Best South African Beaches To Make Your Holiday Come Alive

As the festive season looms near and plans are made and unmade, the decision about where to go for the holidays might be quite a tough decision since everyone will be clamoring for a good place to unwind. The first option that comes to mind for a holiday would be to book a hotel or to select the kind of hotel you would prefer to stay at. But of course, booking a hotel is not the ultimate, you will have to consider the proximity of the hotel you want to stay at to the hub and the best places where you totally get to relax and nothing says relaxation better than the beaches.

Yes, the beach is one of the most relaxing places you can be. As the wind comes from the seas and lulls you to peaceful slumber, you will wish for the holidays to last forever. Whats more? Most of the beaches in South Africa are family friendly. So, in the spirit of holidays, we bring you a list of the best beaches in South Africa where you can have the most fun of the holiday and meet as many new people as you would like.

Best Beaches In South Africa

1. Camps Bay.

First on our list is the top beach attractions in Cape Town, Camps Bay, with a wide palm-lined sandy beach. In the summer months, the beach can be packed with locals and visitors, especially over weekends and during holidays. Many visitors enjoy a picnic on the palm-lined lawns. This is a great beach option for everyone – singles, honeymooners, and families. The sidewalk cafe and restaurants are just a step away from the beach.

camps bay

The bay is protected from the South-Easter winds by the mountains, so the sea is usually calm and provides safe swimming. The flat beach is perfect for sunbathing, frisbee and other social beach sports. A tidal pool at the southern end of the beach is great for kids. Surfers can enjoy the waves at the northern end of the beach. Sandwiched in between the spectacular 12 Apostles and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, the postcard picture image of Cape Town is Camps Bay.

camps-bay-beach

2. Clifton Beach, Western Cape

If you want a hit with the movie stars, the white-sand wonderland of this coastline Clifton beach is loved for its visual beauty and tranquility. Perfect for those who seek a relaxing atmosphere, the pure cotton-like sand is sure to soothe your senses and ease your mind of day-to-day stresses.

clifton

With four slightly varying beaches to choose from, you’ll be able to find a secluded spot for sunbathing or picnic in the festive afternoon sunlight. However, be warned of the icy-cold Atlantic water. A boat ride may be on the cards, but don’t expect to do much swimming (unless you like a chilly dip!)

clfton view

READ: 50 Things You Can Do With Less Than R200 In Cape Town

3. Bloubergstrand

If sun-drenched destinations invigorate your senses, inspire and amaze you, then any holiday in Cape Town is the perfect chill session for you to enjoy the Bloubergstrand beach. If you really want to unwind and escape from day-to-day life, this is the perfect spot for you! The perfect blend of sand, sun and crystal water, combined with heavenly bites at the restaurants in Bloubergstrand, will soon have you in holiday bliss mood.

Bloubergstrand1

Look out across the sweeping blue Atlantic Ocean and cast your line of sight across Table Bay to Table Mountain as you dive into mouth-watering morsels of heaven!

Bloubergstrand

Your fun is guaranteed in Bloubergstrand as ships entering Table Bay, dolphins surfing the waves, whales putting on a formidable display and postcard sunsets often compete for your attention. Meanwhile, the restaurants in the area will put on quite a show for your appetite.

4. Durban North Beach

The busiest of the busy beaches on the Golden Mile, North Beach has beautiful sand and breakwaters, with lifeguards on watch every day to ensure your safety.

durban north

The wide promenade runs along the beach and between the promenade and the Marine Parade and Snell beachfront roads, are a plethora of family entertainments, pools, fun-fair type attractions, restaurants, and various booths and shops. It is an ideal place to spend the day with a family, with a host of things to keep everyone occupied.

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5. Cape Vidal KZN

cape vidal

Cape Vidal is one of the finest beaches in the country with long stretches of snow-white sand. Visitors can explore the many rock pools along the beach and sight humpback whales in October.

Cape-Vidal-Beach-swimming

The waters at Cape Vidal always seem to be buzzing with activity non-stop, the fun never stops.

6. Ballito Beach KZN

Ballito is a small holiday town located in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Ballito is situated roughly 40 kilometers north of Durban. It forms part of the KwaDukuza local Municipality and iLembe District Municipality. Dolphins are common on this stretch of the North Coast shoreline, hence the nickname Dolphin Coast.

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Ballito Beaches are really nice and they are 25 km away from Durban. Ballito town is growing so much that soon it will be part of Durban. Situated on the North Coast as its called and about 10 mins away from the King Shaka International airport the little town of Ballito has 3 nice beaches namely Salt Rock main beach Thompsons Bay beach and Ballito main beach.

