The best beach in each province: Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KZN

We all have a favourite. As South Africans, our beaches hold a special place in our hearts and we make the most of the vast array of sandy spots that dot our unique coastline. Each province is so different, too. KwaZulu-Natal is the golden girl with its year-round sunshine, warm temperatures and warm water.

But then again, no water is too cold for a true Capetonian surfer, or even the very brave swimmers who dip in the icy waters on a daily. Let’s not forget the Eastern Cape, with wild, jaw-dropping scenery from beginning to end.

Well, we asked those who eat, sleep and breathe ocean air for their best-loved beach in each province, and here are the seaside destinations that were mentioned the most.

Western Cape

Swartvlei Beach. Credit: @visitsedgefield

– Swartvlei Beach, Sedgefield

– Buffalo Bay, Knysna

– Barrel’s Beach, Noordhoek

– The Wreck, Plettenberg Bay

– Victoria Bay, Garden Route

– Kommetjie, Cape Town

– Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay

– Muizenberg, Cape Town

– Diaz Beach, Cape Point

– Camp Bay, Cape Town

Our pick

Swartvlei Beach, Sedgefield. Situated near the popular Swartvlei Caravan Park, this beach starts at the river mouth and runs to Gerickes Point. This is a lovely family-friendly beach, great for swimming and surfing.  Keep an eye out for southern right whales between June and October, or the beautiful bottlenose dolphins often swimming past.

Eastern Cape

Cape St Francis

– Mazeppa Bay

– Haga haga

– Nahoon Beach, East London

– Cape St Francis

– Cannon Rocks

– Humewood beach, Gqeberha

– East Beach, Port Alfred

– Shelley Bay, Kenton on Sea

Our pick

Cape St Francis. This seaside village is a must-see town that draws holidaymakers with its pristine beaches and surfable waves. The scenery is spectacular and is home to the Seal Point Lighthouse. Here, the Irma Booysen Floral Reserve boasts hundreds of species of fauna and flora.

KwaZulu-Natal

Cape Vidal. Credit: Steven Gerner/ Flickr Commons

– Cape Vidal, St Lucia

– Jabula Beach, St Lucia

– Ramsgate

– Ballito

– Umzumbe

– Umdloti Beach, Umhlanga

– Sodwana Bay

– Addington Beach, Durban

Our pick

Cape Vidal, St Lucia. Situated in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park within the St Lucia Marine Reserve, this area is teeming with wildlife.  Humpback whales can be spotted during the winter months, and loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles nest on the beach from November to February. There is also a shipwreck where the “Dorothea” stranded after it struck the reef during a storm in 1898.

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