What to see
Beaches in South Africa: what there is and when to go
Sandy beaches, coves, reefs you can swim at, Blue Flag beaches and surf spots: the places you go to get into the water. This site lists 6 such places in South Africa, 5 of them with a Wikipedia article; the best known is Boulders Beach. The best time for this in South Africa is December to March, and it is also possible April and October to November. Each place has its own season, which is not the country's: a high mountain hut and a valley in the same country are not open in the same months.
In a nutshell
- What this is
- The places in South Africa people go to for beaches, each with its own season.
- How many
- 6 on this page, 5 with a Wikipedia article; you get them all on your trip map.
- Best known
- Boulders Beach — beach in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Best time
- December to March.
- Also possible
- April and October to November.
- Where they cluster
- Cape Town (3).
- Ways in
- JNB Johannesburg · CPT Cape Town · DUR Durban · PLZ Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
What counts as beaches
Sandy beaches, coves, reefs you can swim at, Blue Flag beaches and surf spots: the places you go to get into the water. A matter of heat: June to September in the north, the other way round in the south, and all year in the tropics outside the rains.
Each place is included because of how its source describes it, not because of what anyone says about it: that is why a castle that is now a museum appears under history and museums at the same time. Of these 6, 1 also counts as diving.
When to go
For beaches in South Africa, the best time is December to March, and it is also possible April and October to November.
- JanBest time14:02
- FebBest time13:13
- MarBest time12:15
- AprPossible11:09
- MayBetter not10:14
- JunBetter not9:45
- JulBetter not9:57
- AugBetter not10:44
- SepBetter not11:48
- OctPossible12:52
- NovPossible13:48
- DecBest time14:15
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In December there are 14 h 15 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 45. Daylight hours are those at the average latitude of these places, on the 15th of each month.
Counting place by place, in January 6 of the 6 are at their best, and in April, 0.
When to visit South Africa in general, with its festivals and high seasons, is on its page.
The best known
Ranked by how many Wikipedia editions have an article on them, which is the closest thing to measuring fame without asking anyone.
- Boulders Beach — beach in Cape Town, South Africa (15 Wikipedias)
- Glen Beach — beach on the west coast of Cape Town, South Africa (4 Wikipedias)
- Sandy Bay, Cape Town — beach near Cape Town (4 Wikipedias)
- Santosstrand — Beach (2 Wikipedias)
- East Beach — Beach (1 Wikipedia)
What there is
Each one has its own page: what it is, where it lies, its altitude, its daylight hours and which months are worth it. Most of them are in Cape Town (3). Open whichever you like and have a look before you decide on the trip.
More in South Africa
Everything else listed for South Africa, with how many places of each kind: Nature (780) · Mountains (533) · Hiking (27) · History (84) · Museums and art (151) · Architecture (35) · Temples (64) · Food and drink (202) · With kids (43) · Wildlife (224) · Stargazing (16).
And if you are looking at it the other way round —I know when I can go, tell me where— that is where to travel.
Frequently asked questions
When should I go to South Africa for beaches?
December to March, and it is also possible April and October to November. Each place above also gives its own, which changes with altitude: at three thousand metres the season is not the same as in the valley. In December there are 14 h 15 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 45.
What is the best-known place for beaches in South Africa?
Boulders Beach — beach in Cape Town, South Africa, with an article in 15 Wikipedias. After it, Glen Beach and Sandy Bay, Cape Town.
Where in South Africa are most of the places for beaches?
Of the 6 on this site, they cluster most in Cape Town (3).
How do I add this to a trip?
Create a trip to South Africa and you get them all on the map, with their category. The ones you like go into a day of the plan with one tap, and the app lets you know when you pass nearby.
I don't know where to go yet
That is what Find a trip is for: tick what you feel like and the months you can travel, and it suggests destinations among the 105 countries in Kokai, with the places that fit those dates.
Keep reading
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
- DestinationsVisas, vaccines, plugs, currency, when to go and how to get around, country by country: 105 destinations and 855 things to sort before you leave.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from latitude. More in credits.