See also
20 Fun Things To Do In Gauteng Today

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7. Buffalo Bay

Buffalo Bay Beach, also called Buffelsbaai, is situated in Goukamma Nature Reserve, an attractive holiday hideaway on the Garden Route. Extensive dune fields, coastal fynbos and coastal forest flank the long sandy beach. Bottle-nosed and common dolphins are frequently seen surfing the waves and whales migrate here between July and October.

buffalo bay1

Holiday activities are focused on the safe beach and rock pools. Spend blissful hours here surfing, sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, canoeing or simply chilling. Ample parking, ablutions, restaurants, and shops are conveniently situated above the beach.

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8. Umhlanga

The facilities along Umhlanga’s beachfront are similar to what you may expect at other world-famous beach destinations. The clean, white sandy beach and warm water of the Indian Ocean waters beckon. There are great seafood restaurants with seating almost on the beach.

umhlanga3

Park on Lagoon Drive and walk down “Walkway to the Beach” (signpost). Some of South Africa’s most famous hotels are along this coastline – the Cabanas, Breakers, Pearls, Oyster Box and the legendary Beverly Hills, Sol Kerzner’s first hotel.

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A beautiful paved walk meanders through a beach garden to your left, while a stroll to the right will bring you all the way up to Umhlanga Beach’s landmark, Umhlanga Lighthouse.

9. Coffee Bay, Wild Coast

Coffee Bay is one of the loveliest spots on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape. Coffee Bay and the Hole in the Wall are virtually synonymous. One cannot describe the full extent of the beauty of this area of the Wild Coast without including the incredible natural phenomenon.

coffee bay1

The hole is quite literally a geographical marvel. It is an offshore stack of rock through which the elements have eroded a hole. The hole is directly in the path of the Mpako River and it is this, rather than wind or the surf, that eroded the hole.

coffee bay2

However, Xhosa mythology tells a far more romantic tale of the sea people, semi-deities who look like humans but have supple wrists and ankles and flipper-like hands and feet. A beautiful girl living on the Wild Coast, in a village near a lagoon, cut off from the sea by a mighty cliff, was seen by one of the sea people who became overwhelmed by her beauty and tried to woo her. To cut the long story short, in dealing with the wrath of her father, the sea people enlisted the help of a huge fish who battered its way headfirst through the wall of rock. Through this hole spilled the sea people who swept the young Xhosa maiden away.

10. Santos Beach Mossel Bay

Situated in Mossel Bay, beachgoers enjoy still waters, as well as dolphin and whale watching from the sandy beach.

santos bay

The rocky outcrops and the far-side of the beach are home to rock pools full of interesting sea creatures, as well as oyster beds with beautiful ocean views.

santos bay1

11. Muizenberg

The beach is flat and wide but lacks the turquoise ocean and picturesque beauty of the Atlantic Seaboard beaches.

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It makes up for this with much warmer water for swimming and surfing – and has the additional character endowed by rows of brightly colored beach huts.

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12. Sodwana Bay

The beautiful jewel on the east coast of KZN is home to the adventurers; who enjoy many thrilling activities in the warmth of the Indian Ocean. These include; scuba diving, turtle tours, and surfing.

sodwana-bay

The idyllic views and the backdrop of rich green forests also make it a fantastic spot to just laze on the beach with a good book.

sodwana bay

13. Nahoon

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Nahoon Beach is located 5 kilometers northeast of the city center and on the southern end of the beach is the Nahoon Reef, the area’s top surfing spot. If surfing is not your thing, the main beach area is good for sunning and swimming.

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14. Gordon’s Bay

Enjoy Gordon’s Bay beach at its best with perfect weather for tanning or swimming. You can as well visit some of the great stalls that are next to the beach for some fresh mini-doughnuts and some Chip’n Dip. Better still, you can have a seat for an awesome Henna-Tattoo or browse through some clothing stalls.

bikini bay

The sea water is normally lovely and warm and one can just lie and soak in it and on the lovely sandy beaches as well. Gordon’s Bay was well-known for its good fishing and many fishing boats launch from this harbor to fish along the cliffs of the Hottentot’s Holland mountains and on the beaches of the coast of False Bay. The harbor provides anchorage for yachts and other small pleasure craft as well.

Gordons Bay South Africa Cape Spirit Travel

15. Diaz Beach, Mossel Bay

The beach is also a popular place to learn to surf and surf schools use it daily.  There is also a SCUBA dive center where you can sign up for a course or if you are already qualified, go for some dives on shallow reefs.

diaz beach

The amazingly warm water, the flat, rock-free beach, and gentle waves make Diaz a firm favorite for many.

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Linda Chris
Linda Chris
Linda's technical expertise, quick thinking, and critical evaluations ensure everyone is on the same page. You'll often find her labouring over publishing the most grammatically correct version of a piece of article. To unwind, She enjoys reading a book, scribbling something creative or just getting a beauty sleep. Outside all of that, you'll find her glued to a food channel

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