The Best Beaches in South Africa
Beaches in South Africa, they are thousands in numbers, since the coastline is around 3,000Km long. Some of the beaches are more appealing than the others, here is a list of the best 21 Beaches in South Africa. The Sun, the sand, the sea, skimpy swimsuits and the smell of coconut-scented suntan lotion clicks Beach Time right.
21.) Hobie beach
Port Elizabeth has a variety of fantastic beaches, and Hobie Beach is one of the best. Its location offers an innovative advantage. It is close to all popular entertainment venues, restaurants, casinos and hotels.
The beach is known for swimming, bodyboarding, surfing and long days sunbathing and building sandcastles on the flat, warm sand. There is also a slipway on the beach; Rubber ducks, jet skis and boats. The sandy shore is not only perfect for long walks or energetic jogging, but also for playing volleyball and other exciting beach sports. In fact, several beach sports take place at Hobie Beach throughout the year.
The rock pools are full of marine life and fascinating crevices that are fun to explore. Children love spending time on the rocks when they are not splashing in the waves.
20.) Bloubergstrand
Bloubergstrand is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, on the banks of Table Bay, 15 kilometres north of downtown Cape Town. The name Bloubergstrand literally means “blue mountain beach” in Afrikaans and is derived from Blaauwberg, a nearby hill. Cape Bloubergstrand is home to one of the most famous views in the world and is a charming place to admire one of the 7 new wonders of the world – Table Mountain. The long beach has gentle waves, lots of beautiful white sand and lots of restaurants and bars.
19.) Umhlanga
The Umhlanga coast is a magnificent stretch of the South African coast. It shows the magnificence and wonder of this country in a calm representation that remains extremely powerful. Not crowded. Clean. Close to a variety of takeaways, restaurants, shopping malls and hotels. Ideal family beach. Not a lot of parking nearby. It is part of KwaZulu-Natal and is very close to downtown Durban, the provincial capital and one of the most important cities in South Africa. However, the Umhlanga coast takes you away from the hustle and bustle of city life and the peaceful beauty of the Indian Ocean, which dances lazily on the sand.
18.) Buffels Bay, Beaches in South Africa
Another gem of the Western Cape, this often-forgotten beach, is just a stone’s throw from Knysna and an ideal place to escape the stress of everyday life. The long beach stretches for about 5 km between the village of Buffels Bay and Brenton on Sea and is part of the Goukamma nature reserve. Keep an eye out for dolphins in late winter and spring! The beach and the tide overlook False Bay and you cannot reach Cape Point.
17.) Langebaan, Beaches in South Africa
The main beach of Langebaan is long, wide, white and sandy and offers an incredible starting point for many water sports in the lagoon.
This family-friendly and safe beach is located right in the centre of Langebaan and is easy to reach. The main road to Langebaan Beach is lined with shops and restaurants.
16.) Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay doesn’t just have a beach, this city on the Western Cape offers a lot for a variety of interests. Beaches like Keurboomstrand and Robberg offer long, leisurely walks, while Central Beach is ideal for families with seasonal lifeguards and lots of activities that keep everyone busy.
15.) Gonubie, Beaches in South Africa
Gonubie is a town in Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and this is one of the country’s best secrets of the Sunshine Coast. To access the beach, you have to take a walk along a raised boardwalk leading down to a beautiful tidal pool. Gonubie Lagoon is popular with families, which provides children with many hours of fascinating exploration as they discover the small fish, shells and other marine creatures. The coastal village of Gonubie is located only 8 km from East London and is considered to be a suburb of the city. It has a very chilled vibe and awesome scenery of Gonubie belies. Gonubie is definitely a small piece of paradise and lying on the estuary of the Gonubie River and enjoying a wonderful climate on the Eastern Cape Coast.
14.) Ballito, Beaches in South Africa
Ballito has some of the most beautiful beaches, whether you are looking to surf, fish or simply relax, the beaches are; Willards Beach, Thomsons beach, Chakas Rock Tidal pool, Salt rock Beach, Clarke Bay Beach, Blythedale Beach, Tinley Beach and Zinkwazi beach all in one stretch.
13.) Paternoster, Beaches in South Africa
Paternoster home to a few beaches, this West Coast fishing village is the definition of quaint. Popular with Capetonians looking to escape the hecticness of their lazy craft-beer swigging city lives, Paternoster is just about 2 hours from Central Cape Town. The beach is long, flat and usually devoid of much human life making it ideal for unwinding and catching your breath.
12.) Strand Beach
Strand Beach is an ideal beach set at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains on the Eastern Edge of False Bay.
The Strands beautiful white sand stretches along 5 kilometres and makes this a fantastic place for that romantic stroll or that jog on the beach you have been meaning to go on!
Many rock pools make this a fun place for children to play around in and a great spot for anglers. Surfing is very popular here, especially amongst beginners as the wave’s breaks are quite safe.
Along the promenade, you will find an array of bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops to enjoy. There is an entertainment area with a put-put course, tidal pools, swimming pool and waterslide for those who do not want to venture into the sea.
11.) Durban’s North Beach
Lively North Beach is part of the Golden Mile on the ocean and is famous for surfing, swimming and bodyboarding. Joggers and cyclists also use the promenade, which is lined with bars, casual cafes and restaurants to take away. Leisure attractions include a skate park, a skating rink and a saltwater pool. The piers offer a view of the surfers and the sea and Minitown has miniature replicas of local and national monuments.
10.) Durban’s South Beach
Durban’s South Beach is right in the heart of the city’s famous beachfront and is a great spot for swimming or just lazing about people watching. South Beach, as its name suggests, lies to the south of central Durban, midway between North Beach and Ushaka Marine World on the beachfront of the city. South Beach’s access to Durban’s Harbour is good, all that separates the two is a railway line and Quayside Road.
