Camps Bay beach. Picture: COURTNEY AFRICA
By: Melville Saayman
Johannesburg - Africa has some of the best beaches in the world.
Tourists
will be flocking to them soon as those in the southern hemisphere take
summer holidays and those from the north look for ways to escape their
winter.
So where are Africa’s top beaches?
In drawing up the list I have taken both an objective as well as subjective approach.
For
the objective assessment I have used the ratings of the Blue Flag
awards as well as my own research. South Africa is the first country
outside Europe as well as the first African country to implement the
Blue Flag scheme. It currently has 39 fully complied beaches with
another 30 in the process of complying.
For my subjective list I have drawn on my own experience and knowledge as well as experiences of friends and family.
The top performers
Africa
has some wonderful beaches. A serious traveller or beachgoer should
certainly visit at least one of them once in a lifetime. The list below
is not in order of preference, but offers would be travellers different
opportunities and experiences.
Most of South Africa’s Blue Flag
beaches are in the Western Cape followed by KwaZulu-Natal and then the
Eastern Cape. Blue Flag award beaches have to comply with 33 criteria
including safety, cleanliness, environmental management and water
quality. The award can be revoked if a beach does not comply.
The
longest running Blue Flag beaches in South Africa and a must visit are
Grotto Beach in the Western Cape, Humewood Beach in the Eastern Cape,
and Ramsgate and Marina beaches KwaZulu-Natal.
From a more
subjective standpoint I would recommend Tofo Beach at Inhambane in
Mozambique. This is an 8 km stretch of beach that also offers diving and
great sea life. Added benefits are facilities for rest and relaxation -
as well as excellent prawns.
Namibia also offers tourists
beautiful beaches. One of my favourites is the Skeleton Coast. It offers
space and great marine life as well as ship wrecks. Crowded beach won’t
be a problem. There might in fact be nobody around depending on when
you visit.
Another country that offers wonderful beach experiences
is Kenya. The beach I propose is Shela Beach in Lamu. It is also a
Unesco Heritage Site and is generally accepted as the country’s top
beach.
I also have to include Angola. This is the new kid on the
block and I propose Mussulo Bay peninsula. This is for the adventure
traveller, offering wonderful beach as well fishing.
And then the islands
One
of my ultimate favourites is Tanzania. I must admit I love Zanzibar. It
offers great diving, snorkelling and swimming. This is a little piece
of heaven on earth. Enjoying the locally produced gin is a treat as
well.
If we move to Madagascar, my choice is Sainte-Marie Island.
It offers beautiful sandy beaches with palm trees. Once again, diving
and great sea life are on offer as well as good food.
It would
unfair if I didn’t include Malawi. My choice falls on Likoma Island,
which is part of Lake Malawi. This is one of Africa’s jewels. Clear
clean water, great for swimming, diving or snorkelling, and friendly
communities.
And then there is the Seychelles’s Anse Source
d’Argent, La Digue. It is regarded as one of the world’s greatest
beaches, truly something out of this world.
I could add more
beaches in the west and north of the continent. But this list at least
provides a taste of what Africa can offer. Hopefully the Blue Flag award
scheme will be implemented in other African countries so that the
continent can get its lion’s share of beachgoers, one of the biggest
generators of revenue globally.
* Melville Saayman
Professor of Tourism Management and Economics, North-West University
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