Africa's Top 50+ Beaches
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Noordhoek // South Africa
© 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 »
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Anse Georgette // Seychelles
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 »
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Paternoster beach // South Africa
© 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 »
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Bloubergstrand // South Africa
© 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 »
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Anse Major // Seychelles
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 »
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Anse Takamaka // Seychelles
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 »
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Anse Beau Vallon // Seychelles
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 »
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Anse Volbert // Seychelles
Daria Anse Volbert Beach is the most popular beach on Praslin, and for good reason. This is yet another Seychellois archetypal tropical gem; the sand is pure white, the water is clear and turquoise, and the backdrop of palm trees provides plenty of shade and completes the paradise feel.
But Anse Volbert has more to offer than just relaxing in these idylic… read more »
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Grande Anse // Seychelles
dronepicr Grande Anse is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Seychelles island of La Digue. Not to be confused with Grande l'Anse beach, it is also a beautiful stretch of powder white sand bookmarked by headlands of large granite boulders, and the waters are the same stunning turquoise blue. There are not many visitors here as it is… read more »
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Watamu Beach // Kenya
Jenny Kellett Particularly popular with high-end Italian travellers, Watamu Beach is one of the best places to sample genuine Italian gelato in Africa.
Stretching from the mouth of Mida Creek to the centre of Watamu town, the beach's white sand attracts not only those seeking out a tropical paradise but also endangered sea turtles, who routinely nest on the beach.
In fact, the range… read more »
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Umhlanga // South Africa
Set on KwaZulu-Natal's Sugar Coast, just north of Durban is the buzzing resort town of Umhlanga. With the golden sand of the beach meeting the warm waters of the Indian Ocean it is little wonder the beachfront here has become home to a number of luxury hotels and apartments. Some of these actually predate the resort; the Oyster Box, a… read more »
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Milnerton Beach // South Africa
© Milnerton Beach / CC BY You can find Milnerton Beach around 11 kilometres or 20 minutes from the centre of Cape Town in the area known as Blaauwberg. While drawing visitors from right across the region as a result of its fantastic views of Table Mountain, its delightful white sands actually remain something of an open secret.
Patrolled by lifeguards during the peak December season, the… read more »
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Muizenberg // South Africa
Sitting at the western end of the huge curve of sand that make up False Bay, Muizenberg is rightfully one of Cape Town's best known beaches. The beach is around 200 metres of soft white sand which backs onto the laid back seaside town of Muizenberg.
The sandy stretch which forms the northern shore of False bay itself goes on… read more »
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Sandy Bay // South Africa
© Gary Bembridge / CC BY One of Cape Town's most inacessible beaches it is not entirely surprising that Sandy Bay is also Cape Town's only recognised naturist beach (although it is still unofficial). The beach is located just around the corner from upmarket Llandudno at the base of the rugged peaks of the Twelve Apostles mountains.
Like neighbouring Llandudno, Sandy Bay is a pretty stretch… read more »
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Jeffreys Bay // South Africa
© 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 »
