The Western Cape is famous for it wide, white sandy beaches. Clifton, Llandudno and Camps Bay are sheltered from the South-East wind (the prevailing summer wind) and are perfect for soaking up the sun. Dolphin Beach in Tableview is jam-packed with Kite-surfers in summer, while Sunset Beach is windsurfer territory. Penguins have made Boulders Beach at Simonstown and Betty's Bay their homes. Surfers enjoy Long Beach, Muizenberg, Jeffrey's Bay and just about everywhere. The cold Atlantic Ocean sweeps the west coast, while the warmer Indian Ocean skirts the Western Cape's southern beaches. As you travel east from Cape Point, the sea temperature gradually warms up. You'll notice not just beach, but many Cape Town apartments have been built specifically to gain views of the sea.
Cape Town boasts 40 surf-breaks within an hour's drive. Muizenberg is great for beginners, Glen Beach & Llandudno are popular, experienced surfers go to Outer Kom, and lunatics go to Dungeons in Hout Bay. Further up the Garden route is the famous Jeffrey's Bay with its perfect waves. Popular spots for kite-surfing are Langebaan (an hour's drive from Cape Town up the west coast), Melkbos and Dolphin Beach.
Cold-water Atlantic beaches |
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Melkbos / Melkbosstrand |
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Bloubergstrand |
Postcard-perfect view of Table Mountain. Island which you can walk to at low tide. |
Table View |
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Dolphin beach |
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Sunset Beach |
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Milnerton |
A lagoon mouth, lighthouse and lots of white sand. |
Sea Point |
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Saunders' Rocks |
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Clifton 1 |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Clifton 2 |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Clifton 3 |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Clifton 4 |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Maiden's Cove |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Glen Beach |
Sheltered from the south-easter.Great for surfing. |
Camps Bay |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Bakoven |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Llandudno |
Sheltered from the south-easter. |
Sandy Bay |
Sheltered from the south-easter. For nude sunbathing. People have been attacked on the trail there, don't go alone. |
Hout Bay |
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Noordhoek Beach |
Perfect for horseback riding. |
Long Beach, Kommetjie |
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The Kom, Kommetjie |
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Witsand |
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Scarborough |
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Misty Cliffs |
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Soetwater, Slangkop |
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Witsands |
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Scarborough |
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Olifantsbospunt, Cape Point |
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Diaz Beach, Cape Point / Maclear's Beach. |
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False Bay beaches (about 5° warmer water than the west coast) |
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Buffels Bay, Cape Point |
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Bordjiesdrift, Cape Point |
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Smitswinkel Bay |
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Millers Point, Simon’s Town |
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Frank’s Beach, Simon’s Town |
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Windmill Beach, Simon’s Town |
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Foxy Beach, Simon’s Town |
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Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town |
Penguin sanctuary. |
Seaforth Beach, Simon’s Town |
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Long Beach, Simon’s Town |
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Glencairn Beach |
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Fish Hoek Main Beach |
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Clovelly Corner |
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Kalk Bay Beach |
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Danger Beach, St James |
Has a tidal pool. |
Muizenberg Beach |
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Monwabisi |
Monwabisi beach is near Khayelitsha. "Monwabisi" is an isiXhosa word meaning "bringing joy". It has the biggest man-made swimming-pool in the southern hemisphere. The beach is known to be a dangerous bathing area. On New Years' Day and Boxing Day it is not uncommon for there to be 30,000 people on the beach. |
Strand |
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Bikini beach (Gordons Bay) |
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