Top White Sand Beaches in South Africa
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.
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.
