Strand

The pier at Strand. Photo courtesy Ray Davies

With its beautiful white 5km-long beach, the Strand is an ideal family venue for swimming, sunbathing and a variety of water sports.

Strand (“beach” in Afrikaans) is a resort town nestled on the eastern shore of False Bay at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains. It lies between Macassar and Gordon’s Bay, 50km (31mi) from central Cape Town.

As its name indicates, the Strand’s main attraction is the beautiful beach that stretches into the distance along the shore of False Bay. A promenade featuring a mix of restaurants, cafés and shops follows the shoreline.

The main beach is Melkbaai, reputedly one of the safest bathing areas in the country. Nearby Dune Park has a supertube and mini-golf, and the adjacent Harmony Park features a huge tidal pool.

A wide variety of organised sport is available, including an internationally rated golf course, tennis courts, rugby fields, squash clubs and fun water sports such as board sailing, surfing, power-boating and paddle-skiing.

Surfing and the many surfers who frequent the Strand have imbued the seaside region with a laid-back culture. “The Pipe” is a specially designated surfing area, famous for its good waves.

Apart from swimming in the ocean, the Strand also has an Olympic-sized, heated swimming pool which is open to the public throughout the year. Between the Lourens River mouth and Rooi Els there are numerous fishing spots, and the clear waters attract many diving enthusiasts.

The waves are safe for beginners, which is something that attracts many young surfers to the Strand, particularly when the surf is good. Many of the surfing spots are quite far from shore, yet they remain extremely popular. For those serious about the sport, popular surf spots include AECI, Blinkklip, Pipe, Duckies, Reef, Silkies, Die Poort and Greenways.