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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.