Blue Flag Beaches in South Africa

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Mnandi Beach, one of Cape Town's Blue Flag beaches

© WESSA Blue Flag

Blue Flag beaches in South Africa are a very real feather in our tourism cap. To date, there are 36 beaches that have been awarded full Blue Flag status, and several others are in the pilot phase.

Conceived in France in 1985, the Blue Flag programme is a recognised international accreditation initiative that acknowledges excellence in maintaining the highest standards of environmental management, safety, services and amenities.

South Africa was the first country, outside of Europe, to introduce the Blue Flag programme in November 2001. Locally, the initiative has grown from just 3 beaches in the first year to 36 beaches in the 12th year of the programme.

Beaches with full Blue Flag status for 2012/2013 include:

Bikini Beach, Cape Town

Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town                                          

Mnandi Beach, Cape Town 

Strandfontein Beach, Cape Town

Camps Bay, Cape Town     

Clifton, Cape Town

Llandudno, Cape Town

Keurboomstrand, Plettenberg Bay

Robberg Beach, Plettenberg Bay

Boknes Beach, Sunshine Coast

Grotto Beach, Hermanus

Hawston Beach

Hartenbos Beach, Mossel Bay

Hawston Beach, near Hermanus

Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth

Kariega Main Beach, Kenton-on-Sea

Kellys Beach, Port Alfred

Kleinmond Beach, Overberg

Lappiesbaai, Stilbaai

Lucien Beach, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

Margate Beach, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

Marina Beach, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast                     

Trafalgar Beach, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

Umzumbe, KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

Ramsgate Beach, KZN South Coast

Robberg 5 Beach, Plettenberg Bay

Santos Beach, Mossel Bay

Witsand, at the mouth of the Breede River               

The beaches have achieved world-class standards during the past season and have been adjudicated by both a South African and an International Blue Flag Jury to meet the standards of excellence set out for Blue Flag beaches. Blue Flag beaches are awarded seasonally, and can be withdrawn at short notice should qualifying criteria not be fulfilled.

Locally, the programme is run by WESSA (The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) in participation with municipal authorities. The Blue Flag iniatitive contributes to the aims of the White Paper on Sustainable Coastal Development.

The website is extremely informative and offers information on each beach's location, number of lifeguards, parking, average water temperature, special birds or animals that can be seen, and facilities.