Alkantstrand

The main beach in Richards Bay, a city that provides a gateway into the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Alkantstrand is made up of idyllic white sand between the blues of the Indian Ocean and lush greens of the region’s verdant subtropical flora.

With a name translating from Afrikaans as “both sides of the beach”, from the way the warm ocean currents seem to wrap around bathers on the sands, Alkantstrand’s cleanliness and quality of facilities show themselves in the award of an internationally recognised Blue Flag.

As well as the soft sand, there is also a grassy area that’s perfect for a picnic, and comes with public braai (barbeque) sites. Among the waves, watched over by lifeguards, visitors can opt between swimming, canoeing, kayaking and surfing, with Alkantstrand having such a pedigree in the latter it has previously hosted the South African Surf Championships.