The coastal suburbs of Cape Town have spectacular beaches. There are great stretches of clean, golden sand, and some of them go on for miles, with the ocean on one side, and towering mountains on the other. Cape Town has a beach for just about every beach related activity you can think of: swimming, surfing, horseback riding, sunbathing, taking long, romantic walks, or relaxing among unspoiled dunes without another person in sight for miles around.

Two Different Coasts

Because Cape Town is on a peninsula, its beaches are on two coasts. To the west is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the east is False Bay, an extension of the Indian Ocean. Though the two coasts are not all that far apart geographically their beaches are quite different. Cape Town’s Atlantic coast is rugged. The beaches are great for walking, sunbathing, and picnicking, but they are not very good for swimming, unless you’re the sort that likes a an icy dip. The water is cold, even at the height of summer. It is carried by a current that comes straight up from Antarctica, and rarely gets warmer than 15 degrees C. The beaches of False Bay have much warmer water and so are more attractive to swimmers. However, because of this, some if the beaches have been overdeveloped. The wind that comes in off the water all around the coast can be a problem, as it whips up the fine sand. In summer the beaches of False Bay are swept by the unpredictable and frequently vicious southeasterly winds.

The Young and the Beautiful

On the Atlantic coast, the closest beaches to downtown Cape Town are at Sea Point. The sea here is not suitable for swimming, and the area is not especially attractive. A little farther south you will find the fashionable resort community of Clifton. There is an anchorage here for the yachts of the moneyed set. There are four small, sandy, sheltered beaches that are very popular with the young and the beautiful. It is safe to swim here, but the water is extremely cold. Parking is a problem, especially in the busy summer season. Your best bet is to take a bus from downtown Cape Town

Some Fantastic Views

About a mile south of Clifton is Camps Bay, which is a fashionable residential suburb. It offers some fantastic views of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles, two of the iconic geographical features associated with Cape Town. There is a broad beach here that is very popular with families. There are also a lot of restaurants that serve good food at reasonable prices. At Llandudno, twenty kilometres south of Cape Town, there is a beautiful sheltered cove. This is a great place for sunbathing and taking walks, but the surf is deadly. A twenty-minute walk takes you to Sandy Bay, the main nudist beach for Cape Town.

For Good Swimming

The beaches at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve are generally not good for swimming, though there are some tidal pools that are safe. Smitswinkelbaai is a great beach for swimming, but is accessible only by means of a long stairway. The most popular beach for people from Cape Town is Boulders Beach on False Bay. The water is warm and crystal clear, the big boulders look impressive, but the real draw is the colony of African penguins that resides here. The birds love to get out and swim with the people. Irresistible!

Author Bio: Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made Cape Town holidays, as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Cape Town