Jeffrey's Bay: Surfing, Shells and Nature

Jeffrey's Bay offers more than one starting point for planning your trip. Super Tubes is a prominent surfing destination; beaches, the Jeffreys Bay Shell Museum and the Noorsekloof Nature Reserve offer other perspectives on the area. The town is also home to a thriving arts and crafts industry and is known for chokka. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether waves, nature, or the themes of shells and the marine economy will shape your trip.

Surfing: seasonal waves and lessons

The swell at Super Tubes usually begins in the winter months. Waves can reach around 10 to 12 feet and move very fast; conditions vary. Check a current forecast when making specific surfing plans.

The two-hour surf lessons offered by Wavecrest Surf School include the use of a surfboard and wetsuit. Contact the school directly to find out whether lessons are currently available.

Shells, chokka and local culture

The Jeffreys Bay Shell Museum is in the centre of Jeffrey's Bay, opposite the main beach and close to restaurants and shops. Its glass display cases contain thousands of shells from around the world. The exhibits cover more than shells: they explore marine phenomena such as red tide, whales and sharks, as well as the culinary and economic importance of chokka, also known as “Gold of the Sea.” Natural phenomena and human use of the sea are presented side by side.

Jeffreys Bay is considered the centre of the Eastern Cape's squid industry; visitors are offered a wide selection of chokka. The exhibition also highlights chokka's culinary and economic importance. The town's thriving arts and crafts industry is another part of its local identity.

Nature in the Noorsekloof Nature Reserve

The Noorsekloof Nature Reserve is in the centre of Jeffrey's Bay and covers 28 hectares. It is a small nature reserve with valley bushveld and more than 50 bird species. It was declared a nature reserve in 1984. It extends from the beaches up the valley slope through Wavecrest.

The reserve has a hiking trail about 3 km long. It is mostly flat, but also includes some more challenging sections over uneven terrain. Keep these details in mind when planning: the route is not uniformly even throughout. As surface conditions can change, check the latest trail conditions before hiking.

Beaches and getting there

The beaches of Jeffrey's Bay are rich in shells and are known for good fishing. If you are not planning your trip solely around surf conditions, these coastal attractions may also be a factor. For travel planning, it is useful to know that Jeffrey's Bay is directly off the N2 National Highway.

Discover more destinations: Oyster Bay, St Francis Bay, Willowmore, Addo, Sunland, Grahamstown, Stormsrivier, Graaff-Reinet.

For the broader travel overview: Western District.