The village of St Francis has added another must-do to the Garden Route’s list of attractions with the launch of a new calamari route.
Situated midway between Knysna and Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, St Francis is a quant village with fantastic views of the Indian Ocean. And now, with the launch of the new calamari route the town is fully intent on earning its right to be recognised as the calamari capital of South Africa.
According to St Francis Tourism, the route will include 14 local restaurants offering visitors and food enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy locally caught calamari. It will be open throughout the year and will showcase the diversity of gastronomic experiences in the area with calamari as a standard item on the menu.
The route also includes a chokka (the local name for squid or calamari) trail – a four-day and three-night, 62km slackpack hiking trail with a Get Inked calamari boat trip and calamari tasting at Chokka Block Restaurant.
St Francis Tourism Chair Dionne Collett says they have no intention of letting go of the village feel of their coastal haven.
“Despite a surge in development, the ethos is fiercely guarded with a view to maintaining the village feel whether you are in The Bay, Santareme or Cape St Francis. Add to that the Light House at Seal Point – a structure that remains the tallest masonry building on the South African coast – two great golf courses and a host of hospitable people and you have all the ingredients for a sought-after tourist destination!”
(Images: St Francis Bay Tourism / Route 62)
