Best beaches in South Africa

Coastal Wonders & Iconic Beaches

This collection spans South Africa’s diverse shoreline, from the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach to the dramatic cliffs of Cape Point. It highlights the Garden Route’s rugged beauty in Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park and the surfing hub of Muizenberg Beach. Notable landmarks include the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse at Africa’s southernmost tip and the secluded shores of Cape Vidal within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. These sites offer a mix of historic maritime structures, marine biodiversity, and unique geological formations across the Cape Peninsula and beyond.

Coastal Wonders & Iconic Beaches — Map

Charlesjsharp / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated.

Bernhard Hecker / CC BY-SA 2.0 de

B

Cape Point

Cape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about…

Daniel Case / CC BY 2.0

C

Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park

The Tsitsikamma National Park is a protected area on the Garden Route, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Kay / CC BY 2.5

D

Hout Bay

Hout Bay is a seaside suburb of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Lucag / CC BY-SA 2.5

E

Muizenberg Beach

Muizenberg is a beach-side town in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is situated where the shore of the Cape Peninsula curves round to the…

Dewet / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

Situated at the southernmost tip of Africa, this 1848 structure is the second oldest working lighthouse in South Africa. Its design was inspired by the Pharos of Alexandria and it contains a museum detailing the region's maritime history.

albpretto / CC-BY-SA

G

Cape Vidal

Located within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, this coastal area features high sand dunes and sheltered snorkeling spots. It serves as a gateway to the diverse marine ecosystems of the St. Lucia marine reserve.

Marcus / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Victoria Bay

Victoria Bay is a small cove in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is situated on the Garden Route between George and Wilderness.

SkyPixels / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Scarborough Beach

This quiet and secluded beach is a perfect place to find some peace within yourself and enjoy the view and the sound of waves.

Marcus / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Robberg Beach

This Blue Flag beach in Plettenberg Bay extends several kilometers toward the Robberg Nature Reserve. It is characterized by its wide sandy shoreline and views of the peninsula’s quartzite cliffs and prehistoric caves.

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