Cape Town beaches are renowned as some of the better beaches in the world to enjoy the sun, sand and sea.
South Africa was the first country outside Europe to have had beaches awarded the international recognised blue flag status. This gives visitors the knowledge that these beaches safe and clean and adhere to international safety and other tourist standards.
The following Cape Town beaches have been awarded this prestigious status:
Clifton 4th Beach
Camps Bay Beach
Muizenberg Beach
Strandfontein Beach
Mnandi Beach
Bikini Beach in Gordon's Bay
The only thing that you must now do, is to decide which one you want to visit. Having said that, it is not that easy a choice as there are so many great beaches.
Ek soek nie noodwendig mense rondom my as ek strand toe gaan nie. Daarom besoek ek gewoonlik die straande op die Atlantiese oseaan - Blouberg, Melkbosstrand en in uitsonderlike gevalle Kampsbaai en Clifton.
Hoekom uitsonderlike gevalle? Parkering is gewoonlik 'n probleem by laasgenoemde twee strande as jy nie vroeg gaan nie.
My gunsteling is nog altyd Bloubergstrand gewees. Selfs op die heel warmste dag is daar altyd 'n koel seebries om jou af te koel. Dan kan jy ook lekker ver stap op die plat strand met sy fyn sand terwyl jy die branderplankryers dophou.
Die nadeel? Net die heel braafste mense kan daar swem. Die water is verfrissend, nee wag ek lieg nou, die water is koud!
My ander gunsteling is natuurlik Strand (Ook bekend as Strand-Somerset-Wes). Veral later in die dag, want dan is die strande stiller en die water van Valsbaai is nog warm genoeg om te kan swem.
Natuurlik moet jy vis en chips op die strand eet. Dis al 'n Kaapse instelling.
Geniet ons strande en help asseblief ook om hulle skoon te hou.
Bloubergstrand Beach on Zoopy
Bloubergstrand Beach
Muizenberg Beach
The following factors should play a role to influence your decision:
1. The wind - Summer is our beach season, but it is also the windy season in Cape town.The prevailing wind is the south Easter, also named the "Cape doctor" as it blows away the pollution.
2. The position of the beach relative to mountains - the Table Mountain range in the southern peninsula and the Hottentot Holland Mountain range in the northern peninsula.This is important as these mountains shelter some beaches from certain winds.
3. The proximity of a cosy restaurant or bar always soothes away the worry of what to do when you're hot and bothered, or whether the wind is gusting.
4. Are there rock pools to keep the children busy, or do you want a flat sandy beach to play volleyball or tennis?
Broadly speaking,we divide Cape Town beaches into those to the west of Table Mountain, the Western Seaboard and those East of Table mountain, The Eastern Seaboard.
The Western seaboard
These are the beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean and ocean temperatures range from 10 - 14 degrees C.
The culture of these beaches is also rather up market and fashionable. This is where you will find the trendy coffee shops, restaurants and bars.
The following beaches form part of the Western Seaboard:
1. Table Bay Beaches
Table Mountain is best filmed from these beaches and they are great for wind and kite surfing - Big Bay, Blouberg, Table View, Dolphin and Milnerton.
2. Atlantic Seaboard Beaches
This stretch of the Peninsula is also known as Cape Town's Riviera. It's a great drive along Victoria road which hugs the mountain for most of the way -
Clifton, Camps Bay,
Bakoven,
Llandudno,Sandy Bay,
and
Hout Bay .
3. South Atlantic Beaches
Beaches are rugged and unspoilt and usually quieter than the Atlantic Seaboard beaches -Noordhoek, Long Beach, Witsands, Misty Cliffs, Scarborough, Diaz, Buffelsbaai, Platboomskuit andSmitswinkelbaai.
Camps Bay
Hout Bay Beach
The Eastern Seaboard
These are the beaches bordering the False Bay and they are more family orientated beaches. The water is warmer than at the Atlantic beaches (usually 3-4 degrees warmer) and are great swimming beaches. Many are manned by lifeguards so that swimming water sports are relatively safe. -
Boulders
, Fish Hoek, Glencairn, St James, Muizenberg, Macasser, Monwabisis, Mnandi, Strandfontein, Strand, Gordon's Bay, Bikini and Kogelbay.