Melkbosstrand Beach is a beautiful and clean location for swimming and other outdoor activities. It’s quite a busy beach, especially on weekends so be prepared to share it with lots of people. There are three tidal pools on the beach along with restaurants, changing facilities and lifeguards. The water can be cold to swim in so I don’t recommend that you go into the sea if you aren’t a strong swimmer.
The main beach of Melkbosstrand is a long
The main beach of Melkbosstrand is a long, sandy beach with a rocky shoreline. It stretches for approximately 2km from the R27 to the Melkbosstrand lighthouse. The water quality is generally good and it’s mostly sheltered from winds by the nearby dunes. This makes it ideal for swimming during summer as well as surfing and boating on windy days when most other beaches are closed due to unsafe conditions.
The beach has been recognised as one of South Africa’s top ten beaches by several publications over the years including CNN Traveler Magazine in 2023 and Holiday Guide in 2023 which also listed it among their top ten places to visit in South Africa (HGSA).
A number of historical sites can be found along its length including an ancient forest reserve which was once used by indigenous people who lived along its coastline before colonization started around 150 years ago.
There are also two lighthouses – one at each end of this stretch – that were built during Victorian times by Sir Thomas Maclear but were replaced by more modern structures around 100 years later due to constant erosion caused by shifting sands along this coastline during stormy weather periods like spring tides or heavy swells brought about by large ocean currents such as those found off Cape Point near Cape Town.
FAQ
What is the best time of year to visit Melkbosstrand Beach?
Melkbosstrand Beach has a pleasant climate year-round, with warm sunny days and cool nights. The peak season is from December through March, when there are many events and festivals on offer.
Is there good food near Melkbosstrand Beach?
Yes! You have a large choice of restaurants in the surrounding area: Caledon Square shopping mall has several options including Nando’s Peri-Peri; De Waterkant Village offers a variety of eateries including ‘The Forty Four’ steakhouse as well as trendy tapas bars such as ‘Divine Desserts’; Tamboerskloof village has plenty of quaint cafes for breakfast or lunch like ‘Coffee Labels’ where you can enjoy coffee made with freshly ground beans sourced from all over South Africa!
How far is it from Cape Town?
Melkbosstrand Beach is about halfway between Cape Town and Stellenbosch, which means you can visit both cities in one day trip! The drive takes about 90 minutes each way by car and gets you onto scenic roads along Table Mountain through Constantia Valley or via Hout Bay at the coast (the latter being more interesting). There are also daily shuttles available if you’re feeling lazy 😉
Pros & Cons of Melkbosstrand Beach
Pros:
- The beach is beautiful and has great facilities.
- The water can be cold, but the wave action is strong so it’s fun for swimming.
Cons:
- There are no lifeguards on the beach, just a first-aid station.
“Melkbosstrand Beach is by far one of the best beaches in Cape Town. It is clean and quiet although it can get busy on weekends so be prepared to share it with lots of people. There are three tidal pools on the beach, restaurants and lifeguards. Don’t go into the sea if you aren’t a strong swimmer as its pretty cold.”
— Rostislav Sikora, Author
Melkbosstrand Beach from top
Melkbosstrand Beach is known for being one of the best beaches in Cape Town. It’s not just a great place to go swimming, but also for surfing and other water sports.
The water here is calm and safe enough for swimming, especially if you’re able to swim out into the open sea where it gets deeper and slower moving (but be aware that there can still be currents). There are lifeguards on duty at Melkbosstrand Beach, so if you want a more relaxed day at the beach, this is where you should come!
The kiosk on site offers surfboards that you can rent by the hour or day(s) – perfect if you’d like some extra exercise!
There are three tidal pools on the beach along with restaurants, changing facilities and lifeguards.
The tides come in and out every six hours, creating the pools. They’re natural pools of water filled with seawater and sea creatures like fish, crabs and starfish for you to enjoy. If you’re looking for something a bit more active than just lying on a beach towel, these tidal pools offer snorkeling opportunities or even simply swimming around them! You can also see what other activities Cape Town has to offer:
Cape Point Nature Reserve is a beautiful, scenic place to spend the day. It’s home to many different plants and animals including baboons and penguins! You can also visit Robben Island, which is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Its close to Bakoven beach.
