# St Francis Bay

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Place in Eastern Cape, South Africa

St Francis Bay St Francisbaai Aerial photo of St Francis Bay St Francis Bay Show map of Eastern Cape St Francis Bay Show map of South Africa St Francis Bay Show map of Africa Coordinates: 34°09′43″S 24°49′48″E / 34.162°S 24.830°E / -34.162; 24.830 Country South Africa Province Eastern Cape District Sarah Baartman Municipality Kouga Government • Councillor Lorraine Maree[1] (DA) Area [2] • Total 10.04 km2 (3.88 sq mi) Population (2011)[2] • Total 4,933 • Density 491.3/km2 (1,273/sq mi) Racial makeup (2011) [2] • Black African 51.2% • Coloured 21.7% • Indian/Asian 0.2% • White 26.1% • Other 0.8% First languages (2011) [2] • Xhosa 39.4% • Afrikaans 32.7% • English 21.7% • Zulu 1.2% • Other 4.9% Time zone UTC+2 (SAST) Postal code (street) 6312 PO box 6312

**St Francis Bay** ([Afrikaans](/source/Afrikaans_language): *St Francisbaai*) is a holiday town in [Sarah Baartman District Municipality](/source/Sarah_Baartman_District_Municipality) in the [Eastern Cape](/source/Eastern_Cape) province of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), roughly one hour’s drive from [Gqeberha](/source/Gqeberha).

## History

### Early history

The town's earliest European history of the area can be traced back to 1488 when [Bartolomeu Dias](/source/Bartolomeu_Dias) named the bay *Golfo dos Pastores*, although the bay was also known as *Golfo dos Vaqueiros*.

The town's current name is derived from the [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language) *Bahia de Sâo Francisco* given in 1575 by Manuel Perestrelo to what is today St Francis Bay and [Jeffreys Bay](/source/Jeffreys_Bay).[3]

### Recent History

Fire damaged buildings

On 11 November 2012 a [fire](/source/Wild_fire) destroyed 76 homes in St Francis Bay, almost all of them [thatched roofed](/source/Thatched_roof).[4]

## Architecture

The canals of St Francis Bay.

The building style of the village section of St Francis Bay includes white painted houses with black roofs (mostly thatch) on the canals or around the golf course, or a Mediterranean building style in Santareme and Port St Francis. The [Kromme River](/source/Kromme_River) is navigable for 14 km upstream, and is linked to the St Francis canal system.

## Tourism

Whales can be spotted in the Bay from May to late October and dolphins can be seen daily on their way back and forth between the bays of [Cape St Francis](/source/Cape_St_Francis) and [Jeffrey’s Bay](/source/Jeffrey%E2%80%99s_Bay). The [Cape clawless otter](/source/Cape_clawless_otter) is present in the waves and rock pools around Port St Francis and at Otters Landing. Bird life is abundant with over 200 species recorded in the area including the rare [African oystercatcher](/source/African_oystercatcher) and [fish eagle](/source/African_fish_eagle).

Port St Francis includes a commercial and recreational harbour, built to host the squid industry freezing vessels, as well as a small harbour resort village. It lies in a sheltered nook of the bay and provides safe anchorage for the boats, pleasure craft, and oceangoing yachts. St Francis Field is an airpark close to the Port that caters for those who wish to fly in.

Cape St Francis, a rustic fishing village, sits adjacent to St Francis Bay and is popular for surfing at Seal Point, a stretch of beach in St Francis Bay, and the historic lighthouse, built in 1878. Walking trails winding along the rocky coast, through the Irma Booysen Floral Reserve, and along the Cape St Francis point, links it to the village of St Francis Bay.

Cape St Francis is 8 km from [Thyspunt](/source/Thyspunt%2C_Eastern_Cape), which was a preferred site for South Africa's next nuclear power station. A township known as Sea Visa is where most of the black Africans and coloured people live.[5][6]

