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(Perfect for families, safe swimming, white sand beaches & year-round holidays)
Just 40 minutes from Cape Town International Airport lies Strand – the quiet False Bay jewel that locals have kept secret for decades. With 5 km of dazzling white sand beaches, the warmest and safest swimming water near Cape Town, and virtually no crowds even in peak season, Strand is quickly becoming the smartest beach holiday choice in the Western Cape.
Melkbaai Beach: South Africa’s Safest Family Beach with Powder-White Sand
- Snow-white, squeaky sand that stays cool underfoot
- Crystal-clear turquoise water (visibility 5–10 m on most days)
- Almost no rip currents or sudden drop-offs – protected by the curve of False Bay
- Incredibly shallow gradient: walk out 50–100 metres and the water is still only waist or chest deep
- Regular Blue Flag beach status and lifeguards on duty 365 days a year
- Summer water temperature 19–23 °C – the warmest swimming beaches close to Cape Town
Ideal for toddlers, long leisurely swims, stand-up paddle boarding, and grandparents who just want to float in peace.
Top Things to Do in Strand & Helderberg 2025–2026
Championship Sports Facilities (All Within 5-Minute Drive)
- Strand Golf Club – scenic 18-hole Parklands course with False Bay & Table Mountain views
- Strand Squash Club at Charles Morkel Sports Grounds – 4 courts with 2 glass-back courts, leagues & coaching
- Strand Tennis Club at Charles Morkel Sports Grounds – 8 floodlit hard courts, social & competitive play
- PlayPadel Somerset West – 8 premium padel courts (bookings essential!)
- Beach volleyball courts, kite-surfing, kayak & SUP rentals directly on the promenade
Craft Beer & Wine Experiences
- Triggerfish Brewery – award-winning craft beers & family-friendly taproom
- Flagstone Winery – officially the closest winery to the sea in South Africa (just 800 m from the beach)
- Lourensford & Vergelegen wine estates – both under 10 minutes away
A Little Strand History & the Legend of the Strand Mermaid
First established in 1715 as a watering point for Dutch East India Company ships, Strand later became the fashionable seaside escape for Cape Town’s wealthy families. Many of the grand Victorian and Edwardian mansions along Beach Road are still standing and have been beautifully restored.
One of the town’s most charming stories is the Strand Mermaid of the 1930s. Every dawn, locals would spot a mysterious woman in an emerald-green swimsuit swimming far out to sea. Rumours spread that she was an actual mermaid — until she was revealed to be Lady Penelope Ashbury, an eccentric English aristocrat secretly training for a Channel crossing. She eventually succeeded in 1938, becoming one of the first women ever to swim the English Channel.
Another quirky fact: During World War II the calm waters of Melkbaai were used for secret testing of bouncing bombs similar to those used in the famous RAF Dambusters raid.
Where to Stay in Strand – Beachfront Accommodation 2025–2026
- Luxury beachfront apartments on Beach Road
- Ocean-view guesthouses & boutique hotels
- Self-catering family holiday homes walking distance to the sand
Stunning Photos
Skip the overcrowded Atlantic Seaboard this summer. Choose Strand – where the sand is whiter, the water is warmer and safer, and the holiday feels like yours alone