The main attraction of this beach is the mountain views across False Bay, behind is Bloubergstrand Beach. This place is suitable for children because there is a playground area with swings and slides, as well as plenty of space to run around safely off-leash on grassy areas near the beachfront hotels.
waves at Melkbosstrand Beach
If you’re looking for waves, this isn’t the beach for you. The waves at Melkbosstrand are usually small and not very strong. However, if you like to bodyboard or surf, this is a great place to go.
The beach is also quite shallow, so the water doesn’t get too deep. This makes it perfect for families with young children. You can get more info on Google review.
You can also rent surfboards and other beach items from the kiosk on site.
If you’d like to rent a surfboard or other beach items like boogie boards, water shoes, and goggles, all of which are available at the kiosk on site along with sunscreen, towels, and even ice cream!
It costs R45 per day ($3 USD) to rent a single-fin surfboard.
If you’re looking to rent a longboard, it costs R60 per day ($4 USD) and the price of your board will be deducted from your deposit.
Its short way from Cape Town
Melkbosstrand is a bit of an anomaly. While it’s close enough to Cape Town that a 30-minute drive from the city will get you there, Melkbosstrand Beach feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. If you’re looking for things to do in Cape Town, this isn’t one of them—but if you need some time away from busy streets and people going about their daily lives, Melkbosstrand is your spot.
It’s also not one of those beaches where everyone heads out at once; instead, there are plenty of people who visit during their summer break or weekends but then go back home after relaxing with family or friends on the white sands for awhile. This makes it easy enough to find space if you arrive early or late in the day (or any day at all).
Melkbosstrand Beach is a beautiful and clean location for swimming and other outdoor activities.
The beach has a rocky shoreline, which makes it perfect for rock climbing. The beach is busy on weekends, but it’s not too crowded during the week. You’ll find three tidal pools on the beach: one in front of Melkbosstrand Hotel, another between Melkbosstrand Hotel and Sunset Lodge, and a third in front of Sunset Lodge. Flat rocks are perfect for sunbathing at low tide or stargazing at night when they’re dry!
The beach is also a great place to snorkel and scuba dive. The water is warm, clear, and calm enough for beginners to learn how to swim.
Melkbosstrand Beach has amazing activities from surfing to kitesurfing
You can also enjoy surfing at Melkbosstrand Beach. The beach is a popular destination for the sport, so if you want to try it out, this is the perfect place.
Kitesurfing has become very popular in recent years at this beach, as well. With its perfect conditions and excellent equipment rental possibilities, kitesurfing is one of the most popular activities here. If you’re interested in trying it out yourself, just speak with one of the professionals who will be happy to help you choose what’s right for your needs and skill level before renting any equipment from them!
Windsurfing is another great option when considering activities in Cape Town – there are strong winds here that make it possible for anyone who wants to participate in this sport while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Melkbosstrand Beach!
Fishing enthusiasts will also find lots of fun things to do when visiting Cape Town; there are several opportunities nearby where fishermen can cast their lines out into beautiful waters filled with fish waiting just below surface level for food scraps tossed overboard by whoever cares enough about nature’s creatures’ well being enough not only not waste unnecessary resources such as paper towels but also provide nourishment without hurting other species’ chances at survival through poaching practices like overfishing (which basically means taking more than what they need). But wait – there’s more! This area provides plenty opportunity too – paragliding lovers may enjoy parasailing while scuba diving fans may prefer diving beneath surface level where coral reefs await exploration by those daring enough (or skilled enough) find adventure undersea.
Conclusion
Overall, we think Melkbosstrand Beach is a great place to visit. It’s not far from Cape Town and has some of the best waves in South Africa on Africa continent. There are also plenty of restaurants and shops nearby if you get hungry or need any supplies while out exploring this beautiful area.
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