South Africa beaches

South Africa beaches are some of the best in the world

South Africa has spectacular beaches so it is little wonder what with its long warm sunny days, beautiful coastal bush and some of the widest beaches in the world that it is called the Sunshine Coast, the Riviera, the Wild Coast and the Garden Coast. The main attractions are its endless golden beaches, entertainment spots, water sports and tidal swimming pools, not to mention the nature reserves and varied and spectacular wildlife.

The Best beaches in South Africa

* Long Beach (Cape Town): This 4-kilometer-long (2 1/2-mile-long) stretch of sand--almost as wide as it is long--is both the city's best walking beach and the best place to go horseback riding. Even if you don't have time to sample the waves, at least stop to admire it during your Chapman's Peak Drive. * Clifton (Cape Town): A beautiful beach just minutes from the city center, this is where Cape Town's beautiful people like to parade. It's also the most wind-free area in Cape Town--handy when the southeaster, known locally as the Cape Doctor, is driving you mad. Divided by large boulders into First, Second, Third, and Fourth beaches, it is accessible only via steep steps. Other great Cape Town beaches include Camps Bay and Llandudno. * South Africa Beaches - East LondonDe Hoop Nature Reserve (Whale Coast, Western Cape): Tall white dunes sliding into the sea, coves, evocative limestone outcrops, an aquamarine sea, and picture-perfect rock pools make this reserve's beaches the most glorious in the Overberg, if not the entire Cape. * Noetzie (Garden Route, Western Cape): One of the closest beaches to Knysna is also the most charming, not least because of the minicastles overlooking it. If the sea is too wild, take a dip in the lagoon. * South Africa Beaches - Plettenberg BayPlettenberg Bay (Garden Route, Western Cape): It's a tossup between Lookout and Robberg Beach, but safe to say that "Plet," as the locals call it, has the best beaches on the Garden Route. Pity about the monstrous houses that overlook them. Head for Lookout for a view of the distant Outeniqua Mountains, and Robberg for whale-watching. * Port St Johns (Wild Coast, Eastern Cape): The entire Wild Coast is renowned for its magnificent, deserted coastline; but since Port St Johns is one of the more accessible points, you may wish to head straight here and laze away the sultry days on Second Beach, a perfect crescent fringed with tropical vegetation. For total seclusion, head for Umngazi, a few miles south. * South Africa Beaches - Port St JohnsRocktail Bay (Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal): With the "Holiday Coast" surrounding Durban largely ruined by an uninterrupted ribbon of development, and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park's beaches marred by four-wheel-drive tracks, the province's best

Blue Flag flies on SA beaches

South Africa's coastline sparkles! Eight local beaches won international recognition at this year's Blue Flag Awards, a European-based campaign which measures beaches against strict environmental, tourist and safety standards. Blue Flag, a well-known environmental and tourism campaign in Europe, gives local and foreign visitors the knowledge that their beaches are clean, environmentally sound and adhere to international safety and other tourist standards. South Africa Beaches - WildernessWhen South Africa joined the campaign in 2001 as the first country outside Europe to participate, Blue Flag began to grow from a European to an international campaign. Started in France in 1985, the campaign now runs in 23 countries. Many other countries outside Europe, including the Caribbean, Morocco and Iceland, are working towards Blue Flag status. South Africa's 2002 award-winning beaches are: * Humewood Beach, Nelson Mandela Metropole (Eastern Cape) * Margate Main Beach (KwaZulu-Natal) * South Beach, Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) * Willard Beach, Ballito (KwaZulu-Natal) * Ramsgate Beach (KwaZulu-Natal) * Marina Beach, Sanlameer (KwaZulu-Natal) * Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay (Western Cape ) * Grotto Beach, Hermanus (Western Cape)

South Africa Beaches - Wildcoast

The Blue Flag is given to beaches that meet 14 criteria spanning three aspects of coastal management: water quality, environmental education and information, and safety and services, which include excellent life-saving standards, top-rate parking and sparkling ablution facilities. The award is given for one year only, so beaches must continually strive to keep up their standards and try for the award the following year. The Blue Flag award not only communicates to the public that beaches are safe and clean, but also educates the community about the need to preserve the coastline – one of South Africa’s natural treasures.

