitsikamma and even further. Doesn’t matter what the size of your budget is, there are a vast variety of amazing places and things you can do.
Surfing
Jeffreys Bay is one of the five most popular surfing destinations in the world, placing it on the world’s best surfing spot list. This is because of the long, tubing and consistent right hand point break on the west side of the bay, especially in season. There are several sections to choose from. At the main beach you’ll find Kitchen Windows, followed by Magna Tubes, Boneyards, Super Tubes, Impossibles, Tubes, Point and last but not least Albatross. The best waves occur between May and September. Depending on where you see yourself on the ability scale, you will quickly find your most suitable surfing spot. In season, waves can vary from about 8 to 20 feet.
Surfing Lessons
The best right hand break makes Jeffreys Bay the best spot to test the waters and start to learn about this popular sport. From being a complete beginner or should you need more guidance about surfing, there are several people offering their services to help you with quality wetsuits, surfboards and the necessary skills to enjoy every moment.
Sand boarding
Jeffreys Bay also offers some excellent dunes where many people face adrenaline filled fun. From a beginner slope to a raging bush run, this sport became quite popular and if you look for a fun action filled group activity, you’ll find the best spot right next to Tapas, seafood restaurant, only a five minute drive from Jeffreys Bay.
Dining
Being the Surf Mecca in South Africa, Jeffreys Bay cannot afford to stand back when it comes to wine and dine. With thousands of people coming and going, Jeffreys Bay has quite a list of restaurants you can choose from. Here a list of some of them:
The Greek is a restaurant where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Greek way, within a Greek style interior, within walking distance from the beach.
InFood offers gourmet burgers, fresh salads and the best desserts on sheltered stoeps. The best breakfast and lunch spot in town.
Kitchen Windows offer good seafood and meat options with pasta and pizza options should you prefer otherwise… on the beach front.
Potter’s Place is a fully licensed coffee shop and restaurant where you can indulge in good food and good coffees, cappuccino’s and more. They also offer several shows.
Catch of the Dayis well known for their mouthwatering prawns, calamari and the catch of the day. Also within walking distance from the beach, they offer quite a variety and became a very popular visiting place for friends and family.
If you need to refuel, there are many more to choose from.
Horse riding
10km outside of Jeffreys Bay is the ever popular Papiesfontein. Here, experienced guides take riders along a 13km circular route leading through fynbos coastal vegetation, between Gamtoos and Kabeljous rivers. This offers to be an experience never to be forgotten with breathtaking views from the dunes to gallops through the shallows or on the sand.
Game Viewing
Visitors to Jeffrey’s Bay and the surrounding areas will delight in spotting lush forests and valleys, vast expanses of coastline and thick bushveld. These landscapes and natural environments offer an equally broad spectrum of animals and birds. Lombardini Game Farm, next to the Seekoei River Valley is within a few minutes from Jeffreys Bay. They offer luxurious accommodation and game drives. The Addo Elephant Park is not to be forgotten. This park is extensive, housing about 500 elephants with lions, warthogs, ostriches, kudu, springbuck, giraffes, zebras and countless other species.
Bungee Jumping
This activity at the Bloukrans Bridge, is an adrenaline rush of 216m bungee jumping, the highest bridge jump in the world. Being in the heart of the Tsitsikamma, it promises to be a nature experience you will never forget.
Shopping
This surfing hub offers all the brands within the surfing world. Billabong, Quicksilver, Ripcurl, Lizzard, Oakley, Jeep and Element are but a few of the brands you can pick up when strolling through the streets of Jeffreys Bay. Apart of everything you can do around this beautiful town, shopping is something you can really look forward to.
Shell Museum
Jeffreys Bay has always been associated with the vast variety of sea shells the beaches offer. The shell collection started at the home of Charlotte Kritzinger. Her collection was stored in boxes and she most willing shared and show them with visitors on requests. After her death, her collection was purchased by the local municipality and the collection was displayed in the local library. Shells are still donated today from all over the world and this collection is on display daily in the Shell Museum nearby the main beach in Jeffreys Bay.
