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Things to do in Jeffreys Bay

Our most recommended things to do in Jeffreys Bay

Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

1. Addo Elephant National Park All Inclusive Full-Day Safari

Get picked up from your hotel in Port Elizabeth, Bluewater Bay, or Colchester. Spend a full day exploring the third largest National Park in South Africa with an expert local guide. The original elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area.  Today you can see a variety of predators, antelope, zebra species, endangered black rhino as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.  The park is also the only one in the world to conserve the “Big 7” – the Big 5 as well as the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast.  An excursion to the Addo Elephant park is a must when visiting this unique area.

From Cape Town: 5-Day Best of Garden Route & Addo Safari

2. From Cape Town: 5-Day Best of Garden Route & Addo Safari

Day 1: Route 62Travel about 400 km Start with a morning pickup from Cape Town and Stellenbosch, between 6 - 7 AM.Travel along Route 62, the longest wine route in the world, with a wine-tasting stop (non-alcoholic tasting available too) before reaching Oudtshoorn in the semi-desert Klein Karoo in the late afternoon. For a close encounter with Mother Nature, opt in to join rangers on an Elephant Educational Bush Walk (at extra cost) as they follow 3 lovable rescued elephants along the waterhole, learning about these gentle giants' background. Then, spend overnight at Uthando Backpackers (if you choose the Saver Dorm package), at 88 van Rheede (if you choose the 3* Comfort package), or Buffelsdrift Lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 2: OudtshoornTravel about 250 km Visit a working ostrich farm to learn about the largest, flightless bird in the world. Next, head to the mountains to go deep underground in the illuminated wonder world of the Cango Caves. Explore the vast halls filled with ancient stalactites before traveling onward to the Addo region. Spend overnight at Avaco Cabins, Gerald's Gift (if you choose the 3* Comfort package) or Addo Wildlife lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 3: Addo, Jeffreys BayTravel about 250 km An early morning start allows the best option to spot wildlife as the bush awakes in Addo Elephant National Park, the 3rd largest national park in South Africa. You can join the optional 4x4 game drive (with extra cost).  Next, go on the included 2-hour safari with your guide. Navigate the park in the tour van in search of some of the Big Five animals, including 550 elephants, buffalo, lions, black rhinos, and zebras. Spend your afternoon relaxing with free time at Jeffreys Bay's beach.  Choose between surf lessons, beach horseback riding, or sand boarding (all optional at extra cost). Spend overnight at Island Vibe, Sea Whisper (if you choose the 3* Comfort package), or On The Beach lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 4: Tsitsikamma, SedgefieldTravel about 250 km Experience the highest Bungy Bridge Jump in the world or Waterfall Zipline over waterfalls in the nearby Tsitsikamma forest (optional at extra cost). Next, see Tsitsikamma National Park. Take a short walk to the suspension bridges before a photo stop at Knysna's lagoon en route to Sedgefield. Spend overnight at Pili Pili Beach Cabanas, Fairy Knowe (if you choose the 3* Comfort package), or Dolphin Dunes Lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 5: WildernessTravel about 450 km Take to the water for a leisurely canoeing session to a secret waterfall along the rivers of the Wilderness region. On the journey back to Cape Town, spot wildlife on a 4x4 Botlierskop game drive (at extra cost) or relax at Mossel Bay's Diaz Beach after walking to the Cape St Blaize lighthouse. Your adventure ends with an evening drop-off at your Cape Town or Stellenbosch accommodation between 8 - 10 PM.

Jeffreys Bay: Learn to Surf Group Lesson

3. Jeffreys Bay: Learn to Surf Group Lesson

This learn-to-surf program is an all-inclusive lesson plan for beginner surfers. Follow a five-step program, with the ultimate goal of the lesson being to paddle, catch the wave, stand up and finally ride the wave toward the beach. For these lessons to be successful, groups are kept small so that each individual learner gets the necessary attention they require. Steps one to three are first explained and demonstrated on the beach, following this, they are put to practice in the ocean (in waist-deep water). Once steps one to three have been practiced successfully, you'll once again return to the beach with your instructor and go through the final two steps. Return to the ocean and practice these steps in order to achieve the ultimate goal of the surf lesson; standing up and riding a wave. At the end of the lesson, you'll be equipped with the necessary skills to practice basic surfing on your own.

