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Home > Best of South Africa > Awards and accolades > Blue Flag Beaches

Blue Flag Beaches

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Blue Flag Beaches in South Africa

South Africa is renowned for its superb beaches. We have 19 Blue Flag Beaches to boast about, with more candidates striving for this prestigious accolade.

Dolphin Beach, Eastern Cape

Casual, mellow and crowded – that’s Dolphin Beach, the main beach in Jeffreys Bay, where families, surfers, sun seekers and dolphins come to play.

Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth

Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth attracts water sports fanatics and families with its clean, white sands, playful surf and variety of entertainment.

Marina Beach, KwaZulu-Natal

Marina Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is a little-known gem, with immaculate sands and warm water all year-round, framed by protected indigenous coastal forest.

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Margate Beach, KwaZulu-Natal

Ringed with holiday accommodation, malls, restaurants, recreational facilities and non-stop entertainment, Margate Beach is the South Coast's foremost holiday playground.

Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town

A wide stretch of glistening sand with turquoise waters, Muizenberg Beach is where the locals, surfer dudes, bikini-babes and everyone else likes to hang out.

Grotto Beach, Hermanus

With talcum powder sands and gentle waves, Grotto Beach in Hermanus is well-suited to active families, sunbathers, swimmers and beachcombers.

Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town

Camps Bay’s wide beach, spacious lawns and beachfront café’s make it a sought-after location for a day of sun-bathing, picnicking and celebrity spotting.

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Windsurfing along the South African coast.

Explore our oceans on a diving adventure

Children playing on an East London Beach

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Beaches in The Western Cape

Clifton, Cape Town

There are four fabulous Clifton beaches, 4th Beach has been awarded Blue Flag status – but 1st, 2nd and 3rd beaches all are popular!
Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town

Enormous granite boulders separate the area into mini-beaches with excellent rock pools (great for kids). Boulders is also famous for its jackass penguin population.
Muizenberg Beach

Famous for its multi-coloured beach huts – Muizenberg is located in scenic False Bay. A recognised Blue Flag beach and a favourite spot for family-inspired beach activities.
Camps Bay Beach

Hugely accessible and very fashionable, Camps Bay Beach (a stone's throw from the Mother City) is a good place to flex those muscles. Great roadside cafes for coffees and cocktails AND people-watching.
Lappiesbaai Beach

A long, curvy bay (near Stilbaai) which is very popular over the holiday season. Lappiesbaai beach has been awarded Blue Flag status three years in a row - and no one can argue with that.
Bikini Beach, Gordon’s Bay

This intimate Blue Flag beach is located in Gordon's Bay and is known as one of the best beaches around - there's safe swimming and great lunch venues close by.
Hawston Beach

Located near Hermanus, Hawston Beach is a Blue Flag beach known for its safe swimming and sensitive ecologically sound environment. A must for nature-lovers.
Grotto Beach, Hermanus

A Blue Flag Beach that goes on for miles – a favourite spot for long beach walks and the odd bout of whale watching.
Plettenberg Bay

Central Beach next to the Beacon Isle Hotel is where boats launch for dolphin, whale and fishing excursions and early morning and late afternoon swimmers and surfers congregate.
Bloubergstrand

This beach is a classic and visitors can walk for miles here. Windsurfers in particular favour Bloubergstrand when the Cape winds blow. Great views of Table Mountain, a photographer's dream!