October 7

The 10 Best Beaches in South Africa

October 7, 2010

What are the best beaches in South Africa to bask in the African sun? Summer is returning to Cape Town and the beach is all that’s on our minds. As we slip from the chilly clutches of winter into the ample bosom of the South African summer… and as you slip from your not-so Indian summer into the dark of a Northern Hemisphere winter, we thought it might be a good time to remind you of some of the best beaches in South Africa.

The 10 Best Beaches in South Africa

1. Clifton

With the Twelve Apostles Mountain as a backdrop, Clifton, like Camps Bay, is one of the most fashionable beaches in the city and is great for sunbathing (it’s well-protected from wind), a game of beach bats or the like on the pure white sand, swimming if you can stand the icy temperature of the Atlantic Ocean, sunset picnics and people-watching among the cool crowd.

clifton-beach-best-beach-south-africa
Cliton’s beaches really are a marvel. Discover this jewel of nature in the heart of Cape Town.

10 minutes from the city centre, Clifton has 4 main beaches, each separated by granite boulders.

  • 1st beach – the smallest beach; draws a mixed crowd of locals and surfers
  • 2nd – popular with students playing beach volleyball and beach bats
  • 3rd  – a popular venue for gay culture
  • 4th – the most populated and glamorous of the beaches; popular with families; awarded the Blue Flag award in recognition of its environmental, safety and tourist standards

Where To Stay in Clifton: Ellerman House

Das luxuriöse Ellerman House in Kapstadt
The luxurious Ellerman House in Cape Town.

What’s a Blue Flag Beach? The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.

2. Camps Bay

A little piece of Miami in the heart of the Mother City, Cape Town. Trendy wine bars, chic hotels and gourmet restaurants line the palm-fronded boardwalk. What better spot to sup on a Castle lager as the red sun plunges into the Atlantic beyond the white sands and the bladers roll on by…

Camps Bay Beach in Cape Town, South Africa
Camps Bay Beach in Cape Town, South Africa.

This is a popular beach for not only sun-bathing, but beach games like volleyball and sand castle building competitions.

Where To Stay in Camps Bay: Twelve Apostles

Presidential Suite at Twelve Apostles
Presidential Suite, Image Credit: Twelve Apostles

3. Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is a breeding colony  for the endangered African Penguin. It’s a great family-friendly spot to visit on your Cape Town holiday, situated in False Bay, a bay fringed by 30 kilometres of white sandy beach, 40 kms from the city centre. You can observe penguins up close, as they swarm into the bay from sea, hop atop the boulders or waddle onto the sand and to their nests.

Pinguine am malerischen Boulders Beach bei Kapstadt - Aktivitäten in der Mother City
Penguins on picturesque Boulders Beach near Cape Town, Photo Credit: Dana Zambonini

For more about these little happy feet critters, read our blog on the Marine 5! Read more in our blog, March of the Penguins.

Where To Stay in Boulders Beach: Colona Castle, Rodwell House and St James

False Bay bei Kapstadt
Discover the beautiful settings and accommodations of False Bay, close to Cape Town. Photo Credit: Yann Macherez

4. Llandudno

Twenty kilometres south of Cape Town city centre, Llandudno is a local favourite and a more relaxed (aka less glamourous) beach than the Clifton and Camps Bay offerings. It’s great for picnics, surfing, body boarding, beach games, doggie outings, photography enthusiasts… you name it.

Der weiße Strand von Llandudno aus der Vogelperspektive
One of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Town, Photo Credit: Brent Birch

Parking is somewhat limited but once you’ve managed to find a spot, grab your towel and sunscreen and follow the path down to the soft white sand beach. Take an umbrella as well as snacks and drinks, as there are fewer hawkers out selling ice-lollies and cold Cokes.

Where To Stay in Llandudno: Tintswalo Atlantic

Paisajes desde Tintswalo Atlantic, en Hout Bay
The landscapes that await you before you reach your destination. Credit: Tintswalo Atlantic

5. Paternoster

This stunning hamlet on the West Coast has a wonderful fisher-village ambiance from yesteryear. Once you visit, you’ll be hooked by the long beach littered with colourful boats and gregarious seagulls. There are a number of good eateries either on the beach or in the village.

paternoster-escape-deck-view
Paternoster is a classic off-the-grid escape.

Where To Stay in Paternoster: Abalone House

abalone-house-boutique-guesthouse
The view from Abalone House on Paternoster while enjoying fine dinner is truly a marvel.

