Whether you love long, deserted walks or paddling in rock pools with bucket in hand, sunbathing with the stunning people of the world on the Atlantic Seaboard or strolling along the catwalk with ice-cream in hand, there''s sure to be a beautiful beach listed here that''s got your name written in the sand.
Sara Essop
Best Beach: Boulders Beach, Cape Town
As a mother with young kids, our favourite beach in Southern Africa is Boulders Beach in Cape Town. It is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, which is one of South Africa’s World Heritage Sites. It is also home to a large colony of endangered African penguins. The sand is softer and the water is slightly warmer here. My kids love it because they can swim with the penguins. I love it because I know they’re safe and having fun and I can curl up with a good book against a boulder and enjoy the beautiful views across False Bay.
Follow Sara on Instagram @inafricaandbeyond or read her blog www.inafricaandbeyond.com
Click here to book your stay in Simons Town near Boulders Beach
Ang Lloyd
Best Beach: Chintsa Beach, Wild Coast
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My favourite beach in SA has to be Chintsa Beach, on the Wild Coast. It''s divided by a river estuary - west of it is a small, magical beach that doesn''t have a name, but if you get there at sunrise, you may see a cow or two on the shoreline. Chintsa (said with a click) is a remote, untamed, almost feral place - and I go there to truly escape. I''ve had many introspective moments on that beach (some less lucid than others, thanks to the proliferation of a certain ''herb'' in the area!), and I try to visit it once a year.
Follow Ang on Instagram @jozi.rediscovered or read her blog www.jozirediscovered.co.za
Click here to book your stay near Chintsa Beach on the Wild Coast
Linda Markovina
Best Beach: Betty’s Bay Beach, Overberg
I am really lucky that my job often means I get to spend a lot of time on different types of beaches across East and West Africa,and there are some magnificent ones out there. From soft white picture postcard sand, to perfect blue waters and loud vibey shorefronts filled with people each type of beach can take on a personality all of it’s own. But no matter where I travel to nothing feels as good as digging my toes into the Overberg''s Betty’s Bay main beach sand and looking out over the ocean. It stretches for long,sandy miles with a spectacular sunset views framed by the Hangklip mountains behind. No single day looking out over the sea is the same as there are often whales in the bay,dolphins close up where the local surfers sit just beyond the breakers and a wide variety of bird life.
Follow Linda on Instagram @movingsushi or read her blog www.movingsushi.com
Click here to book your stay near Betty''s Bay Beach in the Overberg
Rachel Lang
Best Beach: Noordhoek Beach, Cape Town
I lived in Cape Town for three marvellous years during which I discovered many beautiful beaches. Yet for me, there is one that stands out and will always be my favourite! Below Chapman’s Peak, on the west coast of the Cape Peninsular stretches Noordhoek beach is magnificent, in a wild, rugged way. I loved going on long walks and knowing that there was the still the chance of discovering little treasures - pretty shells, dainty scuttering crabs, swooping seagulls, waders in the lagoon, and beautiful whimsical colours. I could be in peace in my own little world - not to mention skinny dip! (There are a few surfers and dog-walkers but it’s generally unpopulated and perfect for this if you can handle the chilly water!).
Follow Rachel on Instagram @bushboundgirl or read her blog www.bushboundgirl.co.za
Click here to book your stay near Noordhoek Beach in Cape Town
Thaya Bedford
Best Beach: Die Plaat Beach, Overberg
The beach reserve below Grootbos is one of my favourite places because it is untouched by man. Stretching for 17km all the way to Hermanus, this is one of the most paradisiacal places on earth. I have been on the cliffs in the morning when the ocean looked like the tropics and I have watched the sun sink into the sea at night, throwing pink, lilac and orange into the sky with wild abandon. I have lost myself swimming in the waves, all alone without a single person on the beach and I have walked for miles along the dunes. The bliss one feels in this magical place is delivered unedited, like wild poetry for the soul.
Follow Thaya on Instagram @whiskeyandwanderlust
Click here to book your stay near Die Plaat Beach at Grootbos
Kathryn Rossiter
Best Beach: Nahoon Beach, East London
Ooooh I love the beach and have quite a few on my shortlist - Keurboomstrand in Plettenberg Bay, Boulders Beach in Simon''s Town, Gabi Beach in Zanzibar, St James in Cape Town - but if I had to choose only one I would pick Nahoon in East London. Having grown up here as a child I have happy memories of swimming in the river, running down the dunes and building castles in the sand every weekend while my dad surfed the world-renowned waves. Now when I return, which is not often enough, I love talking a long walk from one end to the other on the, mostly deserted, sands and enjoying the endless ocean views.
Follow Kathryn on Instagram @becomingyou or read her blog www.becomingyou.co.za
Click here to book your stay near Nahoon Beach in East London
Dawn Jorgensen
Best Beach: Pringle Bay Beach, Overberg
I love the ocean and seem to gravitate towards beaches, irrespective of the time
of year. It’s more the close proximity and long walks that I crave. The one
beach that I hold close to my heart is Pringle Bay, found about an hour and a
half East of Cape Town, in the Overberg. It’s also where my parents live. With
it’s long stretch of white sand and never more than a sprinkling of people. The
water is warmer, especially where the river runs onto it. Important to me
too, it’s dog friendly. As perfect for moody winter days as balmy summer
ones.
Follow Kathryn on Instagram @dawnjorgensen or read her blog www.theincidentaltourist.com
Click here to book your stay near Pringle Bay Beach in the Overberg
So now you''ve added a few "must visit" beaches to your summer holiday itinerary why don''t you tell us which is your favourite sandy spot in the comments below?
Or search here for even more Seaside Stays or spots where you can leave Footprints in the Sand.