Best Beaches in Africa
With 18950 miles stretch of coastline, the African continent possesses some of the world’s magnificent beaches. Madagascar is one of the leading countries with the title of owning the biggest beach in Africa at 3,000 miles. Madagascar’s beach features hundreds of beautiful and often ultra-remote beaches, as well as offshore islands like île Saint-Marie. At the beach, the pace of life moves slowly and the scenery is stunning.
The exclusively chosen beaches below are some of the most popular beaches in Africa.
1. Skeleton Coast, Namibia
You won’t want to swim or even sunbathe here. The water is freezing and the skies are often shrouded in mist. But few places in the world are as hauntingly beautiful as the beaches along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
This sparsely populated coastline between the Swakop and Kunene Rivers north of the town of Swakopmund is a ruggedly wild region. The Atlantic Ocean meets the dunes of the Namib Desert in this region.
The beach is named Skeleton Coast from all the wrecked ships found along this beach. The ships ran aground over the centuries in the shallow and choppy waters. If you’re into bird-watching, there are a lot of seabirds near the wrecks. The area is also home to a large colony of seals.
2. Bazaruto Island, Mozambique
Set inside the boundaries of the Bazaruto Archipelago Marine Park in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Mozambique. Bazaruto Island is home to some of the most stunning beaches we’ve laid eyes on. The water here is warm and turquoise blue. The white sandy beaches are backed by swaying palms and towering sand dunes, creating a postcard-perfect vision of paradise.
Part of a larger archipelago that is known for its amazing diving experiences. The coral reefs around Bazaruto are also excellent for snorkeling.
The island can be reached by boat or small plane. Accommodations range from budget guesthouses to the luxury & Beyond Benguerra on a neighboring isle. The properties offer lodging in various sizes of posh, thatched-roof huts that work well for couples on honeymoon or families vacationing with the kids.
3. Anse Lazio, Seychelles
Seychelles has numerous candidates for the best beaches in Africa (or even the world’s) best beaches. But when they wrote the tourist brochures for Seychelles, they were thinking of Anse Lazio. Backed by forests near the western end of the island of Praslin, Anse Lazio is framed by dramatic boulders at either end. A line of palm trees runs between them, swaying gently in the tropical breeze. The powder-like sand, the bath-warm waters, the turquoise sea. It really is the most remarkable place.
4. Naama Bay, Egypt
On Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Naama Bay is the epicenter of the country’s top beach resort, Sharm el-Sheikh. The white-sand beach meets the clear, calm, blue waters of the Gulf of Aqaba here. At this point, you can see Saudi Arabia’s craggy coastline in the distance.
In winter, Naama Bay gets crowded, as Europeans head here to escape the cold in their countries. The area around Sharm el-Sheikh is also famous for its diving in the coral reefs around Ras Mohammed National Park, and there are dives for all levels, including first-timers. There is also excellent snorkeling in the area.
5. Watamu, Kenya
Watamu Beach has a distinctive coastline. Watamu’s beaches are dotted with tiny deserted islets. Sandbars rise out of the sea, offering walkways to the islands at low tide or places to bask with a cocktail at high. The soft white sand beaches are sprinkled with starfish and weeny hermit crabs.
The shoreline is festooned with palms, where, hidden within the lush bush, are houses dating back to colonial times. Thatched roofs hide affluent Kenyans lounging in pools, sipping their gin and tonics. Elsewhere, houses stand in disrepair; their walls stained black with time and salt winds, their roofs long since collapsed, the gardens full of chattering monkeys and iridescent lizards. Occasionally the serenity of the coastline is broken up by a 5* resort where pale tourists lie in the shade and sip from the coconuts that boys sell on the beach.
Away from the hotels, fishing boats pull up at lunchtime and disgorge their catch: octopus, prawns, snapper, and huge crayfish. Chefs from the nearby houses haggle at the boats; the fish is taken home and turned into curries for rich residents from Nairobi.
You can experience this beach with one of our Diani Packages.
6. Coffee Bay, South Africa
Located on the rugged Wild Coast, which runs along the country’s Indian Ocean coastline in the Eastern Cape province, Coffee Bay is a spectacular beach in South Africa. Here, the green hills and cliffs meet a wide swath of golden sand and the deep blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
The sea here can be moody and rough, and there are some good surf breaks around here, but it isn’t ideal for swimming. Still, when it comes to moody wild beauty, it’s hard to beat Coffee Bay, and this is an excellent beach to go for long walks along. The town has just a few backpackers and guesthouses and still has a remote vibe that many travelers will find appealing.
7.Shela Beach, Kenya.
For crystal-clear aquamarine and turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, palm trees, and excellent snorkeling and diving in Kenya, you’ll want to head to Lamu Island off the coast north of the port town of Mombasa. Shela Beach is a gorgeous beach by the chill town of Shela Village. Time moves slowly here, and you can spend hours just watching the white-sailed dhows pass by on the Indian Ocean in front of you.
For a dose of culture, head to Lamu Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest settlements in Kenya, dating back 700 years. Spend some time wandering its narrow streets.
You can also book an island-hopping adventure on a traditional dhow that will take you around the archipelago and introduce you to hidden beaches.
8. Nungwi Beach, Tanzania
Tanzania is also not left out on the list of best beaches in Africa. A trip to Zanzibar Island off the Tanzanian coast is a magical experience. The beaches, including Nungwi, are extraordinary, and Zanzibar is also rich in culture. From wooden dhows plying the clear turquoise water to the lively bazaars of the Swahili coastal trading center, Stone Town, Zanzibar is one of the most photogenic places to visit in Africa.
Nungwi Beach is a beautiful white-sand and palm-tree-meets-emerald-ocean spectacle at the northern tip of the island. It began as a simple fishing village but today is a popular vacation destination. There is excellent snorkeling and diving offshore as well.
9. Camps Bay Beach, South Africa
With views of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostle peaks, Camps Bay Beach is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Cape Town and is one of South Africa’s most beloved beaches. Although the water here is too cold for the average swimmer to handle, sunbathing on the white-sand beach is a favorite local pastime.
On summer weekends, this beach fills fast with families, tourists, couples, and groups of friends who come to play a game of beach volleyball or just hang out. When you get too hot, cool off with a quick dip in the turquoise- and emerald-striped Atlantic Ocean waters. If you’re shocked at the chilliness despite the tropical good looks, you aren’t alone. The current here comes straight up from Antarctica
10. Le Morne, Mauritius
Not for nothing did Mark Twain compare Mauritius with paradise. The Le Morne is not left out on the best beaches in Africa list. From the southeastern corner of the main island, Le Morne Brabant (556m), a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, thrusts up towards the sky, towering over a lovely, long arc of sand. Offshore, the shallow lagoon waters take on the most extraordinary shades of blue, white waves break, and surfers surf about a mile out to sea. The southern coastline unfurls from here to Baie du Cap with one remote, beautiful beach after another.
11. Ile Sainte -Marie, Madagascar
Still undiscovered, Madagascar is one of Africa’s most unique countries. It is home to animals and plants found nowhere else on earth, and the scenery here is truly awesome. Just off the coast of eastern Madagascar is one of its top beach vacation spots: Île Sainte-Marie.
The island boasts sunny skies year-round and is a tropical wonderland where you’ll find long, porcelain-white-sand beaches fringed with swaying palm trees and backed by clear turquoise water. The weather is great year-round, with sunny blue skies. Between July and September, you can see humpback whales off the coastline and there is excellent diving amid untouched coral gardens.
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