Bloubergstrand (Big Bay)

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 Table Mountain which can clearly be seen across Table Bay. As with much of the Western Cape The water is cool, but you can enjoy walking on the miles of bleached white sand and taking in the breathtaking scenery along the beach. When the winds allow (as they often do) Bloubergstrand is a favourite spot for kite flying as well as kite surfing and wind surfing.

A few miles off the coast of Bloubergstrand is the infamous Robben Island which for many years was a high security prison. It was here that former president and political activist Nelson Mandela spent much of his 27 years in jail. Today the island is both a wildlife reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its historic significance.

There are many sights away from the beach, so you can have a full holiday when you visit this area. Play golf with the bay and mountains in the background, or take a trip to the Botanical Gardens on Intaka Island nearby.

If you enjoy hiking, there are several nature trails to choose from, but the beach also provides incredible views and white washed sand. The kids will enjoy seeing the kites fly through the air as kite-surfers take acrobatic leaps as they glide through the ocean. This beach is incredible and offers some of the most amazing views in the world.