The Blue Flag Programme, started in France in the 1980s, promotes sustainable development in coastal areas through high standards of water quality, safety, environmental management and environmental education.
The Blue Flag beaches in South Africa offer everything from solitude to glamour, and wildlife to highlife. And most are disabled friendly.
KwaZulu-Natal Blue Flag Beaches
Durban: Bay of Plenty, South Beach and North Beach
These three beaches are at the heart of the Durban beachfront, which is packed with hotels and holiday apartments. Here you can take a rickshaw ride, shop for curios or watch the world go by at one of the cafes and restaurants along the way. These beaches, especially good for swimming and bodysurfing, are the venues for many international events including surfing, volleyball and beach soccer tournaments.
Durban: Addington Beach
Addington is the calmest of Durban’s beaches. It is protected by the nearby harbour entrance and is ideal for swimming, windsurfing, and snorkelling at Vetch’s Pier or learning to surf.
Durban: Anstey's Beach
Anstey’s, located south of the city near the Bluff, and is more exposed so better suited to confident swimmers. There is a children’s pool and grassed picnic areas.
Umhlanga Rocks: Main Beach
The place to see and be seen. At low tide the rock pools are a fun place for children to explore.
Umhlanga Rocks: Bronze Beach
Lined with dune vegetation, this is Umhlanga’s best kept secret. Quieter than Main Beach, but less accessible.
South Coast: Margate
Lucien Beach, on the northern side of Margate, is a popular venue for surfing and body boarding competitions. Look out for dolphins from the elevated parking spot, which is also a good starting point for a walk to Uvongo.
South Coast: Marina Beach/San Lameer
The tiny village of Marina Beach shares a beach with the resort of San Lameer, home to one of the area’s many top golf courses. Also worth a visit are Trafalgar Marine Reserve and Mpenjati lagoon to the south.
South Coast: Ramsgate Beach
A wide, sandy beach in park-like setting at the end of an estuary.
Eastern Cape
East London: Gonubie Beach
An open, sandy beach, with beautiful estuary and lush vegetation on the adjacent dunes. Ideal for the whole family.
Jeffreys Bay: Dolphin Beach
A wide beach popular with families and holidaymakers in this renowned surfing mecca.
Port Elizabeth: Humewood Beach
A sandy beach with good waves on the ocean side of Happy Valley. The beach forms part of the promenade with easy access to shops and restaurants.
Port Elizabeth: Kings Beach
Just a short walk from Humewood, King’s is wide, sandy and popular with swimmers.
Port Elizabeth: Wells Estate Beach
A large camping and recreational centre 20km from Port Elizabeth. Good for viewing dolphins and whales from the promenade.
Port Alfred: Kelly's Beach
Halfway between East London and Port Elizabeth, this 400m long beach has good waves and is popular with whale watchers.
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| |  Riviera-style glamour along Camps Bay beachfront Cape Town | |
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Western CapeGordon’s Bay: Bikini Beach
Said to get its name from the many Stellenbosch University students that enjoy its warm, sheltered waters in summer.
Camps Bay: Clifton 4th Beach
Where the rich and famous hang out. Well protected from summer winds. Icy water!
Overstrand: Grotto Beach
A very popular beach with Hermanus locals and holiday makers.
Overstrand: Hawston Beach
Tucked away in the little town of Hawston, this rustic beach has sweeping views of the coastline mountains. Lifeguards only from 1 December to 31 March.
Overstrand: Kleinmond Beach
A natural, unspoilt beach at the mouth of the Kleinmond Lagoon. Popular whale watching site during winter.
False Bay: Mnandi Beach
Popular with locals, but windy in summer with treacherous currents. Great for whale and seal watching. Water slides and picnic areas nearby.
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| |  The wild and unspoilt beaches of Stillbaai in the Western Cape | |
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Stilbaai: Lappiesbaai
Wild and unspoilt beach where pansy shells can still be found. Good whale watching spot.
The Best Times to Go
Water temperatures vary significantly according to region. The Mozambique current warms the Indian Ocean coast all year round. As you head south the water gets cooler (even in summer), but is still comfortable until you reach Cape Point. From there it is always advisable to test the water before taking the plunge.
As a general rule, KwaZulu-Natal beaches are good all year round; the Eastern Cape is best from November to April; and the Western Cape from November to March.
South Africa's coastline sparkles! Twenty local beaches won international recognition at the 2005 Blue Flag Awards, a European-based campaign which measures beaches against strict environmental, tourist and safety standards.
When South Africa joined the campaign in 2001 as the first country outside Europe to participate, Blue Flag began to grow into a truly international campaign. Started in France in 1985, the campaign now runs in over 30 countries across Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, Iceland and New Zealand. South Africa and Morocco are the only African countries to have joined so far.
