Best Family Beaches in South Africa

Stretching almost 15 kilometers, this beautiful coastline offers white sand and turquoise waters. There’s a plethora of activities to enjoy under the sun like volleyball, long walks, sunbathing, and picnics. Also known as “Surfer’s Corner,” Muizenberg Beach is renowned for its massive waves and great surfing conditions for surfers of any skill level. You’ll also find many beachgoers enjoying the waves to bodyboard, swim, kitesurf, and snorkel. If you want a break from the sand, check out the nearby Muizenberg Pavilion that offers water slides, a swimming pool, and a mini-golf course.

If you’re looking to start your morning off right, enjoy a casual breakfast at Hang Ten Café, a typical surfer’s hangout famous for its breakfast crepes. You can also hang out with the locals at Blue Bird Garage Market on Fridays from 4 pm to 10 pm. This unique market is located in an old postal hanger and offers a collection of fresh food, handcrafted jewelry, and clothes from local vendors. For a lively night out, visit the The Brass Bell for a pub-style bar experience where you can sing your heart out with the locals during karaoke night on Wednesdays.

Located in the affluent suburb of Camps Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, Camps Bay Beach is a one-kilometer-long and 100-meter-wide white sand beach with many rocky portions, making it one of the largest beaches in Camps Bay.  The beach has a stunning backdrop of the Twelve Apostles Mountain range, the majestic Table Mountain, and a promenade with many oceanfront buildings, including upscale restaurants, beach bars, nightclubs, and opulent hotels, providing incredible views of the vast Atlantic Ocean.  Camps Bay Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag certification for its natural beauty, cleanliness, and water quality standards.

Located near Simon’s Town on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town, South Africa, Boulders Beach - also known as Boulders Bay - is a small white sand beach with unique granite rock formations. The beach is part of the well-known Table Mountain National Park and is adjacent to Foxy Beach. It has a spectacular backdrop of gigantic granite boulders, dunes, coastal vegetation, and many oceanfront buildings, which together add allure to its beauty.  

Boulders Beach is immensely popular for its resident colony of African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus), protected under the Cape Nature Conservation Program. Boulders Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by UK-based financial website Money.co.uk and ranked 12th best beach by Big 7 Travel, and it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The beach is one of the few places in the world where you can observe these endangered birds up close in their natural habitat. The penguin colony at Boulders Beach started in 1982 with just two breeding pairs. Today, it has grown to over 3,000 birds, making it a major tourist attraction in Cape Town and drawing a large influx of visitors. The beach has elevated boardwalks that allow visitors to observe the penguins without disturbing their habitat. In addition, the beach is a site for educational programs and conservation efforts to protect penguins and their environment. Also, conservationists have installed artificial nest boxes to provide safe nesting sites for the penguins, helping to boost their breeding success. Despite being in a protected area, the Boulders Beach penguins face threats from natural predators, human disturbance, and environmental changes.

During summer months, Umhlanga Beach is extremely lively and will have limited space in nearby parking lots, so be sure to plan ahead. The weather at Umhlanga Beach is usually comfortable and warm regardless of when you are traveling. In the winter, sea temperatures are usually around 20°C while in the summer the water can get as high as 25°C.

The warm, calm waters and lifeguards make the beach safe for swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, and snorkeling. Umhlanga Beach is also known for its long stretches of golden sand and the famous red and white lighthouse. The Umhlanga Lighthouse, that's used to warn passing boats of the treacherous seas and welcome newcomers into the Port of Durban, is located in the center of the main beach and is a popular photo-op for many visitors. On the shore beachgoers can sunbathe, play volleyball, and explore small tide pools. A paved walkway lines the entire shoreline and provides easy access to the beach – and it’s the perfect place to go on a long walk.

The town of Umhlanga is home to many delicious restaurants just a short walk from the beach. If you want to enjoy fine dining with the locals, check out The Grill Room that’s located inside The Oyster Box Hotel. If you’re looking for a perfect way to relax after a long beach day go to Elements Café Bar, a chic restaurant famous for their strawberry daiquiris. This restaurant is located in the Beverly Hills Hotel Uhmlanga Rocks – one of Umhlanga’s most popular beachfront hotels. For family-friendly accommodations, check out the Cabana Beach Resort to experience large apartment-style rooms at a relaxing seaside oasis.

With golden sand and warm waters, Hobie Beach creates the perfect atmosphere for you to spend your day under the sun. Hobie Beach is most recognized for its scuba diving and snorkeling throughout its rock pools, vibrant coral reefs, and old shipwrecks. The on-site lifeguards make it a great place for family-friendly swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking. During low tide, there are sheltered tide pools that are exciting areas to explore.

