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When it’s summer in Cape Town (about November to April), the best place to be is on the beach, especially if you are travelling with your kids. While you soak up the sun, read a book or sip on a (non-alcoholic) sundowner, your children can run and play to their hearts’ content. For more adventurous families, it's a chance to bond and try something new together - learn to surf or even kite board! We’ve selected our favourite family beach moments to inspire your vacation planning.

Beachside in Cape Town
From your private villa at Clifton, it’s short walk across to First, Second, Third & Fourth Beaches.
Beachside in Cape Town
Impromptu ball games are a regular sight in summer on Camps Bay beach.
Beachside in Cape Town
Cape Town has several leash-free dog-friendly beaches where people & pooches play happily together.

The beaches at Clifton are beautiful but the Atlantic Ocean can be a little chilly for anything more that splashing around and getting your toes wet, so bring a frisbee or a ball and you’ll soon be hot enough for a cooling dip. Although the ocean is cold here, the upside to these beaches is that they’re sheltered from the wind, First Beach is dog friendly (no leashes required), and they’re perfect places to salute the setting sun.

Beachside in Cape Town
The tidal pool at St James is a safe place for kids to swim on a hot summer’s day, especially after spending the morning at nearby Cape Point.

A number of Cape Town’s beaches have beautiful tidal pools that offer a safe swimming spot for kids, like the one at St James beach. The other advantage of this side of the Cape peninsula is the warmer water of the Indian Ocean.

Beachside in Cape Town
Kalk Bay is a quaint fishing village that has child-friendly attractions like ice-cream parlours & acrobatic Cape fur seals.

Just up the road from St James is the picturesque fishing village and harbour of Kalk Bay. Fishermen young and old line the pier hoping to get lucky and, even if you aren’t an angler yourself, be sure to stick around and watch the fishing boats come in with their loads and feed the local seals their scraps and offcuts.

Beachside in Cape Town
Learn to kite surf in the ideal conditions at Langebaan, one of the world’s best places to enjoy this thrilling sport.

Add the thrill of an extreme sports adventure to your Cape Town holiday and go kite surfing in the company of international instructors and legends in the sport. Head up the coast to Langebaan, where the sheltered lagoons and stiff breeze create the perfect playground for all kite surfers, from beginners to pros.

Beachside in Cape Town
With a few lessons, your family could be ‘catching air’ at this seaside village about 90 minutes from Cape Town.
Beachside in Cape Town
Like father, like son: a family vacation is a great way to make memories you’ll be talking about years from today.

Another adventure water sport that us Capetonians love is surfing. The Cape peninsula is home to legendary surfing spots that attract international pros but for the best family fun, we recommend you head down to Surfer’s Corner in Muizenberg. The water is generally warmer, a gentle beach break produces a steady volley of waves and Cape Town’s top surf schools offer group and private lessons complete with rental boards and wet suits. And when you’re done in the water, the beach is home to excellent restuarants, street-food vendors and old-fashioned ice-cream trucks.

Beachside in Cape Town
You’ll find great surf spots for all skill levels along the Cape Peninsula & plenty of surf schools renting out boards & wet suits.
Beachside in Cape Town
A beach vacation means plenty of sunshine, fresh air & chances to make memories for a lifetime!

So, whether you are up for an action-packed adventure holiday in Cape Town or keen to relax on a sun lounger while the kids build sandcastles, ask your Safari Expert to add a few days’ playtime on South Africa’s beautiful beaches to your family vacation.

Beachside in Cape Town
Building sandcastles is a beach tradition that spans generations…
Written By

Donyale MacKrill

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