## Climate

Climate data for Cape St. Francis (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–2001) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 31.2 (88.2) 31.4 (88.5) 31.0 (87.8) 30.7 (87.3) 32.0 (89.6) 30.5 (86.9) 30.7 (87.3) 30.0 (86.0) 26.1 (79.0) 27.7 (81.9) 28.4 (83.1) 32.1 (89.8) 32.1 (89.8) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.8 (73.0) 22.9 (73.2) 21.1 (70.0) 19.5 (67.1) 19.3 (66.7) 19.0 (66.2) 18.7 (65.7) 17.9 (64.2) 17.9 (64.2) 18.6 (65.5) 20.3 (68.5) 21.8 (71.2) 20.0 (68.0) Daily mean °C (°F) 20.2 (68.4) 20.4 (68.7) 18.9 (66.0) 17.1 (62.8) 16.4 (61.5) 15.4 (59.7) 15.0 (59.0) 14.9 (58.8) 15.3 (59.5) 16.3 (61.3) 17.9 (64.2) 19.3 (66.7) 17.3 (63.1) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.7 (63.9) 18.0 (64.4) 16.7 (62.1) 14.6 (58.3) 13.5 (56.3) 11.8 (53.2) 11.2 (52.2) 11.9 (53.4) 12.7 (54.9) 14.0 (57.2) 15.6 (60.1) 16.9 (62.4) 14.6 (58.2) Record low °C (°F) 10.4 (50.7) 9.7 (49.5) 10.2 (50.4) 4.8 (40.6) 5.6 (42.1) 3.6 (38.5) 3.0 (37.4) 4.5 (40.1) 4.8 (40.6) 6.1 (43.0) 8.2 (46.8) 10.2 (50.4) 3.0 (37.4) Average precipitation mm (inches) 28.8 (1.13) 34.2 (1.35) 45.3 (1.78) 51.8 (2.04) 66.4 (2.61) 69.2 (2.72) 73.2 (2.88) 70.3 (2.77) 62.1 (2.44) 58.9 (2.32) 49.7 (1.96) 34.0 (1.34) 643.9 (25.34) Average precipitation days (≥ 0.25 mm) 5.5 5.7 7.3 6.6 7.6 7.5 8.3 8.8 8.6 8.6 7.2 6.2 87.9 Source: Starlings Roost Weather (precipitation 1880–2001)[7][8]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Ward Councillors - Ward 12](https://www.kouga.gov.za/content/ward-councillors-230)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-census2011_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-census2011_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-census2011_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-census2011_2-3) ["Main Place St Francis Bay"](http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/268011). *Census 2011*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Raper, P.E. (1989). *Dictionary of Southern African Place Names*. p. 394.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["76 homes destroyed by St Francis Bay fire"](http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/76-homes-destroyed-by-St-Francis-Bay-fire-20121112). *News24*. 12 November 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Nuclear 1 - Transmission - Thyspunt"](http://www.eskom.co.za/OurCompany/SustainableDevelopment/EnvironmentalImpactAssessments/Pages/Thuyspunt.aspx). Retrieved 3 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Thyspunt is a prime candidate for a nuclear site – Dr Kelvin Kemm"](http://stfrancischronicle.com/2015/03/01/thyspunt-is-a-prime-candidate-for-a-nuclear-site-dr-kelvin-kemm/). March 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["CAPE ST. FRANCIS, SF Climate: 1991–2020"](http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/worldclimate/graphs.php?climate=9120&code=SF000175820). Starlings Roost Weather. Retrieved 27 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["CAPE ST. FRANCIS, SF Climate: 1991–2020"](http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/worldclimate/graphs.php?climate=allyears&code=SF000175820). Starlings Roost Weather. Retrieved 27 December 2024.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [St Francis Bay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St_Francis_Bay).

- [St Francis](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/St_Francis#Q1025682) travel guide from Wikivoyage

- [Residents Association](http://www.sfbresidents.org/)

- [St Francis Bay](http://www.stfrancisbay.co.za/)

- [St Francis Bay Webcam](http://stfrancisbay.co.za/cam/St-Francis-Bay-Webcam.php)

v t e Municipalities and communities of Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape District seat: Gqeberha Blue Crane Route Cookhouse Kommadagga Middleton Pearston Somerset East (KwaNojoli) Sarah Baartman District within South Africa Dr Beyers Naudé Aberdeen (Xamdeboo) Adendorp (KwaMseki Bishop Limba) Graaff-Reinet (Robert Sobukwe Town) Jansenville Klipplaat Kendrew Nieu-Bethesda (KwaNoheleni) Rietbron Steytlerville Willowmore Waterford Kouga Aston Bay Cape St. Francis Hankey Humansdorp Jeffreys Bay Kruisfontein Loerie Oyster Bay Paradise Beach Patensie St Francis Bay Thornhill Kou-Kamma Clarkson Coldstream Joubertina Kareedouw Krakeel River Louterwater Misgund Stormsrivier Thornham Tweeriviere Makana Alicedale Makhanda Riebeek East Salem Ndlambe Alexandria Bathurst Boesmansriviermond Boknesstrand Cannon Rocks Cuylerville Kasouga Kenton-on-Sea Port Alfred Seafield Southwell Trappe's Valley Sunday's River Valley Addo Coerney Enon Kirkwood Paterson

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