The complete guide to SA shores

WWestern Cape 

Cape Town is best for shore-seekers and built on a peninsula sticking out into the Atlantic Ocean. Many of its attractions are coastal, including the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, built around a working harbour that has been operating for more than 100 years. The area has now been redeveloped to turn it into a lively area full of shops, restaurants and upmarket hotels. One of the Waterfront's main attractions is the Two Oceans Aquarium. It contains more than 3 000 sea animals.

Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison, has become a museum. The austere buildings of the former prison contrast starkly with the island's idyllic setting. Boats to Robben Island depart daily, weather permitting, from the Clock Tower Precinct at the V&A Waterfront.

Table Mountain, the summit of which can be reached by cable car, is one of the city's biggest tourist drawcard. It provides superb views of the coast. Some hike up the iconic mountain.

There are many beaches south of the city that are often surprisingly crowd-free. One of the most attractive trips is towards the Cape Peninsula. Camps Bay with the Twelve Apostles mountain range in the background is the perfect setting for a beach day. The more enclosed Hout Bay has many craft shops. Simon's Town, in False Bay, is the gateway to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which is the most south-westerly tip of Africa. Cape Agulhas is further south – and it is an area of spectacular, rugged scenery and a variety of flower species.

KwaZulu-Natal 

Other than Cape Town, the main coastal conurbation is Durban, the biggest city in KwaZulu Natal. Mixed with the city's Indian and Zulu heritage are the attractions of a modern seaside resort: every kind of beach activity from surfing to beach volleyball, and a long, coastal strip of hotels, restaurants and entertainment known as Durban's golden mile.

One of the city's highlights is uShaka Marine World, the largest marine theme park in Africa, a beachfront complex comprising a salt-water aquarium, water rides and a lot of shops and restaurants.

Port Elizabeth 

Port Elizabeth, also known as Nelson Mandela Bay, is another coastal city worth seeing. The city has several swimming pool complexes built along the beach and the Boardwalk Centre home to a collection of shops and restaurants. The city is where many South Africans come when they want a family-friendly resort that offers a combination of watersports, good shopping and cultural attractions. 

St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal 

If you want to get away from civilisation, head up the east coast as far as St Lucia in northern KwaZulu-Natal. From here to the Mozambique border is an area of wetlands and coral reefs that are almost untouched by human habitation. The village of St Lucia on the edge of Isimangaliso is known for its boat cruises along the estuary with sightings of crocodiles, hippos and rare birds. 

Best places for watersports?

St Lucia is one of South Africa's best diving areas with some of the best coral reefs in the world. A more popular centre is Port Elizabeth where several sports are on offer, including sailing. This, too, is a good diving spot, especially during the South African winter months, May to September, when the water is clearer. The Aliwal coast, 32km of beaches on either side of Durban, was nominated by National Geographic magazine as one of the five best diving spots in the world. Several companies offer dives, including the Aliwal Dive Centre at Umkomaas, just south of the city. About an hour further dow the coast to the South lies Shelly Beach which is the main point of departure for free diving with sharks on the Protea Banks. A good time to be in the area is during June and July when the "Sardine Run" takes place.