Top 10 coastal spots of South Africa:

South Africa is a wondrous place where you’ve got 2 coastlines, The Atlantic and the Indian, converging at one central point. There are many holiday destinations along the coast with climates varying from a Mediterranean type climate on the Atlantic side, to a subtropical paradise like climate on the Indian side.

Hermanus
A beautiful seaside whale watching town with many exciting day to day happenings. Hermanus is known as the official whale watching area of South Africa, there are many more things to do apart from whale watching, there’s Horse riding, Paragliding, kayaking, Shark cage diving, fishing, Hiking, shopping, swimming and sun bathing at the spectacular beaches and much, much more. There is also place of interest like the Hermanus Magnetic observatory which is part of a world wide network which monitors variations of the earth’s magnetic field. The whale festival at the end of September is a very popular time to visit, this is when the Southern right whales come into the bay to mate, and you can also see the calving festival in August where horn blowers and other activities welcome the calves to Hermanus for the 1st time. At both festivals you will be able to find stalls, rides and other entertainments to keep you amused and coming back for more. For more information about Hermanus please contact the Hermanus Tourism office at +27 (0) 28 312 2629 or email the infoburo@hermanus.co.za

Plettenberg Bay
Originally named Bahia Formosa, meaning beautiful bay, by Portuguese explorers before the official founding of the Cape by Jan Van Riebeeck. It is just as the original name suggests, even today, set on the garden route about 600kms out of Cape Town and about 250kms away from East London, it is a paradise that is beautiful, tranquil, hospitable and breathtaking. It has beautiful undisturbed beaches, Rock peninsulas, turquoise lagoons and towering indigenous forest. It is surrounded by Nature reserves and National parks and is in an area that is home to the highest bungee jump in the world. Know as Plett to the locals it is a town set in an area where there isn’t a day of boredom to be had unless you choose so, you have whale and dolphin watching, birding, hiking, kayaking, cycling, abseiling, horse riding and much, much more. For more information contact the tourism office at +27 (0) 44 533 4065 or email info@plettenbergbay.co.za

St Lucia
A beautiful scenic town in Kwazulu Natal that is the Gateway to the St Lucia Wetlands national park. With 5 distinctive eco systems the park incorporates Mkuzi (a big 5 reserve), Sodwana Bay, which is a world famous diving destination, and Kosi Bay, which in itself is a natural paradise. The area is known as the jewel of Kwazulu Natal and here one can find many animal and plant species, from Whale and dolphin viewing to hippo’s, crocodile, majestic Pelicans ridding the warm thermal currents, Goliath Herons who stab their prey as a means of capturing it, and many land based wildlife species including the big 5. It is also a natural breeding ground for the leatherback and loggerhead turtle. Hiking along, you can pass through or by Sub tropical forests, lily covered pans and open grasslands. Lake St Lucia is the largest estuarine water body in Africa and home to much diversity. St Lucia is a perfect spot for animal lovers and those looking for a peaceful and serene getaway and it is also close to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game reserve which has the highest Rhino population in the world, so come and explore this natural diverse area.

Margate
A carefree friendly holiday centre which is fantastic to visit in and out of season periods, with beautiful beaches, shopping experiences to die for and many activities to keep you busy, this has made Margate a very popular holiday destination. It has beautiful coral reefs making it a wonderful Scuba diving and snorkeling spot, its sub tropical temperatures also make this an ideal retreat for those who love all types of water sports. There is plenty of accommodation available for holiday goers but often it is wise to book ahead of time during the school holidays.

Camps Bay
A popular village just outside of Cape town that has fantastic white sandy beaches, perfect for swimming in the cold Atlantic and warming up in the sun. It has hiking trails along the mountains edge and is popular for its Mediterranean style restaurants and side walk cafes. Set in between the 12 apostles and lions head you have some breathtaking views of humans and scenery alike.

Jeffrey’s Bay
A small surf driven town in Kwazulu which is said to be among the 10 best surf spots in the world. But surfing isn’t all that is to be seen here, it has the biggest harbour in South Africa, a shark aquarium, Several small game reserves, a penguin rehab centre, some wonderful restaurants, a fantastic night life, and, dare I say it, A surfing museum.

Umhlanga rocks
This is one of those well established towns with a small seaside feel that most people just can’t get enough of. It has some wonderful surfing beaches and spots just offshore that were perfectly created for surfing and scuba diving. It is also home to one of the last drive ins in South Africa so why not grab your loved one, or find one for the night, and go and cuddle in the backseat of your hired sedan watching a movie on offer. Umhlanga is definitely the perfect holiday destination with enough on offer to entertain every individual in your family.

Lambert’s bay
Beautiful and serene Lambert’s Bay is the seafood hotspot of the Western Cape and the Crayfish Mecca of South Africa. It is famous for its long stretches of uninterrupted white beaches and marine viewing in the rocky pools. It has an amazing history stretching back to the Iron Age and has many spots where you can view rock art paintings. Other things to do are Whale watching between August and November, the Wildflowers in spring, hiking and adventures and Heaviside’s dolphins.

Knysna
When describing Knysna then Paradise on earth comes close to mind, set between a lush forest and beautiful lagoon protected by the Knysna heads through which the sea flows to flood the lagoon. Its history goes back as far as 1804 when George Rex, reputed bastard son of George the 3rd moved his family and very large entourage to an estate he purchased, then known as Melkhoutkraal, on the coast of the area now known as Knysna. In 1885 the Gold rush hit Knysna and Jubilee creek, now a wonderful picnic area, was the exact spot where gold was found. For more information about Knysna and its surrounds contact +27 (0) 44 382 5510

Kei Mouth
A magical spot that is mostly unspoilt beaches and wondrous scenery, Kei mouth lies on the Banks of the great Kei River and the Wild coast. The beaches, which are mostly surrounded by wooded dunes, are perfectly beautiful and this is one of the few holiday destinations in South Africa that almost guarantees complete peace and serenity without all the hustle and bustle of most holiday destinations. Activities include, shopping, Horse riding, hiking, surfing, golfing and much more.


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