Hobie Beach is also home to Shark Rock Pier, the only pier in Nelson Mandela Bay. This famous pier extends 150 yards into the sea and is the launching spot for jet skis, sailing catamarans, and kitesurfers. It is also the venue for the Splash Festival in March and April that showcases beach volleyball, kitesurfing, and windsurfing.

The Hobie Beach Boardwalk offers many delicious sidewalk restaurants and bars for your quick afternoon bite, romantic date, or a fun night out. The Boardwalk Casino is also a premier luxury hotel with unique entertainment, fine dining, and conference venues. For quainter accommodations, just a short walk from the pier, check out The Beach Hotel. This hotel is also home to the fine dining restaurant Ginger, which is famous for its entrees of South African game.

The waters at Llandudno Beach tend to be cold with slightly rough currents due to mild winds. Surfers are recommended to wear wetsuits while beginner swimmers should stay in the shallow areas. Llandudno Beach is only accessible through a residential neighborhood where parking is available on local side streets. These spots fill up quickly so make sure to plan ahead and get there early. You’ll often run into photoshoots on the beach as this is a popular spot for photographers and models, especially during sunset.

Llandudno Beach is the perfect place for sunbathing, picnics, and sand sports. Since this quiet neighborhood lacks tourist amenities, including public restrooms, make sure to come prepared with all your necessary items such as food, sunscreen, and towels. Hout Bay is only a 10-minute drive from Llandudno Beach and is the closest town to offer nearby shops, restaurants, and accommodations. If you're seeking a different experience, take a short walk along the water of Llandudno Beach to find Sandy Bay Beach, also known as Cape Town's official nude beach.

Located on the north Elephant Coast of KwaZulu-Natal inside the Sodwana Bay National Park, Sodwana Bay Beach offers a secluded atmosphere and warm weather year-around. An entry fee is required to enter the national park to gain access to the beach but tickets are only R 35 for adults and R 30 for children. Once inside the park, cars are allowed to drive and park on the sand.

The warm water makes for great swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, snorkeling, and bodyboarding. Sodwana Bay Beach is a very popular recreational diving destination because of its clear water, tropical coral reefs, and various species of marine life. Dive boats launch every day to take divers to the outlying reefs to experience this magnificent underwater treasure – we recommend Triton Diving, one of the most used diving companies in Sodwana Bay. Deep-sea charters are also available for avid fishermen. If you’re visiting Sodwana Bay Beach from November to February be sure to check out the annual Turtle Tours where you can watch sea turtles nest on the shore.

If you get hungry, the main town of Sodwana Bay is only a 10-minute drive from the beach and has many delicious restaurants. We like Mseni, a casual restaurant that offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and delicious cocktails. Another option is The Lighthouse Restauraunt, a family-friendly restaurant in the heart of Sodwana Bay with a full bar and outdoor seating. Tree Pub & Kitchen is another highly-rated restaurant with an indoor pool table and some of the best burgers in town.

If you’re looking for a place to stay check out the Vis-Agie Resort, a large property that has self-catering houses, rustic wooden cabins, a swimming pool, and an on-site restaurant. Another option is the Sodwana Bay Lodge, a diving and fishing resort that offers luxury wooden thatched chalets and a wide range of activities, like whale watching tours. We also like Triton Dive Lodge that has spacious cabins, an on-site restaurant, and a communal barbecue area.

Coffee Bay is one of South Africa's leading beach destinations, with majestic cliffs, white sands, and rolling sea. This beach has one of the most dramatic coastlines in the world, making it a highly sought-after destination for photographers and vacationers alike.

The beach is especially popular among backpackers, as the views from the hiking trails are incredible, and Freedom O Clock Backpackers Retreat offers luxury camping accommodations. Located along the Mdumbi River in Mngcibe, this rustic, family-run destination rents out many types of rooms and camping spaces along the beach. One of the most impressive hiking trails is one that leads from Coffee Shop Backpackers to the Hole in the Wall, a massive rock with a giant hole carved through its center; the hike is a scenic route that passes by the Hlungwane Waterfall and spectacular coastline.

Horseback riding, surfing, and snorkeling are also available at Coffee Bay. Fishermen absolutely love this beach from May to July, when thousands of sardines frequent the waters, attracting many other fish species as well. Coffee Bay also attracts many surfers, as it is known for its consistent waves; there are lessons available, taught by local professionals. The southern tip of the beach is the best spot for snorkeling, where colorful reefs and clear waters await. Looking for a beach snack? Coffee Bay surprisingly doesn’t have much caffeine in the area, but the delicious Papazela’s Pizza might have something you’ll like. Overall, Coffee Bay is one of South Africa's most prized possessions, and with so much beauty and nature, it's not hard to see why.