Best Beaches to escape to in South Africa

CCoffee Bay, Eastern Cape

Found in the heart of South Africa's Wild Coast, the small seaside village of Coffee Bay offers pristine swimming beaches, bars, excellent fishing and breath-taking scenery for walks along the area's rugged coastline. Coffee Bay is the perfect destination for holiday-makers wanting to trade in city life for a laid-back beach experience in one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa. With the popular hole in the wall, which is excellent for bird watching, nature walks and hiking trails, this truly is the perfect beach for a relaxing holiday. 

Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay

Situated in a sheltered cove and surrounded by the Hottentot Holland mountain range, Bikini Beach is an excellent swimming spot with water which is usually warm, calm and clear. The beach is only a short drive from the city and is one of Cape Town’s six Blue Flag Beaches, meaning it has high water quality with good facilities, cleanliness and safety. It also boasts fantastic views as the entire False Bay curves from Gordon's Bay to Cape Point. Bikini Beach also offers quirky shopping for those who are looking to do some retail therapy whilst on holiday.

Umhlanga Beach, Durban

Umhlanga has been a popular destination for many South Africans and tourists for years. With the warm Indian Ocean perfect for swimmers and the golden sands supplying the perfect backdrop for relaxing, it’s easy to see why. It is a cosmopolitan holiday destination with a vibrant nightlife that offers a variety of trendy restaurants, cafes and bars. There are also vast accommodation options ranging from boutique hotels to self-catering beach cottages and luxurious villas for the holiday maker wanting a stylish beach holiday.

BBallito, Durban

Ballito is a vibrant holiday town located a few kilometres north of Durban. Willard Beach is the town's best swimming and surfing beach, which has earned Blue Flag status. Ballito's famous promenade begins at Willard Beach and goes around the coastline, towards Salmon Bay. It is a swimming area perfect for families, with lifeguards that are available seven days a week, offshore shark nets and a first aid station. If you are looking to do some hiking, there is a hiking trail that extends off the promenade and takes you to Shaka's Rock. Ballito is perfect for holidaymakers wanting to experience the best of both worlds.

Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town

The most popular Indian Ocean beach in Cape Town, Muizenberg beach is a few degrees warmer than the rest of the Atlantic beaches in Cape Town, due to the Indian Ocean current. This makes it bearable for swimming and makes it one of the most surfed beaches in South Africa. It also boasts the popular colourful beach houses, which have become a favourite backdrop for selfies and photographs. It is also popular with families coming to enjoy picnics together and for people to walk their dogs on the long stretch of the beach.

Hobie beach, Port Elizabeth

The popular Hobie Beach is found in the vicinity of Shark Rock Pier and the Boardwalk of Port Elizabeth. It is a favourite for swimming, sunbathing and body surfing. It also offers sheltered rock pools with interesting sea life to watch. Other facilities include plenty of restaurants, a launching place for sailing, and rubber ducking. It is also the venue for the annual Splash Festival, which features beach volleyball and world boardsailing championships.