Cape Town''s Beaches: A Quick Guide

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 96
Comment this article

A general rule about Cape Town''s beaches is this: the beaches on the Atlantic side are cold water beaches, while those on the Indian Ocean side enjoy warm waters. Though most beaches are safe, swimmers should exercise caution, since lifeguards do not patrol most beaches. Observe the signs ? they''re there to save you. In theory, sharks are more prevalent in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean beaches, but this is only a rule of thumb, although swimmers can rest assured that shark attacks are in fact very rare.

Family beaches

Most beaches in Cape Town are family friendly, with gentle waves at low tide and few hidden hazards. Fish Hoek and Boulders Beaches are two beaches popular with families. As a bonus you may spot whales in Fish Hoek Bay, while Boulders Beach is famous for its jackass penguin colony. On the Atlantic coast, Camps Bay, with its backdrop of the mountain folds known as the Twelve Apostles, and Llandudno are two broad, sandy beaches that appeal to all ages.

Watersports

Cape Town is a surfer''s paradise, with a variety of beaches known for their good waves. The best surfing beaches lie ...
... on the southernmost reaches of the peninsula. On the Atlantic side are Kommetjie, Sunset Beach and Long Beach, all surfing favourites. On the opposite side of the peninsula, the beaches of False Bay are also popular with surfers, windsurfers and other watersports enthusiasts.

Fishing

Cape Town offers many opportunities for anglers, though some locations are dangerous and unwary fishermen risk tides and waves that can sweep a person from a rocky ledge in an instant. (Some fishing spots are notorious ? take local advice). For some keen anglers, the alternative is deep sea fishing from a charter boat. For those wanting to stay on terra firma, there are locations all around the coast where Cape Town''s rich fish life can be caught.

Beaches With Character

All Cape Town''s beaches are beautiful, but some have that extra something. On the Atlantic seaboard, a steep descent takes sunlovers to the secluded, boulder-fringed beaches of the wealthy suburb of Clifton. At the other end of the peninsula an even steeper path leads to the tiny settlement of Smitswinkelbaai, just north of Cape Point Reserve. A few dozen holiday homes nestle in this small cove, which is rich in rock pools and unspoilt coastal vegetation.

Most visitors to Cape Town will want to leave with a photograph or two of the city''s famous Table Mountain. The classic view is taken from Bloubergstrand in Table Bay, a long sandy beach recently popular with kitesurfers.

A Naturist Beach

Cape Town doesn''t embrace topless bathing and the like in a big way, but does boast one (unofficial) naturist beach. Sandy Bay, on the Atlantic coast, adjacent to Llandudno beach, is the place for naturists. It''s a fair walk (about 20 minutes) from the nearest parking area, assuring the privacy of visitors.

With almost 3000 kilometres of coastline, South Africa is a beach lover''s heaven, and Cape Town offers a great taste of some of its pleasures, from busy waterfront beaches to remote coves where the sea birds swoop and marine mammals sport in the bays. Bonny Kominek wrote this article while on a holiday booked with Dialaflight who provide flights to South Africa and other desinations.