South Africa Beach Holidays

Let the cool seas of the Cape dissipate the summer heat or head to the Indian Ocean for year-round warmth.

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Overview

With their crashing breakers, the beaches of South Africa have a very different character to the languid coral-fringed lagoons of the tropical islands that you'll find further north in Africa. Here you'll find no palm-thatched sunshades and calm azure waters. And even surprisingly few beach 'resorts' in South Africa. Absent too are the souvenir and coconut-touting beach hawkers. But what you DO get is some unsurprisingly unspoilt stretches of sand and crashing waves.

South Africa Beach Holidays - Best time to visit?

The first thing to clear up is that most of South Africa is NOT a year-round beach holiday destination. The Cape, for example, has a distinct winter climate from May to August. Still great for leisurely beach walks. But not for slathering on the sun block. So if you want a classic beach holiday in August, then you'll need to head to northern beaches of KwaZulu Natal

So how do the locals enjoy the beach? And how and where can sun-starved westerners join in?

South Africa beach holidays - Garden Route

South Africa Beach Holidays in Summer - November to March

The long summer holiday season is Christmas when it is hot and sunny in South Africa. At this time, you'll have to vie with locals for the best places to stay, restaurant bookings and spots on the beach. But once the South Africans head back to work and school in early January, South Africa's beaches are surprisingly quiet.

But even in the height of summer, donā€™t expect the sea temperature in the Western Cape to be anything less than bracing. The cold Benguela current means that the Atlantic waters on the south & west coasts (around Cape Town and Hermanus) are always cold, typically from 14C to 19C. (Though global warming has led to warmer waters recently). The sea temperatures rise as you head east beyond Cape Agulhas (the 'starting' point for the Indian Ocean) so that on the Garden Route you can enjoy a reasonable 21-22C rising up to very pleasant 24-25C in KwaZulu Natal.

South Africa beach holidays - Wilderness beach

Beach Holidays in South Africa in Winter & Spring - June to Sept

If you are visiting South Africa in winter - which is the best time to enjoy a safari - then head north to the Indian Ocean coast of KwaZulu Natal or at least to the Wild Coast of Eastern Cape.

South Africa beach holidays - KwaZulu Natal

Where have all the South Africa beach resorts gone?

South Africa doesnā€™t really ā€˜doā€™ beach resorts. We don't really know why. Perhaps it's something to do with the value of the real estate on the beachfront? Or that there's so much to see on safari, and elsewhere, that very few international visitors come for a 'week on the beach'? The benefit is that the shoreline outside urban areas has not suffered over-development.

So if you want a resort, with all the bells and whistles, then look at Mauritius and Mozambique. However we do have a small selection of prime beach hotels and lodges mentioned below.

Cedarberg & company have been amazing!
"Cedarberg & Co have been amazing! Professional, knowledgeable and very helpful. We had put everything together in about a week. Communications are of high standards. All plans worked. " - Mr Roland, UK
Exceeded all expectations
"Cedarberg was professional, responsive, and personable. All flights, all transfers, all accommodation, all activities, and the safari itself went exactly to plan. The experience, end-to-end, exceed ..." - Mr Michael Barnard
We will certainly use Cedarberg again
"All the arrangements worked perfectly ā€“ no hiccups at all. We will certainly use Cedarberg again and will recommend the company to others. We were particularly impressed by the fact that the grou ..." - Ms Sandra Clark, UK
Once more million thanks for organizing and supervising our trip of the lifetime.
"Once more million thanks for organizing and supervising our trip of the lifetime. I am glad with choose to stay in multiple lodges and locations as every one of our five stops was absolutely ..." - Mr & Mrs Yuly
Wonderfully professional, yet absolutely approachable
"Bookings made to your perfect itinerary, with ease. No stress, just marvellous conversations about what you would like to see and do. Really really knowledgable consultants. And when they have sort ..." - Mrs & Mr Birchall, UK
 
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A varied and fantastic holiday that we will never forget
"Milandi interpreted all our needs perfectly and the tailor-made holiday was way beyond our expectations. As a first time visitor to South Africa, we were quite apprehensive about safety, but all th ..." - Mr Andrew Thompson
Couldnā€™t have been happierā€¦
"Cedarberg and specifically our specialist Peter, have been excellent. Really communicative and just very on the ball. From the planning and payment, all the way through to arriving back home. The t ..." - Mr Clark Hoy, UK
We had a great time, a very memorable holiday
"Thank you for your patience with us through the planning stage. Standard of room we realise is important to us maybe we should have discussed this more at the planning stage.Ā It was a very memorab ..." - Mrs Sara Brill, USA
Amazing holiday in SA
"Thank you for the most amazing holiday in South Africa. The three lodges were all selected with great care and each had a different atmosphere. All transfers worked entirely smoothly and we were ev ..." - Mr Mike Ricks, UK
Thank you for arranging such an excellent trip!!
"I would like to thank you for arranging such an excellent trip to see the wildflowers in the Cape, and especially for selecting our guide. He was perfect in all respects. He knew where to take us, ..." - Mr Bell
 
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Kate Bergh

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

Hi I'm Kate, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience GET IN TOUCH