Sandboarding Jeffreys Bay

4. Sandboarding Jeffreys Bay

Come and experience some thrilling fun in the sun and sand! The dunes around Jeffrey's Bay are ideal for sandboarding, from gentle slopes for beginners to steeper dunes for the brave. The area offers beautiful views of the St Francis Bay and if luck is on your side you may be able to see whales and dolphins playing in the Bay. Sandboarding is a board sport similar to snowboarding. It is a recreational activity that takes place on sand dunes rather than snow-covered mountains. This board sport is beloved by people who love the sensation of surfing but aren’t too keen to head out into the big blue sea. Your skilled instructors will give you clear, detailed directions for the best and easiest way to learn how to fly down the dunes. Whether you’ve done this before, or are brand new to this, by the end of your session you will be confident in sandboarding. Not up to standing? Enjoy the sand surfing boards. Kids love these! You can sit or lay down on these boards as they surf down the dunes ‘super-fast’. Under your instructors watchful gaze, the kids (and the more cautious adults) will wear themselves out running up the dunes to sled down the dunes over and over and over again. The dunes need to be dry to be boarded down so this is weather dependent. People of all ages are welcome to join for a dune-tastic experience in the best (sand) surfing spot in Southern Africa.

Jeffreys Bay: Private Surfing Lesson for Beginners

5. Jeffreys Bay: Private Surfing Lesson for Beginners

Hit the waves and experience the thrill of surfing on this beginners course. Learn how to paddle, catch waves, stand up, and ride the wave towards the beach for the first time. Enjoy instruction at Jeffrey Bay's oldest surf school in the company of qualified, professional coaches. Practice your first moves on the beach, as well as waist-deep in water. Learn skills and techniques to achieve the ultimate goal of the surf lesson: standing up and riding a wave. At the conclusion of the lesson you will be equipped with the necessary skills to practice basic surfing on your own. Take home souvenirs of your first surfing experience, as photographs will be taken throughout the session.

Garden Route, Addo and Winelands: 7-Day Combo from Cape Town

6. Garden Route, Addo and Winelands: 7-Day Combo from Cape Town

Join the ultimate Garden Route experience: explore the winding roads from Cape Town to Addo National Park with a combo tour package including a 2-day Western Cape tour and a 5-day Garden Route tour. Enjoy accommodation, tastings, bushwalks, and more. Day 1-2: Cape Winelands and Cape Point Sample wine paired with cheese at the Fairview wine estate and enjoy chocolate at the Muratie Wine Estate in the scenic Cape Winelands. Join a 15-minute wine tram journey to Rickety Bridge in the historic town of Franschhoek for a Taste & Tram tour along the Cape Winelands (or similar). Continue to spend time in Franschhoek for lunch before you return to Cape Town for your overnight stay as per your selected package: Never@home Backpackers (Saver), 3-star Sea Point Protea or Sky hotel (Comfort), or 4-star Garden Court Hotel Victoria Junction or similar (Deluxe). The next day, travel via Chapman's Peak towards Cape Point. After a short hike to the top of the lighthouse and a stroll down to the Cape of Good Hope, journey along Boulder's Beach to visit the penguins. Drive past colorful beach huts at Muizenberg Beach before another overnight stay in Cape Town. Day 3: Oudtshoorn Capture the beauty of the high mountains and rugged Karoo Plains on a drive along the legendary Route 62 to reach and explore the Cango Caves. Stay the night in Oudtshoorn: Uthando Backpackers (Saver), 3-star Yamkela Guesthouse (Comfort), or 4-star Buffelsdrift Lodge or similar (Deluxe). Day 4: Addo Fall in love with giant orphaned elephants on an optional bush walk. Visit an ostrich farm before spending the night in the town of Addo: Avoca Cabins (Saver), 3-star Gerlads Gift Guesthouse (Comfort), 4-star Addo Wildlife Lodge or similar (Deluxe). Day 5: Addo and J’bay Look for wildlife on a game drive by tour bus at Addo Elephant National Park, home to the densest population of wild elephants on the planet. Opt in to an extra Addo 4x4 safari led by a ranger. Chill at J’bay Beach: swim, surf, or join in optional activities like beach horse riding or sand boarding. Stay overnight at Jeffrey's Bay: Island Vibe Backpackers (Saver), 3-star Sea Whisper (Comfort), or 4-star On The Beach Guesthouse (Deluxe). Day 6: Wilderness Face your fear during an optional jump from the world's highest bungee bridge at the Bloukrans, zip-line over waterfalls, or have more time to explore the Tsitsikamma National Park. Visit The Heads Viewpoint at Knysna, then stay overnight in the Wilderness National Park area: PiliPili Backpackers (Saver), 3-star Fairy Knowe (Comfort), or 4-star Dolphin Dune (Deluxe). Day 7: Wilderness National Park Canoe peacefully in nature in the Wilderness region and watch abundant birdlife while rowing to a waterfall. Choose to visit Mossel Bay Beach or partake in an optional 4x4 Botlierskop Game Reserve Safari before arriving back in the Cape in the evening.

