Tips for tourists visiting Cape Town’s beaches November 30th, 2016

Tips for tourists visiting Cape Town’s beaches

Clear waters, pristine stretches of sand and ideal swells make Cape Town’s 10 Blue Flag beaches  some of the summer’s hottest destinations. Thousands of tourists are set to descend upon these beaches, and here are some sharp tips to staying on top of things. The ocean is irresistible to swimmers, snorkellers, bodyboarders, surfers, divers, kayakers and sailors, but there are a host of potential hazards that a newbie to South African beaches, should be aware of.

It’s important to choose a beach that is patrolled by lifeguards–most of Cape Town’s most popular beaches will be. They tend to update public notice boards at the entrance to these beaches with useful information about prevailing winds, temperatures, rip currents and tides.

Some of the beaches will have lifeguard clubhouses and elevated platforms from which they can keep an eye on you.Take note of their signals and warnings. They’ll typically use flags and whistles to communicate with swimmers, and will have beacons to guide you about where and where not to swim.

The ocean is constantly changing: there are tides and swells, hidden reefs or rocks, and curious sealife. Any of these may necessitate calling on swimmers to come out of the water.

Shark attacks are extremely rare in Cape Town waters, but prevention is better than cure, so do yourself a favour and don’t swim at dawn or dusk, or in murky water. A black flag will let you know that it’s too dangerous to swim.

A far less infamous creature is the bluebottle–a small species of jellyfish that has a particularly painful sting. When these guys are spotted, then lifeguards might pull you from the water as, while their stings are not lethal, they can lead to hospitalisation.

On your travels you may be introduced to the Cape Doctor–a ferocious southern-easterly wind that might literally knock you off your feet. While this force of nature may make your beach experience feel more like a stint under an electric sander, it does make sailing an enjoyable challenge. Views of the coastal scenery, offered from the waters make sailing an increasingly popular sport and sailing courses in Cape Town are reasonably well priced and accessible–certainly worth your time.

Many of Cape Town’s beaches will have vendors selling ice-creams or cold drinks, so bring a little cash with you (R100 should be plenty). Get to the beach early and make a day of it, but remember that the South African summer sun can be unforgiving, so keep the sunblock handy and stay hydrated. Pack an umbrella or two and a few towels for extra comfort, and a ball, frisbee or book to help pass the time. Most importantly, just enjoy the outing as the Mother City shows off.