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Cape Town beaches |
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Camps Bay beach is probably the coolest strip in Cape Town |
Wherever you happen to be in Cape Town you're never more than a short drive from a stunning beach. And you're spoilt for choice so it really depends on what you want to do or where you want to be. The Atlantic Seaboard beaches are more stylish and this is where the beautiful people can to be seen working on their tans before heading to a trendy beachside bar for sundowners. In the Southern Peninsula you have more local beaches which are good for walks, horse riding and water sports. And then on the False Bay side you have the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean which make them ideal for families and those wanting a more leisurely experience. Here's our guide to some of the many beaches you will find in and around Cape Town.
Camps Bay beach
Think of a beach in Cape Town and it'll probably be Camps Bay (or maybe Clifton), probably the best known and most frequented of all. It's only a ten minute drive from the City and it's palm-tree lined white sand and affluent vibey atmosphere make it the place to be when the sun is shining. There's a good mix of cool bars and restaurants offering stunning sea views and this also makes it the ideal spot for the not to be missed sundowners. Camps Bay is where the international jet set mingle with tourists and fashionable locals and it's all set against the spectacular Twelve Apostles mountain range making this a paradise for those wanting to be seen and for those just wanting to look.
Clifton beach
Clifton beach (or rather beaches) is made up of 4 white sandy beaches separated by granite boulders and rocky coves. The beaches are small but very well sheltered from the wind which makes them an ideal place to get the perfect tan. Steps from the road lead down to the beach making it unsuitable for those with disabilities and parking can be a problem especially in peak season but once you're there you won't regret it. It's where people who want to be seen hang out and you might even find yourself parking your deck chair next to an international supermodel. Clifton has no shops but does have roaming vendors selling ice-creams, cold drinks and snacks.
Sea Point
More of a promenade than a beach. Here you'll find fitness fanatics and dog walkers galore. It has a sense of the 'old fashioned' and the sea front is lined with high rise apartment blocks. The Sea Point swimming pool at the Sea Point Pavillion offers unparalleled swimming for all ages and standards in one of the most breathtaking swimming pools in the world. It costs R9.50 for adults and R6 for children and as well as the Olympic sized main pool there's two splash pools for the children and a diving pool for the more adventurous.
Llandudno beach
Along the Atlantic Seaboard between Camps Bay and Hout Bay lies the fantastic little beach of Llandudno. With it's white sand and stunning views this makes it a great place for sundowners. Even in high season the beach is never that busy due to parking being almost impossible and with no shops or restaurants you really are just going to work on that tan. The currents are strong which makes it ideal for surfers but not so good for swimmers, unless you're Michael Phelps. You can buy drinks and snacks from vendors on the beach and there are rocks on either side of the beach for those wanting to explore.
Sandy Bay beach
A 20 minute walk from Llandudno parking lot is Sandy Bay, Cape Town's unofficial nudist beach. Being naked is optional but if you want quiet and away from the crowds of Camps Bay and Clifton then this is probably the place. It's also a popular beach for surfers and body boarders when the swell is large.
Hout Bay beach
Although Hout Bay is a great place to visit for the day with some interesting shops and attractions such as the World of Birds the beach is somewhat of a let down. It's mainly used for horse riding, walking or for launching paddle-ski's due to it's gentle waves. If, however, you enjoy looking at fishing boats then this might be the place for you oh and there's fish and chips too!
Blouberg beach
Probably the best all round beach in the Northern Suburbs. Situated between Big Bay and Table View it?s a great place for sunbathing and exploring. There's rock pools galore, some of which are big enough to jump in for the older kids (and brave grown-ups). Take your camera too because this is the spot with the best (and most photographed) view of Table Mountain. The beach doesn?t offer much shelter from the wind so check the weather before you head out. Blouberg has become an ideal spot for kitesurfers and board sailers taking advantage of the strong winds and big seas.