Jeffrey’s Bay: Improver Surf Lesson

7. Jeffrey’s Bay: Improver Surf Lesson

Catch bigger waves with greater confidence in Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa, one of the greatest surf spots in the world. Take a surf lesson tailor-made for those who have mastered the beginner’s “learn to surf” level and are ready for the next step. With these intermediate or “improver” lessons, the surf coach will help you take the next step in your surfing life. There is an ideal, fun, and intermediate-level surf break out the front of the surf school where your surf coach will paddle out, assisting you in getting onto those beautiful long green waves.  After a beach briefing on the setup of the surf break, the coach will guide you out in the channel to the backline. Once out, the coach will point out lineup spots and swell indicators. As the wave approaches you will be guided into the perfect take-off zone to then paddle into that awesome green wave. After the ride, you will paddle back to the coach along the indicated paddle path and you’ll receive feedback on the ride and tips on how to improve. For the entirety of the two-hour session, the coach and his advanced knowledge will be available to help make sure you get where you want to be.

Kayaking Jeffreys Bay

8. Kayaking Jeffreys Bay

The lagoons around Jeffreys Bay are some of the most spectacular in South Africa. Relaxing, fun, and easy to learn, kayaking is great even for beginners. The instructors will show you the basics. The kayaks are stable and easy to steer. All equipment is provided and all ages are welcome. The spot is conveniently located at the Kabeljouws Lagoon in J Bay just as you enter Jeffreys Bay from Port Elizabeth, at the lagoon next to the ablution blocks, there you will see the launch site and office. Kayak trips are run daily and transport can be arranged from Jeffreys Bay to the lagoon. Trips are at 10:00AM and 2:00PM. In-Season (December) the office operates from 8:00AM - 6:00PM.

Jeffreys Bay: Stand Up Paddle Boarding

9. Jeffreys Bay: Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Experience an incredible standup paddleboard (SUP) experience on the Jeffreys Bay lagoon. Discover one of the world's fastest-growing water sport which has exploded in popularity in recent years.  Arrive at the meeting point at Jeffreys Bay and meet your instructor. Get kitted out with a board, paddle, and lifejacket, then, head out onto the water for a basic instruction. Standup paddleboarding is easier than you think and the gentle currents of the lagoon are suitable for all experience levels to navigate. Not recommended in windy conditions. When you're ready, set off to explore the area. Admire beautiful views of the nature reserve and keep your eyes for local wildlife and flamingos. After the tour, head back to shore and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy next to the lagoon at the picnic spots.

Other Sightseeing Options in Jeffreys Bay

Want to discover all there is to do in Jeffreys Bay? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Jeffreys Bay

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 299 reviews

Our guide Issac treated us like family and by the end of the trip we certainly all felt like family. Half of the group were solo travelers and I would recommend this since they don't charge you double. I highly recommend upgrading to 4*, the accommodations were over the top and the best I have ever stayed at. From glamping to luxury BnB with glass everything and infinity pool. I have never felt so pampered. One of the backpackers reported one strange mosquito filled accommodation when they ran out of space. I had so much space as a solo traveller that they could have all stayed at my place! There are still rolling blackouts and most places have backup lighting, but I would recommend bringing lots of powerbanks to keep your phone charged. I did create a daily YouTube vlog. Search on "Day 3 Africa - Guided 5 day Garden Route tour" to find it. It is really inexpensive to eat in South Africa. A great meal will only run you about $16 in USD and were taken to great restaurants for dinners.

This tour was a beautiful experience. Our guide Isaac was a warm, knowledgeable, and truly exceptional person who immediately created a fun, open dynamic. The safaris were breathtaking and the accommodation was lovely. Highly recommend!

If you are in PE this us a must tour. Addo National Park is absolutely a place to visit. So much to see! Hundreds and hundreds of elephants!!

Amazing experience with many highlights on the way and great activities that you can book additionally.

We experienced a lot in the 5 days. Good accommodations, great safari.