Durban beachfront

South Africa Beaches - DurbanIf Johannesburg has a business culture and Cape Town has a culture culture, Durban has a beach culture. Even the high-rise offices look out over the Indian Ocean, and busy executives hang up their suits and ties, slip into shorts, and jog along the beachfront at lunchtime. Many keep a surfboard in their cars and catch a quick wave before or after work (or both). The Durban beachfront is a cultural experience. Here you will find holidaying families, young surfer brats (grommets), Indian ladies elegantly walking the sand in flowing silken saris, traditional healers collecting bottles of seawater to use as muti (medicine) and young girls strutting their stuff in the skimpiest of bikinis. Somehow it all works in one, pretty weird, decidedly heterogeneous whole. The sea really does play an important part - there are two yacht clubs and one very big commercial harbour. The Bat Centre, Durban's most interesting cultural venue, overlooks the small boat harbour where stubby-nosed tugs come to rest after a hard morning pushing tankers around. You can also lunch virtually in the shadow of huge container ships and cruise liners as they enter the harbour through the narrow entrance in front of the Bluff. South Africa Beaches - Umhlanga beachShopping is a special experience in Durban - the eastern influence of the enormous Indian population adds a touch of spice, literally and figuratively. You can explore the Indian Market or just wander down Grey Street, where you'll find all kinds of interesting little shops. At the beachfront itself, you will find wonderful examples of traditional beadwork and basketry for sale at incredibly low prices. For something more upmarket, and very interesting, you just have to see the Gateway Shopping Centre. It's so much more than your average mall. It has a climbing wall and an enormous artificial standing wave - the first artificial double-point break in the world. Of course, Durban is really about surf. Another fun thing to do is to paddle out on a sea kayak, or even do a short, gentle white water trip on the nearby Umgeni River. South Africa Beaches - Plettenberg Bay beachSome of the hardest climbs in South Africa are at the Wave Cave at Shongweni, near Durban, and there are some fun bolted routes in the Kloof Gorge. The diving just south of the city is great. In winter and early spring, migratory ragged tooth sharks (Carcharias tauras) are in residence at Aliwal Shoal, and can be visited on a specially organised dive. But there are also a lot of coral-encrusted rock reefs with pretty tropical fish for the less intrepid. For the hardcore diver, Protea Banks is a must.

Accommodation in and around South Africa

La Boheme B&B accommodation in South Africa
You will never forget your first sight of this beautiful bay. With a backdrop of majestic mountains stretching from horizon to horizon, the town lies to one side under a sunny sky, and amongst a collage of green forests and fynbos that are separated ... More

Sunshowers Plett accommodation in South Africa
Sunshowers Plett consist of six spacious bedrooms, modern and stylish decorated.Room 5 and 6 has sea views to die for!!All rooms are equipped with DSTV, Aircon, wireless internet, safes, fridges, kettles, complimentary coffee, tea and homemade biscui... More

Fynbos Ridge Country House & Cottages accommodation in South Africa
Fynbos Ridge is set amongst fragrant Fynbos. There are spectacular mountain views and the property abounds with abundant birdlife. The secluded pool is ideal to relax and unwind, or one can enjoy the many activities in the vicinity – forest or ... More

Periwinkle Guest Lodge accommodation in South Africa
Periwinkle Guest Lodge is a beach front lodge with all 7 en-suite bedrooms enjoying a sea view. All rooms have private balconies and rooms are large and airy. Personalised service is our trade mark and is the discerning travellers home away form home... More

Little Sanctuary B&B accommodation in South Africa
The Little Sanctuary is situated in one of the Plettenberg Bays premier positions just a two minute stroll down to the golden sands of the famous lookout beach. Your immaculate en-suite double bedroom has been architect designed to provide you privac... More

House Bavaria accommodation in South Africa
Self Catering unit available in Plettenberg Bay Sleeps 2 Bathroom with shower, basin, toilet Kitchen with fridge, microwave, 2 plate stove Outdoor braai area and large garden TV All linen, cutlery and crockery included Off street park... More

Slowdown Gardens accommodation in South Africa
Situated 8km from Plettenberg Bay, this 50 year-old Fynbos Retreat offers deluxe housing or rustic cottages. Full kitchens, washing machines, etc. Large lawns, braai and birds galore. Breathtaking views of the mountains and ocean from the pool. Easy ... More

Halcyon House accommodation in South Africa
SERENE. GRACIOUS. RELAXED ? That?s Halcyon. 4 Star (AA Superior) guesthouse accommodation situated within 3 minutes walking distance of magnificent Robberg beach ? a 4km stretch of white sand and surf. Halcyon offers en-suite bedrooms with sea-views,... More

The Fernery Lodge accommodation in South Africa
Situated only 160 Km from Port Elizabeth, at the Eastern gateway to the Garden Route of South Africa, this piece of paradise awaits your discovery. Enjoy languishing alongside the pool and jacuzzi, take a picnic on a forest amble, or drive out and vi... More

Gulls View accommodation in South Africa
On the famous Garden Route in the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay you will find this luxury self-catering accommodation to be the perfect home for a holiday of a lifetime. Gulls View has inspiring views and is the ideal base from where you can explor... More

Directory of accommodation in South Africa