9.) Diaz Beach, Mossel Bay
Not to be confused with Diani from Mombasa, Kenya. Diaz Beach Is Popular with both locals and repeat visitors to Cape Town, Diaz Beach at Cape Point is a secluded, Incredible and rather a romantic beach. You will need to be relatively fit in order to get there as the walk takes at least 20 minutes to get down to the beach and about double that to get back up, however, the effort is well worth it. Get there early enough so you can enjoy the beach for the entire day.
While you stand on the beach looking out into the sea to reflect on the early explorers who sailed the seas around this Cape of Storms and imagine what it must have felt like sailing past the beauty of this area which is contrasted so well by the dark jagged rocks and sandy white beach.
This is one beach that it’s not recommended to swim in as the strong currents can carry swimmers out to sea, so it’s best just to get ankle-deep in the water. In saying that it is a great spot for surfers and bodyboarders.
If you’re looking for a secluded area to enjoy a romantic stroll on the beach with your loved one this is the beach to do so! And don’t forget your camera because the views are simply stunning and you’ll want more than just a memory to capture this mesmerizing visit.
8.) Sodwana Bay
For sea lovers, sea turtle tours, sea excursions, kite surfing, shark learning, fishing and much more are on the menu and Sodwana Bay will meet your expectations. Get on quads or go for nature walks. Travel to the horizon or watch the sky where you can see the incredible South African fauna. It is a privileged place for bird watching and several hunting reserves offer safaris where you can spot the big five.
7.) Muizenberg Beach
About 30 minutes south of downtown, Muizenberg Beach is considered South Africa’s cradle of surfing and is currently home to a community of surfers who focus on the popular “Surfer’s Corner” (starting point for this route). The water is much warmer there than the beaches on the Atlantic coast, making it the ideal place for swimming. This route follows Muizenberg – St. James Drive. It takes you with the crashing waves, fishermen, surfers and, if you’re lucky, whales. The picturesque and peaceful havens of St. James and Kalk Bay are located along the beach. The return instead of a circular tour offers some hills and a wonderful view. At the end of the walk, turn right to get to Boyes Drive and return to the beginning. Remember to reward yourself with a dip in the sea at the end of the race.
6.) Cape Vidal, Beaches in South Africa
The bay at Cape Vidal is a popular fishing, snorkelling and swimming spot with a sheltered launch site for boats.
Due to its location between two diverse environments, Cape Vidal offers travellers a choice between the wildlife of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and the marine life of the Indian Ocean – a true beach-and-bush destination.
5.) Gordon`s Bay Beach
Gordon’s Bay has 2 main beaches and caters to a variety of visitors. The beach in the city centre is wide, flat and ideal for children who want to wade or paddle in hot water (hot for Cape Town). The second beach is Bikini Beach near the port. It is smaller, but more popular among Stellenbosch students: there are many tanned bodies to discover in this incredible place!
4.) Cliffton Beach
Clifton is a wealthy suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is an exclusive residential area and is home to South Africa’s most expensive properties. The accommodations are located on cliffs and offer breathtaking views of the Atlantic
Cliffton is the perfect way to take advantage of this super chic area where a beach holiday in South Africa is glamorous. With its trendy decor in Cape Town, Clifton Beach has a certain reputation and is a haven for international jet sets.
With their pristine white sand and bubbling water, their brown bodies and designer sunglasses adorn Cliftons 4th Beach with enough glamour and eco-sense to not only gain the “see and be seen” status it has acquired, but also its blue flag status.
3.) Nahoon Beach
Nahoon Beach is a surfer’s and swimmer’s paradise and arguably East London’s most popular beach. We are talking about miles (mainly) of unpolluted and unpolluted sandy and oceanic beaches that produce some of the best waves, especially on the famous Nahoon Reef where you can surf. Quite difficult, so it served as a location for many national surfing competitions.
The estuary of the Nahoon River is not only a popular place for fishermen and a safe bath for those who are a little afraid of the crashing waves but also offers upstream access at low tide.
2.) Santos Beach, South Africa
Santos beach is a sandy bay known for the dolphins and whales that can be seen here. Fascinating monuments, shops and restaurants adorn the section behind the beach and make it popular with tourists and locals. Swim with family and friends in clean, warm water.
Enjoy the tranquillity of the beach, which is supported by rows of trees and plants. Put a blanket on the sand and have a picnic with friends. The beach has a grassy terrace and the waves are very soft, making the bay a safe place for children.
Participate in nautical activities like rowing, surfing and fishing. Snorkelling is popular in clear waters to see the variety of colourful fish here. Find rocky pools full of marine treasures like oysters. Stay at sunset and take photos of the yachts that stand out against a dark sky.
1.) Camps Bay Beach
Camps Bay is the premier tourist destination in Cape Town, South Africa, and is magnificently located on the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Twelve Apostles mountain range and adjacent to Table Mountain.
Camps Bay is a suburb of Cape Town, offering a convenient location only 15 minutes’ drive to the city centre, 20 minutes from the V&A Waterfront, 30 minutes from the airport, 40 minutes from the Cape Winelands and 60 minutes from Cape Point. You can safely walk to the Camps Bay beachfront during the day and at night. The suburbs are a hot spot for celebrities, locals, and international visitors. Surfing and soaking thereafter up to the sun with a cocktail and Steamy lunch at one of the many trendy restaurants. Camps Bay is considered a coastal suburb of Cape Town, but it is also a laid-back area full of nature and popular with families.
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