Cape St Francis Resort

Discover this unique and exclusive paradise on the South African Southern Coast which draws holiday makers from all over the world to enjoy the glorious beaches lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, excellent water-sport facilities, a leisurely lifestyle and the magical beauty of its unspoilt surroundings.

Cape St Francis Resort  forms part of the greater St Francis area affectionately known as The Bay The Port  The Cape. St Francis Bay  characterized by a unique style of thatched  architecture and an  extensive canal system linked to the Kromme River estuary offers residents and holiday makers an exotic marina lifestyle. Here, one can experience the pleasures of living right at the waters edge.

The commercial harbour of Port St Francis is  home to the lucrative calamari  industry .Built in 1995, it  has always held a unique charm because of both its size and the constant activity and   is the only national privately owned harbour of its kind, where chokka fleets berth on one side of the harbour while providing anchorage for pleasure craft and ocean going yachts   on the other.
Cape St Francis with its historic lighthouse built in 1878 is a tranquil eco-destination. The pristine beach with mild temperatures and the longest sunshine hours on the South African coast ensure a relaxed all year round destination.
As we are surrounded by nature reserves dune  fynbos proliferates in the area and many species are endemic to our local region.  Cape St Francis Resort  borders the beach and provides easy access to a variety of activities. Action or leisure the choices are varied , exciting and endless.Start by  exploring the canals  by boat or venture  onto the Kromme River,  experience golf at  St Francis Links or St Francis Bay, surf the Endless Summer , charter a fishing vessel , visit the penguin rehabilitation centre or simply relax.Whales can be spotted between June and November but sightings tend to peak in the months of September and October when several Southern Right Whales  may be spotted in the bay at any time.
Cape St Francis Resort  is the ideal base from which to visit nearby national parks with Tsitsikama to our west and Addo National Park to our east.The thrill of the bungy jump or canopy tours is just an hour away.On our doorstep lies the wilderness area of the Baviaanskloof  so to the bread basket valley of Patensie.

Fit us into your travel plan and stay a while to experience all the Garden Route and Eastern Cape has to offer .Once you have experienced it’s charm you will want to return again and again.

Club Break  room types 

(1) 1 Double Room  Standard  – 2 Double Beds in open plan room with lounge area and TV with DSTV bouquet , kitchenette an bathroom  with shower over the bath.
Room facilities : Safety deposit box,seating area,wall panel heater,shower, bath,hairdryer,bathroom amenities,toilet,TV,tea/ coffee making facilities, refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, dining area, kitchenware, wake up service, balcony or verandah, garden view.
Bed size 2 Double beds.
(2) Double Room De luxe - 2 Double Beds in open plan room with lounge area and TV with DSTV bouquet , kitchenette and bathroom  with separate shower.
Room facilities : Safety deposit box,seating area, sofa, wall panel heater,shower, bath, hairdryer, bathroom amenities, toilet, satellite TV, tea/ coffee making facilities, refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, dining area, kitchenware, wake up service, balcony or verandah, garden view.
Bed size 2 Double beds.
(3) 2 Bed Roomed Family Apartment –These can be either on ground or first floor.These spacious units consist of 2 private en suite bed rooms, one twin and 1 double, an open plan lounge, dining room and fully equipped kitchen.Has TV with DSTV bouquet and serviced daily.
Room facilities : Safety deposit box,iron,lounge,wall heater,two showers, hairdryer, bathroom amenities, two toilets, 2 bathrooms, satellite TV, flat screen TV, tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator, stove, microwave,kitchen,dining area,electric kettle, kitchenware , crockery,wake up service, balcony or verandah, garden view.
 

Village Break room types - In the heart of the Resort and nestled in the dunes you will find Village Break which consists of cottages built in the traditional Cape Dutch style  and  vary in size from two to five-bedrooms each with  most bedrooms being en-suite. The cottages are comfortably equipped in a beach cottage decor and have a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering as well as a limited DSTV bouquet and a braai area. Cottages in Village Break are serviced daily.

The four five bed room cottages are close to the beach and are best described as follows:A fully equipped self contained semi-detached thatch house built above double carport. A 1 x bedroom with double bed and shower en suite is suituted off the carport and is seperate from the main house.Enter the house from a deck above which leads into an open plan kitchen/dining/living area whilst the upsatirs bedrooms have breath taking sea views.1 x bedroom with double bed and full en suite bathroom with separate shower facility.Upstairs:
1 x bedroom double bed with full en suite bathroom
2 x bedrooms twin beds share a full bathroom

The three bed room cottages comprise those which have a garden view and those which have a sea view and are best described as follows:•1 bedroom downstairs shower en suite – double
•open plan kitchen/living/dining area with fireplace
•sliding door leading onto shaded patio
•2 bedrooms upstairs with full en suite bathrooms
•1 double + 1 twin
•garden view

