Continent |
Africa |
Country |
South Africa |
Next Big City |
Port Elizabeth |
Next Town |
Humansdorp, St. Francis |
Type: |
Ocean, River Mouth |
Rider Ability: |
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Shop, Rescue, Toilet, Food, Parking |
Type: |
Shallow, Flat, Chop, Small wave, Medium wave |
Hazards: |
None |
Quality: |
Crystal clear |
Best Tide: |
High tide |
Best a high tide, but rideable on a low, the water is flat with some choppier sections at the river mouth, you can ride out the mouth and do some wave riding, there are some sections where you get butter smooth patches as well. The waves are generally small to medium close outs with not much real shape but make good ramps. Waves are good in the area in the off season but not during the kiting season (summer).
Type: |
Sand |
Size: |
Tidal |
Hazards: |
None |
Beach Users: |
None |
Huge launch area at low tide, bit smaller at high tide, but always plenty of space, soft sand, not too many shells, but not a problem.
|
Spring:
|
Normal |
|
Summer:
|
Shorts, Shorty, Normal |
|
Fall:
|
Normal |
|
Winter:
|
Normal |
Air temp is warm in summer and mild in winter. Water temp is relatively warm, maybe a 3-2 mm wetsuit or a spring suit, or just boardies and a vest, depends on the weather.
Best Months: |
January, February, March, April, October, November, December |
Wind Type: |
Thermal |
Best Direction: |
E |
Main Direction: |
E, ESE, SE, W |
Wind is good in the season, 15-25 knots is common, onshore/sideshore. The wind is best in summer from September to April, with constant steady winds. Onshore is best for kiting and is not gusty (East). Offshore is too gusty but good for surfing (West).
Transport |
Car |
|
Access
|
Short walk |
Fly to Cape Town/Johannesburg international, fly/drive to Port Elizabeth, drive to Humansdorp, thru it and 5 minutes to St Francis Bay, go to the river and you are there (rent a car).
Rules |
None |
No rules, not too many people.
Quiet thru the year except for December when the place goes mad for the biggest new years party in the country. Be there, it's crazy! Conveniently this is also when the kiting is best!
