(To return to an overview of Cape Town beaches, and links to other beaches, click here.)

Coastal belt between Muizenberg and Strand
To be avoided - potentially unsafe.

While Muizenberg and Strand offer quality, family-friendly, beach experiences the 40km stretch of sand between them should be avoided at all costs. This stretch of white sand, while looking very peaceful on the surface, runs right past either the back of Cape Flats shanty towns or desolate empty land. The combination makes it a very dangerous area to venture into. You can holiday very safely in Cape Town by simply avoiding certain areas, view this as one of the few "no-go" areas in greater Cape Town.

Strand
Suitable for: commercial beach holidays, beachfront apartment living, beach hikes, families, swimming and surfing.

Strand is the Afrikaans word for "beach". The fact that the whole town is called by this name tells you something about its 5km long sand beach. It is very popular for commercial beach holidays, in addition to the beach it features mini golf, a water chute and two tidal pools.

The town offers holiday apartments right on the beachfront road that runs past the back of the beach for almost its full length. A small harbour development for private leisure craft as well as a large caravan park / camping ground divides it from neighbouring Gordon's Bay. A number of restaurants and coffee shops are located in close proximity to the beach.

On a clear day you can sometimes see Cape Point in the distance across False Bay and almost always the Hottentots-Holland Mountains to the south-east. The resort is however not a nature lover's paradise with way to much development for that.

Gordon's Bay (Main & Bikini Beaches)
Suitable for: tanning, swimming, families, beachfront dining

Gordon's Bay lies at the far end, relative to Cape Town, of False Bay's northern shoreline - a 40km sandy coastal belt. It marks the beginning of a spectacular coastal drive along the eastern shore of the Bay.

The town is quite a bit smaller than neighbouring Strand, which adds to its appeal. Its sandy beaches are much smaller and intimate and its proximity to the Hottentots-Holland Mountain Range makes it very scenic. Gordon's Bay is home to the well-sheltered Bikini beach. Main Beach is a popular water sport venue. A footpath and road link the two beaches, both within walking distance of several hotels, restaurants and bars.

Gordon's Bay to Rooiels (Koeël Bay)
Suitable for: coastal drive, angling & diving, in-season whale watching

The main feature of the False Bay coastline between Gordon's Bay and Rooiels is a spectacular coastal drive. The winding drive is quite narrow in most places but features lookout points and parking at regular intervals. At many of these informal footpaths lead down to rocky bays that are popular with anglers and divers. If you want to explore these we recommend that you do so by making use of local knowledge and that you adhere to normal safety procedures applicable to the sports.

The drive's elevated position also provides a good vantage point for whale watching in season.

Rooiels
Suitable for: tanning, swimming, hiking, diving, bird watching.

The coastal village of Rooiels is located at the mouth of the river by the same name. A sandy beach is located at the small river's mouth. The beach offers safe swimming and great views across False Bay towards Cape Point. There are also various rock pools in the area. Visitors can dive for crayfish and other shell fish species or angle from the rocks, although permits must first be obtained as Rooiels form part of the UNESCO proclaimed Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Rooiels is very suitable for bird watching.

The Cape Clawless Otter is found in the area although they are notoriously difficult to spot, even for locals. A more common resident is Chacma Baboons. While they are mostly active inland they also visit rock pools for seafood and pick up shells and seaweed on the beach. Pathways lead from the beach and village along the coast and inland. In season they offer good vantage points to spot whales along the coast or deeper in False Bay.

The nearby Sea Horse Inn or Drummond Arms restaurants offer good food and great views.

Pringle Bay (near Hangklip)
Suitable for: tanning, swimming, hiking, diving, bird watching

Pringle Bay is similar to Rooiels above, but further away from the main coastal road, which turns inland a short way before Pringle Bay and Hangklip. While you will read about a cave called "Drostersgat" in travel guides and sites (cave used by prisoners and runaway slaves as a hide-away in the 18th century), it is in fact located on private land and difficult to reach.

The small, secluded, village and beach exist virtually in the shadow of Hangklip, a landmark mountain overhang that happens to indicate the south-eastern point of False Bay. The expansive beach is very much family friendly. Activities, similarly to Rooiels above, include swimming and hiking. The area has various rock pools and is good for diving in general. It also falls within a protected area and permits must be obtained for both angling and diving if the purpose is to catch or harvest marine species. It is a good birding destination and pathways along the shore provides a good vantage point for whale watching during the whale season.

(To return to an overview of Cape Town beaches, and links to other beaches, click here.)