St Francis Bay

St Francis Bay is a place where residents love their homes, and where visitors wish they could be residents. Thanks to its waterside lifestyle, residents of St Francis Bay get to enjoy an array of watersports including kitesurfing, windsurfing and waterskiing. Those wishing to live a more relaxed way of life can go fishing, birdwatching or simply enjoy their beautiful surroundings. Living on the water, with proximity to St Francis Bay's network of manmade canals, is a dream come true for many.

St Francis Bay's airports/routes: travel effortlessly

If you live in the beauty and sanctity that is St Francis Bay, you are less than an hour and a half away from Gqeberha's international airport. From here, you can catch flights to destinations like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

St Francis Bay's history: uncover the backstory

St Francis Bay gets its name in honour of the Patron Saint of Sailors, St Francis of Assisi. The name was bestowed on the area by a Portuguese explorer in the 16^th century. In the 1950s, a man named Leighton Hulett purchased a piece of land in the area. It was Hulett who had the vision of adding the marina and artificial canal system that the area is so well loved for today. A little-known fact about the St Francis Bay area is that Port St Francis is South Africa's only privately owned working harbour.

St Francis Bay's weather: discover the patterns

St Francis Bay boasts temperate weather all year round. Temperatures on a summer's day typically rise into the mid to high 20s, dropping into the mid to high teens at night. In winter, the average maximum temperature is in the high teens, with the mercury dropping to close to 10°C at night. Rainfall is relatively consistent all year round, with between four and seven rainy days expected every month.

St Francis Bay's schools: set your child up for success

Children who live in St Francis Bay can start their educational journey at St Francis College, which is a multicultural pre-primary and primary school. Little Urchins Montessori School is another well-loved pre-primary school in St Francis Bay.

St Francis Bay's healthcare: get treated by the best

Close to home in St Francis Bay, you'll find an array of doctors and dentists. Other medical professionals, including optometrists, physiotherapists and chiropractors, have practices in and around St Francis Bay.

St Francis Bay's shopping scene: enjoy some retail therapy

St Francis Bay may be a quaint village, but that doesn't mean its residents need to travel far for convenience. The Village Square Centre offers an array of shops including a SuperSPAR, a hair salon, bespoke clothing and jewellery stores and much more.

St Francis Bay's special attractions: have a fun day out

If you're a golf enthusiast who happens to love beautiful scenery and a peaceful way of life, there can be no better place to call home than St Francis Bay. The St Francis Bay Golf Club and St Francis Links both offer a great day out for golfers.

Hikers can enjoy the Two Harbours Walk, a moderately challenging 5.5km out-and-back trail that's open all year round. Your dog is welcome to join you as long as he or she is on a leash. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and whales between May and October.

Seal Point Lighthouse, in the nearby Cape St Francis, is a great way for a history buff to spend a free afternoon. You can enjoy an overnight stay in the lighthouse or a meal at the adjacent restaurant.

Those wanting to experience the thrill of seeing whales and dolphins up close and personal can enjoy boat tours that leave from St Francis Bay.

Find a home that inspires you in St Francis Bay

With its Instagram-worthy canals and views, quaint friendly atmosphere and stunning properties, St Francis Bay makes a wonderful home. Take the first step towards living in this coastal paradise by browsing the properties for sale in the area.

Pic 1 | The Coast, St Francis Bay by Tom Booth | Flickr | CC-BY-SA 2.0 | https://shorturl.at/zLW49

Pic 3 | View of Cape St. Francis from the Seal Point Lighthouse by NJR ZA | Wikimedia | CC-BY-SA 3.0 | https://shorturl.at/hmoHN