Coasts of South Africa

Overview

Between the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, South Africa boasts over 2,500 km of coastline spread across four provinces. While the Atlantic coast (to the west) is barely developed or visited, the entire stretch running from Cape Town to the Mozambican border is a major highlight of South African tourism, a must-see for any visitor.

Beyond Cape Town and several "historic" towns (Graaff-Reinet, Stellenbosch, Tulbagh...) that are worth a detour for their past, the wine region of the hinterland will delight enthusiasts, as will the traces of Zulu and Anglo-Boer conflicts in KwaZulu-Natal. But above all, the coast offers remarkable landscapes. These are already evident at the Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town, the famous Garden Route, and many other seaside spots. The coastline is highly popular for its resorts (especially around Durban and the Wild Coast), ideal for all water activities or whale watching in season. In short, there’s plenty to see and do for multiple trips...

Main Cities

Tourist Attractions

Cities and Their Heritage

Beaches and Seaside

Nature and Activities

Climate and Weather

The Indian Ocean coast (toward Mozambique) has a subtropical climate with frequent thunderstorms between late October and March and pleasant temperatures, averaging 20–30°C depending on the season. As you move toward Cape Town, the climate becomes more Mediterranean, with dry, hot, and windy summers and milder winters (15–20°C), though some days can be quite cold. Rainfall is also lower in volume and reversed (more rain in winter). Meanwhile, the Atlantic coast between Cape Town and Namibia becomes increasingly arid, dry, and hot as you head north.

★★★: very favorable | ★★: favorable | ★: moderately favorable | ⊘: unfavorable.

Sea Temperature Throughout the Year

The coast around Durban, the country’s main beach destination, allows for swimming almost year-round, unlike the Cape Town area, where the water is rather chilly during the southern winter.

Climate by Region