Strand beach
The Strand is a 40km drive east of the City on the N2. It?s 5km white sandy beach is ideal for safe bathing and swimming and there?s nearby entertainment in the shape of mini-golf, a tidal pool and supertube. The water is warmer than the Atlantic beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay but don?t expect the Mediterranean. You will still suck through your teeth and grimace when you dip your toes. The Strand is also an ideal beach if you?re heading to see the Whales at Hermanus. The coastal drive from Gordon?s Bay to Betty?s Bay is just spectacular with deserted white sandy beaches at the small villages scattered along the way.
Bikini Beach
One of only 3 blue flag beaches in Cape Town (the others being Clifton?s 4th beach and Mnandi) Bikini Beach (in Gordon?s Bay, 45 mins from Cape Town on the N2) is popular for swimming and sunbathing and is particularly sheltered from the wind and there?s a good selection of fish restaurants, pubs and coffee shops on the nearby promenade.
Muizenberg beach
The beach is very popular with families with lots of sunbathing space and activities on offer. The colourful beach huts and waterslides make this a more commercial beach than most and it?s probably the most racially integrated beach in Cape Town too. In it?s heyday in the 60?s and 70?s the beach was a mass of people, these days it all looks a little tired and run down. Muizenberg is probably the perfect place to learn to surf or body board. The constant rolling of foamy waves make it easy to learn the basic skills and there?s surf schools just off the beach where you can hire all the gear and get lessons from the pros.
Fish Hoek beach
On the False Bay side of the city is Fish Hoek beach. A very popular beach due to it?s warm waters and gentle currents. This makes it very popular with children and families with plenty of space for games, exploring and swimming. To the right of the beach are some great rock pools to explore and watch out for the regular Simon?s Town train that overhangs the cliffs and makes for some good photographs. The restaurant on the beach is ideal for lunch or snacks and the ice-cream parlour next to it is a must for the children on a hot summer?s day.
Boulders beach
Just beyond Simon?s Town is Boulders beach, home to the African penguin. The main beach is well protected from the wind by huge granite boulders. Walk beyond the main beach to the designated Penguin beach. It?s small but is so protected from the wind that even on the most blustery of days you can comfortably sunbathe and swim. The beach is tiny but it?s probably the only place in the world where you can swim with penguins in their natural habitat. You have to pay a small entrance fee of R15 to enter the beach and they have a strict numbers policy so on busy days or at high tide when the beach shrinks to the size of a postage stamp it can be difficult to get in so go early to avoid disappointment.
Noordhoek beach
Drive around Chapmans Peak and your first glimpse of the Southern Peninsula is Noordhoek?s massive 6km beach stretching to Kommetjie. Because of it?s size and shear width it?s not an ideal beach for sunbathing or swimming but it is good for long walks, horse-riding and surfing. It?s an exhilarating beach when the wind blows ... and a favourite for winter beach walks. If you?re feeling energetic you could walk to the Kakapo shipwreck about half-way between Noordhoek and Kommetjie. In 1900 the Kakapo left Cape Town for Sydney in heavy mist, the Captain mistook Chapmans Peak for Cape Point and turning left thinking he would be heading into False Bay he landed instead on Noordhoek beach.
Long beach
Popular with the surfing crowd of the South Peninsula Long Beach is great for gentle strolls and breathtaking scenery. Take in a view that encompasses Chapmans Peak, Hout Bay and the flat top of Table mountain ... it?s truly inspiring.
Witsands, Misty Clffs and Scarbrough
All of which are ?back to nature? beaches in the Southern Peninsula on the way to Cape Point. Very popular with surfers and kitesurfers if the conditions are right and locals out for a stroll but not the kind of place where you can hire deck chairs and retire to the beachside restaurants because there isn?t any, this really is remote beach country.
Diaz beach
Situated in the Cape Point Nature Reserve (entry fee R60) Diaz beach is one of a kind. It?s about an hour from Cape Town and once you arrive in the car park you?ve got a 20 minute downhill scramble before you arrive (35-40 climb back up!). But once there you?ll be treated to one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the planet. Don?t expect any restaurants or shops, this is truly back to how beaches were before deck-chairs were invented. |
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