Free Standing Thatch Cottage (Sleeps 4-6) with breath taking sea views.Downstairs•open plan kitchen/dining/living area leading onto deck
•1 bedroom en suite - twinUpstairs•main bedroom en suite
•2nd bedroom
•bathroom
•TV Room
The four bed room cottages are fully equipped semi-detached thatch houses with parking available next to houses

Downstairs

:•Enclosed patio area with gate
•Open plan kitchen/dining/living area
•1 x bedroom with double bed/full en suite bathroom with separate shower
Upstairs:•1 x bedroom double bed/full en suite bathroom
•2 x bedrooms twin beds/share a full bathroom
Stunning 2 bed room cottages have  their  own private garden and outside braai area, downstairs there is a open plan kitchen with a lounge dinning area.

The second floor has two en suite rooms both opening on to a balcony over looking the garden and the resort. This thatched cottage also has a fire place for the chilly winter nights.

Upstairs

:•2 bedrooms both full en suite bathrooms–twin+double
•open plan kitchen/dining/lounge area with fireplace
•sliding door leading onto outdoor area

 Beach Break is luxury Five Star accommodation consisting of three separate villas set on the edge of the dunes, overlooking the pristine Cape St Francis beach between Seal Point and Shark Point Nature Reserves.  A total of twelve en-suite bedrooms, stylishly appointed, offer self-catering or bed and breakfast alternatives.  Relax in comfortable lounges, cool off in private pools and the heated pool or take a walk through one of the many nature reserves in and around Cape St Francis.

Beach Break Villa is the largest with five en-suite bedrooms. Three are doubles of which two have full bathrooms while two are twins with shower only. The open plan kitchen, lounge and dining area is spacious and opens onto a deck with a swimming pool as well as a smaller plunge pool. The outside boma / braai area is tucked away and well protected from both the east and west winds. Large windows ensure that your view is uninterrupted.The top floor of Beach Break consists of one double room with full bathroom as well as a private balcony and lounge thus ensuring your privacy.

SEAGULLS SONG AND WAVE WARRIOR -The other two villas are aptly named Seagulls Song and Wave Warrior. These have four bed rooms, two double sea facing rooms featuring a glass front with sliding doors facing the ocean and full bathrooms. A king size bed finishes the room. It is possible to add a cot to accommodate a baby or a toddler. The two twin en suite ( shower only) rooms are situated at the back of the villa and overlook the garden and remainder of the Cape St Francis Resort. Kitchens are well equipped with fridge/ freezer, microwave, dish washing machine, weber braai and crockery and cutlery. Villas have direct beach access, small pool and double lock up garages.On a self catering basis the villas are serviced daily, kitchen is fully equipped with fridge / freezer, microwave, dishwasher and necessary cutlery and crockery.

Breakfast . On a bed and breakfast option breakfast is served either on the front lawn overlooking the sea or in the villa if the weather is unsuitable. This is a great time to meet the other guests.

• Braai facilities
• Breakfast
• Child friendly
• Joe Fish Restuarant open daily for breakfast , lunch and dinner
• Complimentary wi-fi for guests in dematcated areas
• Laundry
• Safe
• Satellite TV
• Secure parking
• Self catering kitchenette
• Shuttle service
• Swimming pools

Cape St Francis Conference Venue has a variety of conference rooms available which can accommodate groups of different sizes.

• The Space, our largest conference room, can accommodate up to 300 delegates theatre style.
• The Chapel & Theatre, which can accommodate up to 160 delegates theatre style.
• The Francolin Room, which can accommodate a maximum of 35 delegates, and
• Beach Break, which can accommodate a maximum of 19 delegates.

All of our conference rooms come equipped with with following equipment:

• Overhead projector and screen
• Whiteboard and flipcharts
• VCR and monitor
• Data Projector
• DVD player
• Public address sound system
• Pens and paper for the use of delegates
• Iced water and mints for the enjoyment of delegates
• All of the conference are air conditioned.
The following facilities are also available to conferences:

• A full range of other specialist AV equipment can be supplied on request
• Secretarial service, fax, telephone, internet and photocopying facilities
• Spouse program
• Breakaway rooms are also available for when a conference needs to break up into separate work groups or syndicates

Joe Fish restaurant is situated in a lush resort in a  peaceful poolside surrounding.
Great for kids and parents alike in the summer months. The restaurant serves a variety of delicious meals and is open daily from 8h00 to 21h00.
 

