Beaches in South Africa
Travel writer and photographer
Discovering South Africa not only means exploring cities, enjoying magical wildlife encounters and being immersed in the heart of unspoilt parks ... it’s also about discovering beautiful, pristine beaches which can be found in all four corners of the country, between the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Indian Ocean in the east. On all beaches in the Cape region, the Atlantic Ocean water temperature is between 55°F and 62°F. As we move eastwards towards the Indian Ocean, the temperature rises and can reach 78°F in the Durban region. With nearly 3000 kilometres of coastline, South Africa is full of beautiful postcard-perfect beaches, ideal for water sports, such as surfing or kitesurfing, whale watching or just enjoying their unspoilt beauty and lounging around on the white sands.
| Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | Jul | August | sept. | Oct | nov. | dec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature | 26° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 24° | 23° | 22° | 21° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 25° |
The most beautiful beaches
Llandudno
A small surfer’s paradise, the long beach at Llandudno, dotted with large granite boulders, is located between Camps and Hout Bay in Cape Town, against a backdrop of the Karbonkelberg mountain and, in the distance, the Twelve Apostles. The beach is especially popular with locals who come to catch some waves.
Beach equipment | Surfing
Camps Bay
With its long white sandy beach, palm trees and imposing sea-facing rocks, its waves and four adjacent beaches (Clifton 1, Clifton 2, Clifton 3, Clifton 4), the beauty of Camps Bay never fails to charm visitors with its beauty. This is the perfect spot to watch the sun set with the locals and / or spend an enjoyable afternoon.
Beach equipment
Kommetjie
Kommetjie Beach, one of Cape Town’s magnificent unspoilt beaches, is located on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula. Renowned for its spectacular waves, the beach is ideal for surfers! If surfing isn’t your thing, then take the time to simply explore this beautiful beach, watching the sea, waves and surfers, and take some time to visit the Slangkop lighthouse.
Surfing | Wild beach
Muizenberg
Muizenberg beach is known for its small colourful wooden houses of green, yellow, blue and red – they make a lovely photo. This beach is also famous for being the ideal spot to learn how to surf. Should you want to take lessons or hire equipment, there are some surf schools on the waterfront. Near the beach, keep your eyes peeled for the yellow train that runs along the sea heading to Simon's Town.
Beach equipment | Surfing | Centres nautiques
Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach is 1 hour from Cape Town in the seaside resort of Simon's Town. Nowadays, the beach is famous for the African penguins who have made it their home (a threatened species). Thanks to the wooden walkways, which lead to the beach and its turquoise waters, you’ll be able to sit and watch them go about their daily business (although please keep a respectful distance so as not to disturb them!).
Beach equipment
Bloubergstrand
A 30-minute drive north of Cape Town, you'll find one of the northern beaches that offers spectacular views of Table Mountain. Blouberg beach, and its neighbouring beaches (Table View and Lagoon Beach) are great for kitesurfing because of the prevailing winds! The light is beautiful and it’s a perfect place to enjoy the sunset over the ocean.
Centres nautique | Kitesurf
Kraalbaai
North of Cape Town (about a 1.5-hour drive), Kraalbai Beach is located on the edge of the glorious Langebaan lagoon, lined with white sand, turquoise waters and populated by many wild birds. The beach is uncrowded and ideal for families to enjoy a swim in warmer waters, have a braai (local barbecue) on the beach and even try paddleboarding (there are some paddleboard and kitesurf schools in Langebaan).
Wild beach | Beach equipment | Centres nautiques
Grotto Beach
In the town of Hermanus (the whale capital, located east of Cape Town) is Grotto Beach, known for its migrating whales that you can see between June and November. The beach is long and is therefore conducive to beautiful walks along the shore.
Wild beach | Beach equipment
Cape Vidal
Towards KwaZulu-Natal, at the end of track in the Santa Lucia reserve, is the unspoilt and tranquil beach of Cape Vidal. Several kilometres long, the beach is surrounded by beautiful sand dunes and is a haven of peace for swimming in the Indian Ocean and even snorkelling at the heart of a beautiful coral reef.
Wild beach
Plettenberg Bay
With its peaceful and unspoilt atmosphere, Plettenberg Bay Beach is located on the Garden Route between the city of George and Port Elizabeth. Being an ideal spot for whale watching and diving, and given its proximity to the beautiful Robberg Nature Reserve, it’s one of the most popular beaches among South Africans.
Wild beach | Diving
Travel writer and photographer