Africa's Top 50+ Beaches

  • 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 »

  • Anse Volbert // Seychelles

    Anse Volbert
    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 »

  • Grande Anse // Seychelles

    Grande Anse
    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 »

  • Watamu Beach // Kenya

    Watamu Beach
    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 »

  • Milnerton Beach // South Africa

    Milnerton Beach
    © 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 »

  • Muizenberg // South Africa

    Muizenberg

    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 »

  • Sandy Bay // South Africa

    Sandy Bay
    © 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 »

  • 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 »

  • Umhlanga // South Africa

    Umhlanga

    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 »

  • Seaforth Beach // South Africa

    Seaforth Beach
    © Kostas Limitsios / CC BY

    Though narrow, at 600 metres long Seaforth Beach in the Simons Town suburb of Cape Town has one spectacular surprise for the unprepared – penguins. Best witnessed in the early morning just after sunrise and in the early evening at sunset, African penguins waddle happily along the sands of Seaforth Beach from their better-known colony at nearby Boulders Beach.

    However,… read more »

  • St James Beach // South Africa

    St James Beach
    © Lennon Fletcher / CC BY

    The Cape Town suburb of St James is located on the western side of False Bay, at the base of the Cape Peninsula. The name relates to the Roman Catholic churhc of St James which was built here in the 19th century for the Filipino fishermen who worked from adjoining Kalk Bay. With the coming of the railway the area… read more »

  • Anse Forbans // Seychelles

    Anse Forbans
    Marco Zanferrari

    Anse Forbans is located on the quieter southeast coast of Mahe. It is a wide bay with shallow, clear, calm waters that form a lagoon between the coral reef off the shore. The oversized granite boulders on the shore make this beach feel secluded and private, and it is generally safe for swimming.

    You can snorkel in the pristine turquoise waters… read more »