Please enquire about our daily specials from our friendly & helpful staff. We are able to ater for weddings, birthdaysand other functions.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE AT CAPE ST FRANCIS RESORT AND SURROUNDS

1.Nature Breaks - walks, guided or not - so just to refresh we have approx 8 to 10 walks that guests can do on their own , these range from soft to comfortable and include amongst others Shark Point, Blow Hole, Seal Bay Nature Reserve , Irma Booysen coastal fynbos reserve - now with information sheet of species and a little about them.Very popular and its’ entrance is just outside the Resort.
We can guide some of these as per the attachment - there is of course the financial add on but is great value for money and unlike golf very little spoils a good walk.All the popular ones are attached hereto.

2.Golf Breaks - with 2 well maintained courses within 10 kms of our location we can offer St Francis Links recently rated as the number 9 golf course in South Africa where green fees with shared cart can set you back at R540 per person.Halfway house is not heavily priced and the view over the bay is stunning.A well equipped pro shop should take care of any golfing needs that guests may have.Clubs are for hire.The Links is challenging as you can get pummeled by the wind so is not recommended for beginner golfers.
At St Francis Bay Golf Course - links style golf and easier rough the game may be more enjoyable and the price a tad lighter at R250 per person.You do not really require a cart as the course is easily walked but these are available.
We do have several golf groups from abroad and they almost always opt for St Francis Links.The choice though is there and all guests with handicaps are invited to join in the afternoons competition on certain given days ie. Tuesday, Wednesday and the traditional Saturday.

3.River Breaks – Many options here . The tranquil waters of the Kromme River Estuary, tidal and navigable for approximately 14 kilometers. the river, winding from the Elandsjacht Dam to the sea, has created a haven for birds and animals and a playground for humans. the fishing is good and the river is a favored venue for all forms of aquatic activity.
taking advantage of these natural assets, RiverBreak Adventures offers a variety of recreational activities tailored to suit the client’s needs. based in the canal system of St Francis Bay, the luxury barge RiverBreak cruises these canals, Kromme and Geelhout Rivers.

Day outing up the Kromme
Transport to the launching area at the canals, take a boat up river to the Geelhout, a tributary of the Kromme. On your way you are likely to spot a variety of buck species as well as the ever present fish eagle. Once at the farm , enjoy a walk through the fynbos, canoe or simply enjoy the sights and sounds of the river whilst basking in the sun. Your late afternoon lunch takes the form of a traditional South African braai with all the trimming which includes local beers and ciders.Transport is arranged back to the Resort.We operate canal cruises lasting an hour but can be beefed up by ordering snack platters - of course we do have a cool box on board for those who wish. Rates are R380 per person , effective till end of November 2012.
4.Surf Breaks - with Seal Point on our doorstep surfing still rocks. Lessons for beginners are available and includes board and wetsuit hire.
5.Fishing Breaks - There are a few operators that offer deep sea fishing trips ranging from reef fishing to deep sea . Estuary fishing along the banks of the Kromme River with rod, reel and bait.There are also fly fishing options.
Dolphin and Whale watching excursions leaving from Port St Francis.

6.Visit the penguin rehabilitation centre at Seal Point lighthouse - this Centre has certainly grown in stature over the last year with their penguin release success rate climbing to as high as 96 %.Unfortunately the number of stranded sea birds has escalated - upside is that there are more frequent penguin releases ( approx every 10 days ) so more guests are able to witness this.
There is no entrance fee but all donations are welcome.
The Penguin Pezzase Gift and Curio shop is adjacent to the lighthouse.Here local crafters make all the nik naks - craft shop is open Monday to Saturday.

7.Picnic at sunset rock – watch the sun set.Very popular spot – we pack a picnic basket which includes bottle of wine , rate of R290 for 2 persons includes transport to the beach and return.Alot of our groups did this outing and love it.
8.For Hire - bicycles , tennis rackets, paddle boats , kayaks , canoes, motorized boats.There are no set rates here so depends much on what is available at the time.

9.Shopping Factory shops in JbAy at Billabong and Quicksilver can include a visit to the Surfing Museum which even the non surfer will enjoy.
10.Local township walk about – this is where we get to meet the locals , not a formal township tour but a lot more informal .Drinks at local shebeen for guests own account.Could combine this with Penguin Tour so could take a full morning.

11.Activities for children –

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE – AN OUTREACH PROGRAMME FOR THE SEAL POINT NATURE RESERVE AT CAPE ST. FRANCIS

A coastal education trail has been developed in a critically endangered ecosystem in the Seal Point Nature Reserve, managed on behalf of the Kouga Municipality by FOSTER (Friends of the St. Francis Nature Areas). The programme is co-funded by FOSTER, the Table Mountain Fund and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature.

