Nestled on the Garden Route between George and Wilderness, Victoria Bay, or Vic Bay as it's affectionately known, is one of the smallest and most beautiful hidden bays in South Africa. Strolling down the Vic Bay waterfront might inspire you to hum a tune about this surfing paradise. This tiny resort comprises a number of cottages clustered around the waterfront.
Victoria Bay, South Africa
A surfer probably cannot tell you where South Africa’s Victoria Bay is, but they do know where Vic Bay is. Vic Bay is tiny. It has less than 15 houses, some which are B&Bs. Add two restaurants, a curio shop, and a few places that rent out surf boards, and that is Vic Bay, South Africa.
A Brief History
Privately owned holiday houses have been there since the 1800s. The entire area from Ballots Bay to Wilderness was once owned by a Mr Edmeades, who left Victoria Bay to his eight children when he died in 1927. Victoria Bay was originally named Gunters Bay. In the mid 1880s it was renamed for Queen Victoria, after the bay was surveyed by the British Navy, and it was deemed to be suitable to ‘land goods at all times’. These goods would then be transported to George by wagon. Now it is purely a place to vacation.
Surfing Paradise
The gently sloping beach makes bathing safe and big waves from far out give surfers a long ride. Surfers are usually in the water because of the reef like right hand 200m wave. Surfing competitions are often held here too. Competitions such as the Victoria Bay Classic and the Vic Bay Quad are regularly hosted.
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Big names in surfing, such as South African Champion Nikita Robb, internationally rated Dylan Lightfoot, and Springbok surfers Bianca Buitendag and Rob Pollock have all surfed Vic Bay. Many of the famous surfers, have left their imprints of their hands on plaques, and these have been set into a low wall. Bianca Buitendag, Olympic surfer, credited her foundation in surfing partly to her youth in Vic Bay in an interview: "When I was thirteen years old, my family moved four hours up the coast to a little village called Victoria Bay. It is one of the most consistent and wonderful waves in South Africa, a long running right hand point break with very few people out. It has nice sections and is a rippable wave," she said.
It is a popular beach for surfers, consisting of a right hand reef-like wave which rolls over small boulder-like rocks for about 200m.
BEST SURFING SPOT IN SOUTH AFRICA
Attractions and Activities
It is also extremely popular with swimmers who are able to swim in demarcated beach areas or in the tidal pool at the beach. A concrete jetty, flanked by a sandy-bottomed rock pool, looks out across the bay and is a popular place for watching the surfers and for fishing.
Land’s End, at the end of the road along the shore, is a jumble of large boulders which at some stage tumbled down from the hillside. Fresh flowers and candles are regularly brought to this natural ‘temple’, keeping the memory of loved ones alive. A South African version of a ‘chain and lock’ bridge is close by - it is not a huge padlock festooned bridge like those found in cities in Europe; this is a simple wall made of wire. Numerous padlocks have been attached, a symbol of promises made that cannot be unlocked or broken.
A tidal pool is next to the pier, which stretches out over the rocks into the bay. The pool and pier were built with funds won in a sweepstakes by a Mr Bramwell Butler in 1923. He won the large sum of 125000 British pounds, which would be approximately R93 000 000.00 in today’s money. He brought a property, built the pier and tidal pool, and tried to donate money to the Nederduitse Gereformede Kerk (NGK), but as it was deemed sinful gambling money, they couldn’t take it. The Methodist Church, of the opinion that life is a gamble, accepted the donation.
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Visitors and residents of Victoria Bay are able to view an array of marine life including dolphins and whales as well as a host of smaller marine life in the rock pools. Southern Right Whales are often viewed between June and November and Humpback Whales from May to November.
Whale watching
The grassy area above the beach has braai facilities and a small shop and restaurant are situated at the top of the beach road. Running above the Bay is the railway line joining George, Wilderness, Sedgefield and ultimately Knysna. The famous Outeniqua Choo Tjoe operated popular tourist rides along this route, although following operational difficulties and severe flood damage to the tracks above Vic Bay during the 2006 storms, its future remained uncertain. A tender to repair and rejuvenate the track was however awarded in 2024, according to the Garden Route Municipality, which says that "negotiations are underway" to begin the process of doing so.
Accommodation
Today, the hamlet is strictly controlled by the property owners, making it extremely exclusive; properties seldom become available. Visitors are welcome, whether they are day trippers or are booking into a guesthouse, and you don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of this little bay.
Here are a few accommodation options in and around Victoria Bay:
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| Accommodation | Description | Price (per night) |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Heights B and B | 3-star country house in Wilderness with free breakfast and WiFi. | $89 |
| Paradise Cove Country House | 3.5-star guesthouse in Wilderness with free breakfast and WiFi. | N/A |
| Oubaai Hotel Golf & Spa | 4-star spa hotel in Herolds Bay with free breakfast and 5 outdoor pools. | $85 |
Exploring the Surroundings
Leaving Vic Bay and heading towards Wilderness, after descending into the Kaaimans River Pass (watch out for the several traffic speed cameras) a great viewpoint is Dolphin Point. Driving past the Karos Wilderness Hotel follow the signs for the Map of Africa. This is a look out point situated near Hoekwil, the way the river runs make it look like Africa. You'll come out at the back of little town of Sedgefield, located between Knysna and George with the beaches on one side and the pine tree forest on the other.
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