A Guide to 10 Great Beaches Around Cape Town

A few weeks ago I heard a young kid on KFM radio explain what he loved most about Cape Town. He said that despite school and work, it always feels like you’re on holiday. It got me asking why Cape Town has this particular atmosphere, and then it came to me – it has a lot to do with the fantastic beaches.

Cape Town is like a finger pointing into the middle of two oceans. This creates a large range of magnificent coastlines and pristine beaches. On top of that we are lucky enough to have the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Oceans right next to each other. This creates a change in sea temperature of at least 7°C in the space of a few kilometres, giving us the luxury of choice.

With summer impatiently knocking at our front door, the days are getting warmer, the sea is sparkling more, and the work days are getting shorter as the beaches become more and more enticing. However, with such a massive choice of beaches it is difficult to choose the right one for your particular mood. This handy beach guide should make things a little bit easier.

TABLE VIEW BEACH

Best for: Viewing Table Mountain

Although the name of this beach clearly points out that this is the best beach for enjoying the powerful view of Table Mountain, most people would point you in the direction of Blouberg Beach in order to view Cape Town’s magnificent trademark.

However, Table View Beach is less windy, less of a drive from the city centre and not as popular with kite boarders, so the sea is safer to swim in. On a perfect day the sand is hot, the sea is a beautiful aquamarine colour, and the sky is clear all the way back to Table Mountain. Luckily, in summer these days are plentiful, so head to Table View to capture some marvellous pictures of Table Mountain and bask in the hot sun.

COSY BAY

Best for: Scuba diving and getting some peace from the bustling city

Cosy Bay is a small beach near Oudekraal along the Atlantic coastline. A flat sea punctuated by small boulders creates a perfect beach to escape the busy city, and go sunbathing, rock-hopping or scuba diving. As it is so close to the well-known dive-spot, Oudekraal, it is an easy entrance into the underwater world, and many people bring along their diving equipment in order to have a quick dive before suntanning on the quiet beach. If you don’t have your scuba license, snorkelling above the kelp forests is just as thrilling.

BARLEY BEACH

Best for: Avoiding sticky sand, crashing waves and summer crowds

Only a short walk from Camps Bay beach, this tiny beach offers privacy and complete relaxation. Sand is replaced by chunkier pieces of broken shells and pebbles that are small enough to still be comfortable to lie on, but big enough to not annoyingly cling to every surface.

A path hidden by overgrown bushes from the main road prevents passersby from wandering down the steep hillside, allowing locals to sunbathe in peace.

Finally, the large rocks and small bay prevents larger waves from rushing onto the beach, and only small swells that tumble into waves small enough for your baby to jump over make it to the shell-covered shore. Barley Beach is a perfect place to escape from the crowds and relax in the smooth water for those willing to soak in the freezing Atlantic Ocean.

LLUNDUDNO

Best for: Sundowners and sunset picnics

Due to the relatively limited parking, and the steep walk down to the beach if you don’t manage to find close parking, Llundudno still remains fairly quiet. Popular with surfers and body boarders, Llundudno is a great beach to catch the last rays of the day while being provided with action-sport entertainment.

With its soft sand and wind-protected shore, it’s a perfect beach to enjoy a glass of bubbly or two as the sun goes down, and the sea shimmers with red and orange light. Llundudno has one of the colder seas of Cape Town and swimming is often difficult as the water temperature drops below 15°C. However, with the surfers silhouetted against the fading sun, and sky an artwork of colours, this truly is one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the sunset.

SMITSWINKEL BAY

Best for: Privacy and warm waters

Although it is about a 40-minute drive out of the city centre, Smitswinkel Bay is certainly worth the ride. With no access to the bay via car, the trip to this beach becomes a short adventure trek down the East Coast steep hillside. However, the beach at the bottom is certainly worth the effort. The whole bay is mainly untouched by civilisation, with only a few simple cottages punctuating the hillside.

With a slightly warmer sea, the beach is a welcoming sight to those who have braved the walk down. In the morning, the bay is covered in a thick mist, making for a mysterious and exciting swim as long as you stay close to the shore. As the sun breaks through, an untouched view of False Bay comes into sight, with the Hottentots-Holland Mountains in the distance, and mussel-covered boulders surrounding the bay. Be aware of the 20-minute climb back up to your car after the beach, though.

SANDY BAY

Best for: Leaving the swimming costume at home

Sandy Bay is well-known in Cape Town as the famous nude beach. Next to Llundudno, it is an easy walk down from the dunes at the top of Hout Bay, or it can be accessed from the Llundudno parking lot.

The flat rocks between Sandy Bay and Llundudno also allow for a peaceful walk along the coastline. For those of you who want to tan those usually unseen areas, but are still shy, Sandy Bay is decorated by convenient rocks creating hidden and private places to tan your cheeks. As the water is of a similar temperature to Llundudno’s, swimming is not as popular, but you are guaranteed an all-over tan.

GLEN BEACH

Best for: Surfing and avoiding the pushy Southeaster

Glen Beach is a gorgeous white sandy beach surrounded by massive granite boulders. These boulders not only emphasise the picturesque aesthetic quality of the beach, but they also provide valuable protection from the Southeaster wind that runs rampant around Cape Town.

Although it is situated between the well-known Camps Bay and Clifton beaches, Glen Beach remains relatively private and is a popular place for younger surfers and students. With quite a powerful swell, this is great beach for surfing; however the resident surfers are fairly territorial, as emphasised by their “locals only” graffiti on the wall.

BOULDERS

Best for: Penguins, penguins, and penguins

Boulders Beach is actually a small inlet made up of a number of beaches separated by tall boulders. Despite its crisp white sand, mysterious rock pools and turquoise warm waters, Boulders Beach’s main feature is the colony of thousands of African penguins that resides there.

It is a wonderful experience to watch the penguins in their natural habitat waddling along the beach, uncomfortably hopping along rocks, and then transforming into streamline torpedoes in the water. All the while, you are suntanning on the sand right alongside them. For a unique experience, Boulders is certainly the place to go.

ST JAMES BEACH

Best for: A family beach day

Large tidal pools and warm waters, coupled with colourful beach huts, make St James Beach a must-go-to in Cape Town. Although it is small, and there isn’t a lot of beach space, the rock pools surrounding the sand make it easy to spread out and are especially appealing to adventurous children, as they are filled with fascinating sea creatures.

The tidal pools also provide a safe environment for kids to swim if the waves are too rough for them. While this beach may be a bit busier than others, it is still a lovely place to take the family for a day on the sea.

KRAALBAAI

Best for: Houseboats and general paradise

Though it’s a bit of a drive, this bay is one of the most picturesque in the Western Cape. Nextdoor to Churchhaven, Kraalbaai’s crescent-shaped beach can be accessed through the West Coast National Park, which will cost R60 per person to enter, or via boat across the lagoon from Langebaan.

If you are lucky enough to have access to a speed boat, the ride from Langebaan to Kraalbaai is exciting but can get quite bumpy if the wind picks up. Kraalbaai is perfect for those looking to escape the sea, as the warmer lagoon water is much calmer and shallower, and is perfect for doing some water-skiing. Kraalbaai is also famous for its houseboats which sit just off the shore and can be rented for a few days, making for a peaceful holiday in a picturesque bay.

Catherine Franklin is an Honours graduate from UCT, and is currently working her way towards her dream job of being a journalist. Much of her writing has been published on her blog catchingcapetown.