Africa's Top 50+ Beaches

  • Coffee Bay // South Africa

    Coffee Bay
    © matejh

    Coffee Bay is situated on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape and the beach's name in a way reflects this. The story goes that in 1893 a ship carrying coffee beans was driven ashore here during a storm. Somehow a fair few of these beans managed to take root and so the bay was named. Unfortunately you'll be wasting… read more »

  • Boulders Beach // South Africa

    Boulders Beach

    Situated on the western side of Cape Town's False Bay is the delightful sheltered cove of Boulders Beach. Crystal clear water meets soft white sand in a series of little "covelets" between enormous, weather worn granite boulders which date back half a billion years.

    Boulders is undoubtedly one of Cape Town's finest beaches, but that isn't why it is also… read more »

  • Llandudno Beach // South Africa

    Llandudno Beach
    © Gorillabutter / CC BY

    Set between Hout Bay and Camps Bay on Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard, Llandudno Beach is only about 15 minutes from the city centre. Unsurprisingly, this is one of Cape Town's most popular beaches and is a particular favourite with families.

    The pretty little crescent of white sand that forms Llandudno beach is flanked by giant, weather-worn boulders. To the rear of… read more »

  • Durban North Beach // South Africa

    Durban North Beach
    © Michael Jung

    Set to the North of the harbour (hence the North bit) running from the Bay of Plenty and Dairy Beach is Durban's North Beach. The beach sits at the heart of the much redeveloped Durban beach-front which is aptly named "Golden Mile" or "Durbs by the sea" as some locals call it. Development of the Golden Mile began back in… read more »

  • Petite Anse // Seychelles

    Petite Anse
    Fabio Achilli

    Petite Anse is a peaceful bay that allows for relaxing in the sun and swimming in crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean. You will see time-worn granite boulders jutting out of the water, and the beach is surrounded by a beautiful verdant tropical forest. The sand here is powder soft and white - this is somewhere enjoy taking a break… read more »

  • Hobie Beach // South Africa

    Hobie Beach
    © Michael Jung

    Port Elizabeth's Hobie beach is considered one of the best on the so-called "Sunshine Coast", which sounds like a glowing endorsement to me! Apparently, along with mild winters, there are more sunny days over this way than anywhere else in South Africa.
    Whilst Hobie beach doesn't have the Blue Flag award some of its neighbours do, it has everything else… read more »

  • Noordhoek // South Africa

    Noordhoek
    © Andrew massyn

    Located at the foot of Chapman's Peak at the base of the Cape Peninsula are the expansive sands of Noordhoek beach. This picturesque stretch of sand runs for eight kilometre (5 mile) between the suburb of Noordhoek towards Kommetjie lighthouse.

    Given its wide, open and exposed nature it is often quite breezy at Noordhoek. This makes it a good spot for… read more »

  • Jeffreys Bay // South Africa

    Jeffreys Bay
    © Julien Carnot / CC BY

    Jeffreys Bay, in the Eastern Cape Province sits a short distance from the most southerly point along this coast at Cape St Francis. The vast golden sand beach here runs for miles along the warm, emerald waters of the Indian Ocean.

    There is so much to do, as Jeffreys Bay is one of the world's most famous (and best) surfing… read more »

  • Anse Georgette // Seychelles

    Anse Georgette
    Didi0032

    Beautifully positioned in a secluded cove on the north western tip of Praslin is the beach of Anse Georgette. A heaven for sunseekers with soft white coral sands backed by tropical palm forest complete with tropical birds nesting in the trees. 

    Given this is the Seychelles it is pretty difficult to choose any one particular beach as being better. However, Anse… read more »

  • Paternoster beach // South Africa

    Paternoster beach
    © Adele Van Schalkwyk

    Paternoster is a small, laid back fishing village within a stones throw (well, 150km) of Cape Town. With its attractive cluster of whitewashed cottages and long sweep of pristine sand it is little surprise this is a popular weekend getaway spot for Capetonians. If you are a fan of seafood and like long walks on white sand beaches, watching the… read more »

  • Bloubergstrand // South Africa

    Bloubergstrand
    © SkyPixels / CC BY

    Bloubergstrand is a suburb of on the northern fringes of Cape Town. Its meaning is literally "Blue Mountain Beach", which is owed to the fact that in the middle of the day, the rising oil on the eucalyptus leaves refracts the sun and makes the haze look blue from a distance.

    The "mountain" part refers to Cape Town's iconic… read more »

  • Scarborough // South Africa

    Scarborough
    © SkyPixels / CC BY

    Sitting on Cape Town's exposed Atlantic Seaboard, at the base of the long finger-like peninsula which extends to the Cape of Good Hope, is the little beachside village of Scarborough. Despite being only a short drive from the city the beach here feels pretty wild and sits on the edge of the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The large swathe of… read more »

  • Anse Major // Seychelles

    Anse Major
    Njohn5188

    Once you get to Anse Major, it is a beautiful secluded beach with everything you would expect from a Seychellois beach; white sands and turquoise waters, surrounded by palm trees and other lush green vegetation. The waters can be a little choppy, but they are refreshing and welcoming, especially after you have braved the hike to the beach.

    Probably the… read more »

  • Anse Takamaka // Seychelles

    Anse Takamaka
    Jean-Marie Hullot

    Anse Takamaka gets its name from the rich green takamaka trees that form a backdrop to this smooth white sand beach. One of the best beaches on Mahe Island, this beach is not to be confused with the other Takamaka beach on neighbouring Praslin Island. The beach here is slopes gently into the clear shallow waters of the Indian Ocean… read more »

  • Anse Beau Vallon // Seychelles

    Anse Beau Vallon
    Jean-Marie Hullot

    Anse Beau Vallon is one of the most popular beaches in Mahe and it isn't difficult to see why. The beach is a long crescent of sand backed by by shady palm trees and takamaka trees. The sand on the beach is near pure white and smooth, and there are boulders dotted throughout the beautiful landscape. The waters are a… read more »