Fishing
Jeffreys Bay offers kilometers of beach with brilliant surf fishing in great surroundings. While children keep themselves busy in rock pools, many a parent get a chance to pull out the best and famous edible fish of this area. From Gamtoos, up to Kabeljous and Checkers Beach Break you will find excellent spots and if you are more adventures, there are quite a few people that make it their business to take you out to the deep waters.
To Conclude
Several books and articles about Jeffreys Bay have seen the light. The few lines offered hear are hardly enough to cover but a glimpse of everything it has to offer. Landscapes, seascapes, activities and attractions are about what life has to offer from a combination of nature and the creativity of people to offer to us when we need to take a break from a busy daily work life and have to unwind to get back home again, refreshed and ready for the next race.
This article was submitted by a guest that is reviewing five top things that he can recall Mandyville focused on when he stayed at the hotel.
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Everlasting travel memories are the ones where your stay over at an hotel and you’re treated like royalty. The Mandyville Hotel is an establishment where I experienced this first hand. Blending into the neighborhood, this beautiful boutique hotel is inviting and beautifully situated within walking distance of the Jeffreys Bay main beach and downtown (restaurants and nightlife) which makes it popular for so many people to come back to. But surely, it is not only the outside that is attractive and appealing, it’s their customer/guest service that keeps them ahead of the pack.
Here is a list of things I picked up that I would like to mention.
A warm welcome. This is so important because it creates a foundation for what visitors will experience from that very first moment and as they say… first impressions last. These people have the ability, when you enter the door, to make you feel that you are the one and only visitor for the day and will have in the near future. The moment they greet you, you experience a sense of empathy and genuineness and within it all they make you feel comfortable, important and at home.
Décor with attention to detail and a lovely presentation. What strikes you when you enter the Mandyville hotel is the luxury and detail of the décor. For not one moment you will experience something out of place and overall… every small detail testify of excellent taste and careful planning – from the front door right through to every room and smallest space which your foot will tread.
Cleanliness, which is very important in the hospitality industry. One thing about detail is that you have to keep your hand on it. One can see the evidence of routine cleaning with everything which are in place. Dining room tables are set and ready for the next meal. Bedrooms and bathrooms are serviced which makes you wonder if they keep a secret eye on you to quickly clean before you get back.
Efficiency which comes through good team work. Hats off for people who have to be at their best performance at all time. Total efficiency in such an environment can mostly be read when you come aware of the link between management, front desk, cleaning personnel, waiters and kitchen staff who performs tops morning, noon and night and hand in hand. This will only be evident through reviews and visitors coming back again and again and spreading the word.
Timeliness, delivery when promised. When breakfast is at 7.00 it must be ready on time. Most people are relaxed when they stay over at an accommodation, but nevertheless, punctuality still impress and even more when people expect it least.
The moment they decided to start piecing together this property, adding each little detail, Mandyville Hotel set themselves apart that makes them one of the top accommodation providers in Jeffreys Bay. I think most of the visitors will agree with me that the staff really go out of their way to make your stay a memorable one, from the moment you arrive until the time you have to bid a somewhat reluctant goodbye.
Book accommodation
We have twelve 4-star accommodation units available, and one of them will most certainly be just what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a phenomenal conference facility a mere stone’s throw from the beach, you can only do well by enquiring about The Mandyville’s conferencing.
We can handle up to 40 attendees and arrange the room in a variety of ways to help you glide through a conference with confidence.
When we first opened our accommodation establishment, we named it Mandyville Hotel.
Back then the system allowed us to call ourselves a hotel, and although we are strictly not a hotel, we offered the same level of comfort (even better) with excellent service.
The name suited our ambition to offer the best accommodation in Jeffreys Bay.
But the law changed, leaving us high and dry with a name we no longer were allowed to use.
So what do you do?
Well, it’s simple…
Change the name.
After all, what’s in a name?
When it comes to accommodation, everything.
That’s why, despite the change from Mandyville Hotel to The Mandyville, we’re still committed to having the best name in the Jeffreys Bay accommodation space.
As always, we still offer accommodation, as well as a conference facility.
Book accommodation
We have twelve 4-star accommodation units available, and one of them will most certainly be just what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a phenomenal conference facility a mere stone’s throw from the beach, you can only do well by enquiring about The Mandyville’s conferencing.
We can handle up to 40 attendees and arrange the room in a variety of ways to help you glide through a conference with confidence.