6. Plettenberg Bay

This is as close to paradise as you’re likely to get in this lifetime. Miles of long beaches, great hotels and restaurants and more places to stay than you can shake a stick at. Plettenberg is the playground of South Africa’s well healed and home of the Kurland International Polo Test series from December to April.

Plettenberg-bay-beaches
The idyllic view of Plettenberg’s Bay beaches.

Located in Beachy Head Drive, the Blue Flag Robberg 5 Beach in Plettenberg Bay is a favourite of ours. It has a long stretch of sand that’s great for runners, swimmers, surfers and families to enjoy. The water is warm and calm, the waves gentle and great for swimming. Dolphins seem to enjoy Robberg 5 too, and can often be spotted frolicking in the waves. whale spotting in the winter months when the southern right whales visit

Where To Stay in Plettenberg Bay: The Plettenberg Hotel

The outside terrace is perfect to bask in the sun during breakfast at The Plettenberg Bay Hotel
The outside terrace is perfect to bask in the sun during breakfast, Photo credit: The Plettenberg Hotel

7. Wilderness

Always a romantic spot with wild waves pounding a beach stretching almost to infinity, this has long been a favourite with lovers. Once the honeymoon is over, the tranquil lagoon will keep the kiddies fascinated.

An aerial view of Wilderness beaches
An aerial view of Wilderness Beaches.

There are some great day hikes, boating on Island Lake and a range of eateries to choose from in the village.

Where To Stay in Wilderness: The Views Boutique Hotel

views-boutique-hotel-room-penthouse-suite-deck
The Penthouse Suite deck view on the magnificent Wilderness beaches.

8. Sodwana Bay

Explore a different side to South Africa at Sodwana, on the east coast between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi. Sodwana Bay is in the cultural heartland of KwaZulu Natal‘s Elephant Coast and is globally renowned for its biodiversity on land and below the ocean’s surface.

Sodwana-Bay-beaches-view-sunset
Sodwana Bay beaches view at sunset.

There’s plenty to do here for visitors – kick back and soak up the sun on the beach or play beach bats or frisbee, or if you’re up for something more unique, there’s scuba diving, horse back trails, boat trips and turtle tours, to name a few. It can get a bit crowded in peak season but it’s worth a visit.

Where To Stay in Sodwana Bay: Phinda Private Game Reserve or Tonga Beach Lodge

Beach weather at Maputualand beach
Phinda / Munyawana / Zuka Game Reserve. KwaZulu Natal. South Africa. Photo Credit: Camp&BeyondPhinda

9. Longbeach, Noordhoek

It’s away from the maddening crowd and you’re likely to only bump into a few horses trotting along the beachfront and long-haired locals taking a stroll with their pooches or kids. If you want some peace and quiet while you ‘beach’, Longbeach is a great option. It’s long and flat, and picturesque with Chapman’s Peak towering in the background and the Kommetjie Lighthouse peaking out in the south.

Where To Stay in Noordhoek: Long Beach Last Word

View from Long Beach Last Word
View from Long Beach Last Word.

10. Umhlanga

Umhlanga is fast becoming the hub of Durban on the East Coast– the promenade has been re-laid and there are luxury hotels aplenty to choose from, including the fabulous Beverly Hills and the new and spangly Oyster Box Hotel. This beach is great for sun bathing and light swimming. There are great restaurants and a relaxed seaside vibe, but our recommendation is a smaller, more intimate place just down the road…

Where To Stay in Umhlanga: Teremok Marine

teremok-marine-lodge-deck-view
Teremok Marine Lodge – view from the deck of a suite.

Other great beaches in the region include Bronze Beach and Ushaka Beach, which is popular as the waters are calm. For surfing, North Beach or Battery Beach on the Suncoast are good options.

Fly to the best beaches in South Africa!

If the wild shores of South Africa’s 3000kms of uninterrupted coastline tickle your fancy, contact one of our travel experts and we’ll help you book the beach holiday of a lifetime. Outside of South Africa, the continent is host to several other extraordinary beaches you’ve only ever dreamed of as well – such as in Mozambique for starters, with the Quirimbas Archipelago.

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Tags

Beach, Durban, Hermanus, Knysna, Shamwari


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About the author 

Matthew Sterne

Matt discovered a passion for writing in the six years he spent travelling abroad. He worked for a turtle sanctuary in Nicaragua, in an ice cream factory in Norway and on a camel safari in India. He was a door-to-door lightbulb-exchanger in Australia, a pub crawl guide in Amsterdam and a journalist in Colombia. Now, he writes and travels with us.

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