These are the best quality beaches to swim at in South Africa
Holiday season in South Africa is in full swing, and as people seek refuge from the December heat, they are fortunate to have access to some of the country’s incredible quality beaches.
According to the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), there are 48 beaches across South Africa that have been awarded Full Status Blue Flag beaches for the 2024/25 season.
The iconic Blue Flag is awarded annually to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators for meeting the highest environmental management, education, safety, accessibility, and sustainability standards, earning them the esteemed eco-labels.
Managed by WESSA in South Africa and internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the Blue Flag Programme sets rigorous environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria for coastal destinations worldwide.
Earning a Blue Flag is no small feat, with 33 stringent criteria to meet, ranging from water quality to environmental education, accessibility, and visitor facilities.
Over the past 20 years, the programme has seen thousands of water quality samples collected and carried out hundreds of independent beach control visits and monitored environmental education activities.
Looking at the 2024/25 South African beaches with full Blue Flag status are:
Western Cape
- City of Cape Town: Silwerstroomstrand, Clifton 4th, Camps Bay, Llandudno, Muizenberg, Bikini, Melkbosstrand, Fish Hoek.
- Overstrand: Kleinmond, Grotto.
- Cape Agulhas: Struisbaai.
- Hessequa: Witsand, Preekstoel, Lappiesbaai, Jongensfontein, Gouritzmond, Stilbaai Wes.
- Mossel Bay: De Bakke, Hartenbos, Klein Brak, Santos, Glentana.
- George: Wilderness, Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay.
- Bitou: Robberg 5, The Waves, Nature’s Valley, Lookout, The Dunes, Singing Kettle.
Eastern Cape
- Kouga: Dolphin, Cape St Francis.
- Nelson Mandela Bay Metro: Kings, Humewood, Hobie.
- Ndlambe: Kariega, Kelly’s, Middle Kenton on Sea.
KwaZulu-Natal
- Ray Nkonyeni: Marina, Trafalgar, Southport, Umzumbe, Ramsgate, Hibberdene.
- Umdoni: Pennington.
- Kwadukuza: Blythdale, Thompson Bay.
A highlight of this year’s awards includes the recognition of Pennington Beach from Umdoni Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, which has been newly awarded Blue Flag status.
Pilot status
This year’s awards (2024/25) also acknowledged the efforts of 18 pilot beaches.
Pilot beaches are those that are working towards Blue Flag status, but do not yet meet all the criteria.
Three new pilot beaches have been introduced: Paternoster Beach from Saldanha Municipality on the West Coast, and Kidd’s Beach and Gonubie Beach from Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
The 18 Pilot Beaches are:
Western Cape
- Paternoster – Saldanha Bay Municipality
- Tweekuilen – Mossel Bay Municipality
- Suiderkruis – Mossel Bay Municipality
- Leentjiesklip – George Municipality
Eastern Cape
- Bluewater Bay – Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality
- Wells Estate – Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality
- Hamburg – Ngqushwa Municipality
- Birha – Ngqushwa Municipality
- Kids (New) – Buffalo City Municipality
- Gonubie (New) – Buffalo City Municipality
- Mzamba – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (formerly Mbizana) Municipality
KwaZulu-Natal
- Rocky Bay – Umdoni Municipality
- Preston – Umdoni Municipality
- Umthwalume – Umdoni Municipality
- Scottburgh – Umdoni Municipality
- St Michaels – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
- Tugela Mouth – Mandeni Municipality
- Dokodweni – Mandeni Municipality
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