| Cape Town beaches are
arguably the most spectacular beaches in the world.
From small, intimate rock pools to long expanses of
white sand and crashing waves, Cape Town has a beach
to suit everyone from sunbathers to surfers. Afton Grove
is ideally located for those wishing to explore this
collection of beautiful white sandy beaches and rocky
coves of both the cold Atlantic as well as the popular
swimming beaches on the warmer False Bay coastline.
The desire for white sand and blue ocean water, lying
on a beach with golden sunshine warming your body, eyes
closed, thoughts drifting to the sound of seagulls and
the caress of waves is the idyllic dream of many a holiday
maker. Finding a beach is not normally something most
vacationers find difficult, but finding the right beach
for your needs is sometimes trickier, so here are some
tips for your beach holiday from Afton Grove.
For long invigorating walks:
Noordhoek or Muizenberg beaches are the first choice.
Noordhoek Beach, is only a five minute drive from Afton
Grove country Retreat and has 8 km of unspoilt pristine
white sand and is also the resting place of the steamer
the Kakapo that ran aground in 1900.
Family beaches with a child friendly environment,
include:
Muizenberg for family friendly surfing and fun extras
like a waterslide and mini-golf putt-putt. St James
beach is characterized by the colourful beach houses
and a tidal pool which is ideal for kids. Fish Hoek
beach is the ultimate family friendly beach with a wide
swathe of sand for building sandcastles, gentle swell
for the kids to body board and swim and a playground.
Glencairn and Hout Bay are wonderfully safe swimming
beaches for the kids, with stretches of white sand to
play on or in. Boulders Beach was voted best family
beach in the world by the UK Telegraph in March 2007
which is hardly surprising considering the safe swimming,
beautiful setting amongst granite boulders and of course
the opportunity to swim with penguins. Llandudno with
it’s protected bay and granite boulders are fabulous
for hide and seek and Camp’s Bay is close to lots
of facilities.
For sunbathing and people watching:
Clifton is the main hub for local beach-bodies and various
activities of beach-bats, volleyball and Frisbee games.
Camps Bay is also popular for surf-skiers and volleyball
players and sun lizards to catch the suns rays before
joining the jet-set on the Camps Bay strip for cocktails.
Sandy Bay – a short walk from Llandudno near Hout
Bay is ideal for an all-over-bare-all tan.
Nature and wildlife experiences:
One can do Whale Watching from July – November from all
the beaches on the False Bay coastline, Schusters Bay
in Scarborough and Hout Bay Beach.
To view or swim with African Penguins, Boulders Beach
is the place to be.
Dolphins have been spotted along both coastlines with
close viewing sometimes possible from Camps Bay and
Clovelly.
If you are lucky you can spot the Cape Clawless Otter
on Kommetjie’s Long Beach.
The Cape Peninsula is a beloved year round birding
destination with a variety of exciting species and fynbos
endemics especially in in the Mountain fynbos which
abounds on the Peninsula. Or try a pelagic boat trip
from Simonstown to see up 20 plus sea bird species,
including albatross, shearwaters, storm petrels &
giant petrels.
Romantics will be seduced by the smaller hidden coves
that most drivers miss from the road. Hike down to Smitswinkel
bay just before the road turns towards the Cape of Good
Hope Nature Reserve entrance – a bay frequented
only by private residents or fisherman – the effort
is worth the privacy. Scarborough or Misty Cliffs on
the Atlantic Coastline are beautiful sandy beaches,
dotted with an occasional surfer or windsurfer. The
crowds seldom visit Windmill Beach or Fisherman’s
Beach on the southern end of Simon’s Town, both
as picturesque as the more famed Boulders Beach. Glen
Beach adjacent to Camps Bay is another secret gem that
is more secluded than its more famous neighbour.
There is no shortage of water based fun activities:
The Cape is a popular sea kayaking and surfski destination
with kayak trips from Simon’s Town and surfski
school at Fish Hoek or Hout Bay beaches.
Surfing abounds on all sides with Muizenberg ideal for
beginners and more experienced surfers can catch waves
at Dalebrook near Kalk Bay; Kommetjie, Scarborough,
Llandudno (famed for the Big Wave Challenge) and Glen
Beach near Camps Bay.
Boat trips leave from Hout Bay or Simon’s Town
and also leave from the V & A Waterfront. There
is a mixture of leisure cruises, harbour cruises, seal
island cruises, Cape Point cruises depending on your
needs and time allocation.
Fishing is vastly popular and you can book a deep sea
trip with an experienced skipper or get a permit for
angling off the shore. The predominant offshore fish
species are yellowfin tuna, longfin, mako and occasionally
dorado. Inshore there is yellowtail and cape snoek with
options for hooking cape salmon and kob.
Under the water, scuba diving in the Cape offers a fascinating
discovery of ghostly shipwrecks, huge kelp forests,
coral gardens and deep reefs but contact one of the
local professional dive operators for advice.
On land book a horse ride with your hosts on Noordhoek
beach. Gallop through the waves with a sense of unrequited
freedom or enjoy a quiet sunset ride whilst watching
the sun meet the horizon across the Atlantic.
False Bay Beaches:
1 Sunrise
2 Surfers corner
3 St. James
4 Danger Beach
5 Dalebrook
6 Kalk Bay
7 Woolleys Pool
8 Fish Hoek
9 Glencairn
10 Shelley Beach
11 Long Beach (Simonstown)
12 Sea Forth
13 Boulders
14 Windmill
15 Froggy Pond
16 Oatlands Point
17 Millers Point
18 Smitswinkels Bay
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve Beaches:
19 Buffels Bay
20 Diaz
21 Maclear
22 Platboom
23 Olifantsbos
Atlantic Coastline Beaches:
24 Scarborough
25 Misty Cliffs
26 Witsands
27 Soetwater
28 Kommetjie
29 Long Beach
30 Noordhoek
31 Hout Bay
32 Sandy Bay
33 Llandudno
34 Camps Bay
35 Glen beach
36 Maidens Cove
37 Clifton 1st Beach
38 Clifton 2nd Beach
39 Clifton 3rd Beach
40 Clifton 4th Beach
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