7 Things To Do In Jeffreys Bay (2023)

If you are looking for things to do in Jeffreys Bay, we have compiled a list of some of our favourite activities in the seaside town. Jeffrey’s bay is in the Eastern Cape, 75km of Port Elizabeth and is a hidden gem of a town to a lot of tourists. It is quite popular for water sports, with world-renown when it comes to surfing. Even if you there on a leisurely vacation, Jeffreys Bay offers a cool seaside escape with much to get up to.

Related Article: Best Accommodation in Jeffreys Bay

List Of Things To Do In Jeffreys Bay

If you are staying in Jeffrey’s Bay (or J Bay, as the locals affectionately call it), here is some are some things that you can get up to make the most of your time there.

Dolphin Beach Entertainment

No coastal town is complete without a water park and Jeffreys Bay holds up that tradition. Dolphin Beach Entertainment, also know as J Bay Water Park, is one of the best places for an outing for the whole family. It is a fun park with a full range of entertainment features to please all, young and old. The park features a big water slide and an 18-hole Mini Golf Course. There is also a snack shack on the property where you can get some refreshments.

To add to all of that, the water park frequently has specials that offer discounts of up to 50% on the whole park or some of the park features. They almost always have a promotion going so if you are planning on going there, be sure to check the website beforehand. The park is open from Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 16:00, subject to weather conditions.

Enjoy the best donuts at Donut World

Tucked away in a small street near the beach is a hidden gem in Donut World. For those with sweet tooth, it’s a no-brainer, but even if you don’t, the decadent treats are still highly recommended. If you have tasted good American style donuts before, then you know that donuts of that quality are hard to find. They are far better than Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts and other most other bakeries.

I am a quite the donut aficionado myself and I rate Donut World among the best donuts in South Africa, right up there with Donut Cakes in Pretoria and Wicked Donuts in Durban (If you know, you know).

 

The tasty treats are complemented by the friendliest service from Mandy, the store front lady, who informed us that the store is over 50 years old (for good reason with that quality). The shop is located on Drommedaris Road. You will know by the divine smell that greets you shortly after you turn into the small road.

If you have kids with you, then making a turn at Donut World is a must. Take yourself and the little ones there and indulge in their menu. You won’t be disappointed.

Beach Horse Trails at Papiesfontein

While not expressly in Jeffreys Bay, this location is close enough to at just 10km outside of Jeffeys Bay. This is a must-visit as it provides one of the best outings you can possibly have on holiday. The farm offers a unique combination of bush, river and beach, to give you an unforgettable experience. The trail rides are offered twice a day, on a 13km route that takes 2 hours to complete. Along the trail, you will get opportunities to spot all manner of animal life from birds, to tortoises and marine life. You will ride over dunes end enjoy spectacular views of the varied landscape.

There are different rides catered for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders, which have different departure times. Advanced riders can even go on an unguided ride so they can have total freedom on their ride. If you are a beginner, you can check on their website to see find out the departure times.

Visit the blue Flag Beaches

Some consider Dolphin Beach to the one of the best on South Africa’s coastline, and a case can be made for that argument. The beach has achieved blue flag status, with clean white sands, the cutest bathing houses, and lifeguards on duty from 9:00 to 17:00 during the busy periods (from November to April). Like a lot of Jeffreys Bay’s beaches, Dolphin Beach is a surfer’s haven and you will see many of them when you go there. Dolphin beach is also home to the surfing stop known as SuperTubes, which is considered one of the top 5 surfing destinations in the world, and is one of the stops on the annual World Surf League tour.

The beach also provides a lot of convenience, with a lot of J Bay’s main attractions not to far off. The Water Park is right off the beach and you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants and coffee shops. If you are visiting, there are also curio shops where you can get some memorabilia to take back home. There is a good chance of seeing a pod of dolphins swimming near the shore on your visit. While the beach can see during the peak season, you can still catch it before the traffic if you visit before 13:00.

Scuba Diving

With the warm waters of the Indian ocean, Jeffreys bay is a perfect for water sports and scuba diving is snorkeling is a good choice. Get to see the fascinating marine life with guidance from Jeffreys Bay Scuba Diving, run by Paul van Jaarsveld who is a NAUI registered dive instructor and offers courses from beginner to professional in scuba diving and other diverse outdoor adventure activities. The diving courses are great even for large groups of up to 15. Jeffreys Bay has some of the most pristine reefs in the Eastern Cape, varying in depth from 10m to 50m and accommodates a wide variety of different species. It is well worth discovering the underwater gems that it has to offer. While scuba diving requires some level of training (course can be completed in about a week), snorkeling is ideal for beginners and you can see the maritime beauty that J Bay has to offer.

Sandboarding

If you are up for some adrenaline sports, Sandboarding is a fun way to spend two hours. As they say, it’s like snowboarding, only hotter. You don’t need any experience to snowboard and it’s excellent for some group fun. J Bay Adventures offers snowboarding packages that include beginner training. They will pick you up from wherever you are in Jeffreys bay and take you on a trip to descend the sandy dunes for a 2-hour session. All equipment is provided and you only need to bring your sunscreen and water. There are dunes for different levels, and you can start with the easy dunes until you get comfortable. Then you can move on to the higher dunes for the more exciting rides downhill.

Jeffreys Bay Shell Museum

This is a great spot to learn about shells, or just to add a little bit of variety into your visit to Jeffreys Bay. The museum is small in size but there is a surprisingly large variety of shells and you will get a bunch of tidbits of interesting information about. There are also little houses and people made out of shells, that gives an artistic touch to the display. The entrance fee is pretty cheap at R10 so there is no reason to not make a turn at this quaint little museum. Staff are welcoming and helpful, and there are little shops and cafes that serve delicious food right up the road. If you love seashells this is a must-see place. Even if you aren’t a fanatic, the museum is well worth an hour’s visit during your holiday.