The drive from George to Jeffery’s Bay only takes a few hours. The drive follows the Garden Route which is very popular due the diverse range of vegetation, lagoons and coastal scenery that you encounter along the way. The Garden Route stretches form Mossel Bay to Storms River in the Eastern Cape.
There is also a wide variety of eco-tourism activities along the way if you are so inclined. There are hiking trails and even bungee jumping.
The Eastern Cape, South Africa
The Eastern Cape is a coastal province that connects the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It is the traditional homeland of the Xhosa people. The Eastern Cape is also the birthplace of many famous South African politicians such as Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko.
The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. Many of the laborers working in South African mines originate in the Eastern Cape.
Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa
Jeffery’s Bay is a world famous surf mecca. It provides an ideal aspect for the waves that come charging in from Antarctica during the winter months. It is famous for the “supertubos” that come barreling around the point.
I had a great time here. The surf is challenging and with a bit of effort I was able to get a few good waves for myself. Early bird gets the worm here, make sure you are on the break at sunrise and if you are lucky you will get a couple exclusive sets before company arrives.
The location is ideal for sunrise surfing, I still remember the rays of the early morning sun reflecting off the glassy mirror on the front of my best wave. Truly sublime.
There is also a large populations of dolphins in the area. Of course there are sharks, but there is no huge seal colony nearby which is comforting.
However, the sharks are ever present here. This is the location of the infamous shark attack that occurred during the 2015 J-Bay Open. It was a non-fatality and the surfer emerged physically unscathed. No question, there must have been some psychological trauma. Although the same surfer returned the next year to take first place.
Beached Cape Fur Seal
One afternoon a cape fur seal appeared on the beach. I am not sure what it was doing there. Perhaps it was old and needed a rest, or perhaps some sharks had run it out of the water. What ever the reason, it seemed far less afraid of me than what ever was in the water. I was able to get quite close to it for some photos. About an hour later, it was gone.
Ostrich River
If the surf gets lame and the long boarders start drooling on everyone, then you can visit Ostrich River. If you lucky you may find the ostrich!
Full Rainbow at Jeffery’s Bay
This is the first time in my life that I have ever encountered a full rainbow. One afternoon it appeared on the beach in front of my condo. Unfortunately, I could not fit the entire rainbow into one frame, so I split it in two.
Conclusion
Jeffery’s Bay is as advertised. It is the premier big wave surf spot in the world. Also, beautiful beaches and a laid back surf town atmosphere. In coming days I would be driving back to Cape Town on the Western Cape to catch my flight to Namibia.