Features:
• Interpretative facilities (Education signboards and pamphlets)
• Wetlands and associated fauna, including the Cape clawless otter
• Strandveld which has been identified as a Critical Biodiversity Area
• A wave-exposed rocky coastline
• A penguin rehabilitation and interpretative centre managed by Penguins Eastern Cape
• The historic Cape St. Francis lighthouse managed by the National Ports Authority
• Later Stone Age and Khoe-Khoe middens

Objectives:
• To provide biodiversity and conservation-related information to local residents and holidaymakers in the St. Francis area
• To maintain integrity of the nature reserve system through fundraising and raising of awareness

An excursion takes roughly two hours to complete, and involves a walk about two to three kilometers long. It is moderately physically taxing, and can be undertaken by persons of all ages in reasonable physical condition.
Donations to FOSTER will be gratefully accepted.
Participants must be prepared to sign an indemnity form and to provide their own refreshments

HERITAGE CENTRE
The Centre has a number of displays to look at, I give a brief history of the Village and then the guides walk the adults through the displays that interest them. I supply the guides with facts and they then pass the knowledge on in the guests home language.

For the children there is a video of the Big 5, life size foot prints, pictures etc and so with the help of the guide the kids learn about the Big 5. The first group made a decopage container with pictures of the Big 5 the second group wanted to see a Yellowood Tree so instead of making the container we went for a walk in the Community Garden.

Because the groups also visit the Penguin Centre I teach the children how to make a beaded penguin keyring which they then make and take with them. Beads are so "African" that this is an ideal craft project. Both groups got to do the bead work but with younger kids we will make puppets as the bead work is to difficult for very young kids.

Open Ocean Excursions R 448
This tour offers the participant a fantastic view of the Kouga area from sea and
the opportunity to experience boat based viewing of the awesome marine life
that graces our coastline. The tour is approximately 2 hours. Tours are informative
and educational. Participants are enlightened about the unique oenology and marine
Species by our highly experienced guides. Refreshments are served on board during
the tour.

Chokka Tour R 504
A fantastic “show-case” of St Francis Bay’s Chokka industry. The tour starts at the
Port, where participants are informed of the manner in which the industry operates,
the export potential and the methods of Chokka fishing. The tour then heads out to
sea and experiences the specter of Chokka being hand caught by lively local fishermen
right in our bay! The tour is approximately 2 ½ hours in total and ends back at
Port St Francis where participants get to eat fresh local caught Chokka at
Chokka Block Restaurant.

Star gazing R 336
A perfect end to a great day on the Sunshine Coast. Take an evening tour
on a clear evening to enjoy the celestial world from sea. The tour is approximately
1 ½ hours and refreshments are served on board. Our Star gazing tours are suitable for people of all ages and are available on clear evenings when the stars are at their most beautiful. We leave the Port at approx 20h00 and are back by 21h30. The experience of watching the stars from out at sea is amazing without the influence of neighborhood lights interfering with your view. Guests are shown some of the more prominent constellations and we discuss how mariners use the stars for navigation. It’s fun and educational and such a relaxing way to spend a few hours after dinner in the evening!

Fun trips R 224
Great fun for the whole family! Enjoy some fun out at sea. The tour is an option for
young and old to experience the feeling of the open ocean by boat and view our
beautiful village and Cape St Francis lighthouse by sea. The tour is for approximately
1 hour.

Shark awareness Presentation R 112
A one hour audio visual presentation designed to promote awareness and improve
public perception of sharks in general. As the oceans top predators, sharks maintain
the balance of our oceans health. Sharks are on a fast track to mass extinction and
without them, our oceans cannot survive! The presentation is informative and
educational and is designed for people of all ages. We will come to your facility,
for group bookings, or host groups at the Heritage Centre at Granny’s Pool in
St Francis Bay.

“Meet the Ocean” Experience R 504
This product is a combination of the Ocean awareness Presentation and the Open
Ocean excursion. Participants are given the audio visual presentation on the state of
our oceans and then head to sea on the Open Ocean excursion with our highly
experienced guides.

Rocky Shore study R 112
This is an introductory presentation offered at either St Francis Bay or Cape St Francis
beach. The study is fun, interactive and designed to educate participants. The various
tidal zones and rock pool Inhabitants along our beautiful coastline are the key focus
topics. The presentation and interaction is approximately 1 ½ hours and available to
all ages.

DIRECTIONS TO CAPE ST FRANCIS RESORT

Take the HUMANSDORP off-ramp on the N2. It is also clearly marked ST FRANCIS BAY, CAPE ST FRANCIS, OYSTER BAY.

Continue through HUMANSDORP. It is well sign posted and head towards the sea. DO NOT turn off the road as it ends in CAPE ST FRANCIS +- 27 km. We are at the point.

Upon entering CAPE ST FRANCIS take care of the road humps!!! At the first STOP sign, turn LEFT into DA GAMA ROAD and 1,2km along you will find us on the RIGHT hand side of the road at the bottom of a hill.

Check in at Reception