Spanning two oceans – from the chilly waters of the Atlantic to the shores of the warmer Indian Ocean – South Africa’s beaches please all types of travellers. Whether you’re in search of the perfect wave, the best seaside cocktail bar, a refreshing dip in crystal-clear water, or swimming alongside a plethora of marine life (penguins, whales, sharks, seals, dolphins, and more) in their natural habitat, the South African coast has it all and stretches for more than 2850km (1770 mi).
1. Best beach for sunbathers: Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town
Camps Bay Beach is everything you dream of when you picture a perfect beach day. The water is chilly (it almost feels freezing!), but the Atlantic can be refreshing on a hot summer’s day in Cape Town, and it’s the perfect spot for sunbathers craving a nice view. The soft white sand, swaying palm trees, and shimmering blue sea with a backdrop of the staggeringly beautiful Table Mountain range are idyllic. All along the promenade are fun bars, boutique cafes, and restaurants for a fresh seafood meal while watching a glowing sunset.
2. Best beach for first-time surfers: Muizenberg Beach, Muizenberg
Muizenberg is a long stretch of beach on the False Bay coast, lined with multicoloured Victorian bathing cabins for surfers and beachgoers. The warm water and good swell make it a favourite spot for surfing and swimming. It’s the perfect place for newbie surfers to take a lesson and hop on a board. There’s also a water park for families with kids in tow.
Grab a bite to eat at the variety of beachfront restaurants. Tiger’s Milk is one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset. If your day extends into the evening, stop by Urban Soul Cafe and Jazz Bar and listen to local crooners and sax players while sipping a craft cocktail or tasty glass of South African red wine.
3. Best beach for a morning dip: Dalebrook Tidal Pool, Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay locals know how to do life right. Before 9:00 am, they don robes and swimsuits and head to Dalebrook Tidal Pool with mugs of hot coffee in hand year-round. Don’t worry if you didn’t pack your mug: a couple of regulars set up a small table and serve freshly brewed drip coffee plus there are cute cafes nearby.
Safe from sharks and strong currents, this shallow tidal pool is the perfect spot for families with young children, and it also has a sandy strip behind the rocky shoreline. If you want to check out other tidal pools in the area, to the north is Brass Bell, and to the south are St. James tidal pools. Tidal pools are natural ecosystems filled with little marine creatures, so watch your step for their sake and yours.
4. Best beach for bird-watching: Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town
Just outside of Cape Town on the Cape Peninsula, the pristine shores of Boulders Beach are home to a remarkable resident population of endangered African penguins. Seeing these adorable birds with their distinctive black and white plumage is a unique experience and an absolute must.
Take the boardwalk to respectfully observe nesting penguins and little chicks staying warm between their parents’ feet. If you’re lucky, you might spot a dassie, also known as a rock hyrax. Even though they look like rodents, their closest relatives are elephants and manatees.
Watching the penguins hopping in and out of the sapphire waters surrounded by ancient granite boulders is an unforgettable moment. You can’t swim right in the main penguin viewing area on Foxy Beach to conserve the penguin’s wild habitat, but the nearby beaches offer perfect white sand for picnicking and clear, calm water.
5. Best beach for secluded sunsets: Noordhoek Beach, Cape Town
Nestled on the outskirts of Cape Town, Noordhoek has earned its place among South Africa’s best beaches. Hidden away from the tourist track, it has a vast expanse of pristine white sand, framed by the rugged grandeur of Chapman’s Peak and the Atlantic Ocean.
Noordhoek Beach is a haven for nature enthusiasts, horseback riders, and those seeking quiet. A horse ride along the shore or a leisurely stroll is the way to spend an afternoon here. Families find solace in the peaceful dunes. Noordhoek stands as a genuine, unassuming spot offering a tranquil escape from the Cape Town bustle.
6. Best beach on the Garden Route: Wilderness Beach, Wilderness
As its name implies, this South African beach town and national park is wild and untamed, with a pristine shoreline that runs for miles along the Indian Ocean, guaranteeing warmer water. The area is frequented by dolphins and whales. Stop at Dolphin Point Lookout with expansive views over Wilderness National Park’s coastline, the mouth of the Kaaimans River, and the tidal estuary.
A must-stop on any Garden Route itinerary, the town of Wilderness is close to the Garden Route Trail, one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. The area is also known for its lakes and natural lagoons inside the national park, where you can hike on the many trails among groves of milkwood trees or kayak, abseil, and canoe on the Touw River.
7. Best beach for true seaside town feels: Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route
Located along the Garden Route coast of South Africa’s Western Cape province, just an hour from Wilderness, lies Plettenberg Bay. Lovingly referred to as “Plett” by the local people, this region has some of South Africa’s best beaches. Robberg 5th Beach has Blue Flag status with golden sands and calm waters perfect for morning swims, evening walks, or vice versa.
You can also walk along the coastline of Robberg Nature Reserve, which is known for an abundance of playful fur seals. Don’t miss the cute boutique shops, wildlife sanctuaries, and Tsitsikamma National Park, which has an indigenous forest filled with deep river gorges and spectacular waterfalls.
8. Best beach for surfing: Dolphin Beach, Jeffreys Bay
Along the shores of the small town of Jeffreys Bay, Dolphin Beach is an extra special one in South Africa’s extensive list of sandy havens. With pristine, golden sands and world-class breaks, it’s renowned among surf enthusiasts. The right-hand point break at nearby Supertubes Beach is considered one of the best in the world.
But Dolphin Beach has more than just the thrill of the surf. It’s perfect for families and has breathtaking scenery with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, framed by the iconic Jeffreys Bay skyline. Its blend of surf culture, scenic beauty, and warm ambience make it a must-visit. Of course, dolphins are spotted at the beach year-round, and you can also see Southern Right Whales frolicking in the waves from July through September.
9. Best beach for adventurers: Coffee Bay, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
Embraced by South Africa’s untamed “Wild Coast,” Coffee Bay is a coastal sanctuary where the soft sands seamlessly blend with the untamed Indian Ocean, beckoning adventurers of all kinds, be they hikers, surfers, or culture enthusiasts.
The beach offers exhilarating surf breaks alongside pockets of serene tranquility. Home to a mere 250 residents, Coffee Bay owes its name to coffee trees, likely sprouted from beans scattered by a historic shipwreck in the rolling, green hills.
Beyond the shoreline, the heart of the village reveals warm Xhosa culture, delectable dishes, and time-honored traditions. Dive into the insights of sangomas (traditional medicine doctors), explore herbal wonders, and revel in the vibrant atmosphere of local shebeens (bars). Also noteworthy is the nearby Isinuka Spring in Port St. Johns, famed for its pink waters believed to bring health.
10. Best beach for snorkellers: Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
Nestled close to the Mozambique border and located within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Sodwana Bay is an exceptional destination for diving and snorkeling on South Africa’s eastern coastline.
Beyond the sheltering dunes, this coastal enclave has endless marine vitality. Coral reefs play host to a mesmerizing array of tropical fish, including potato bass, black marlin, and the elusive ragged-tooth sharks. The beach is a picturesque stretch of sand, inviting sun-seekers and swimmers to bask in its natural beauty.
The bay also serves as a refuge for sea turtles. From November to February, the beach transforms into a nesting ground for turtles, with the charming hatchlings making their debut from January to April. It’s also the site of the majestic route of humpback whales. Sodwana Bay has a critical ecosystem, beckoning explorers to witness the intricacies of marine life and the rhythm of nature along its unspoiled shores.
