A Guide to the Best African Beaches

South Africa is a great choice for surfing and the host of several annual surfing competitions. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Billabong Pro ASP World Tour on Supertubes Beach in Jeffrey’s Bay, held each July. This Eastern Cape beach is known as one of the best surfing destinations in the world.

Outside South Africa, Mauritius has a famous wave called ‘One Eye’, due to the small hole that reveals itself on the craggy rock face when surfers ride the wave. Shanti Maurice can sort out all the appropriate arrangements for surfing this epic spot.

Of course, you can happily sunbathe at most beaches, but some are just perfect for an uninterrupted Vitamin D binge. One such place is Mnemba Island, just off Zanzibar, with its unspoiled beaches to rival any not just in eastern Africa, but anywhere in the world.

Sodwana Bay is one of the best diving spots in the world. On South Africa’s Elephant Coast, Sodwana Bay dive sites have coral reefs, caves, walls and pinnacles, all of which make for excellent diving. The walls create whirlpools that sweep up dazzling fish, such as yellow, blue-banded and dory snappers, soldier fish and potato bass. Base yourself in Thonga Beach Lodge while you explore this protected stretch of coastline.

En route to the Cathedral, a world-famous dive site, located just off Flic-en-Flac on the west coast of the Island of Mauritius, divers are often joined by playful dolphins. A crevice of ten metres leads down into this cave, home to angelfish, sergeant majors, sweet lips and lionfish; once in the Cathedral, the rays of sparkling white light shining through the entrance create a magical scene.

Desroches, in the Seychelles is fabulous for big game fishing and fly fishing; when we visited, the obsessive enthusiasm of the onsite fishing expert was infectious! Catches include dog tuna, sailfish, wahoo, permit and giant travelly.

To see these massive mammals up close, you should head down to the Whale Coast of South Africa. Between July and November, there are humpback whales, southern right whales, Bryde’s whales (seen year round), and the occasional orca.

Off the coast of Cape Town, False Bay is the most famous place in the world for watching the incredible great white sharks. As well as seeing them breach – an awe-inspiring sight – you can get down to their level and meet these massive sharks nose to nose – albeit separated by strong metal bars.

Just thirty minutes off Beau Vallon in the Seychelles, Shark Bank hosts dozens of whale sharks between August and November (October is peak season). Mozambique’s Tofo Beach is also very popular for whale shark sightings; for the chance to swim amongst fifty or so of these gentle giants, head here between October and March.

For a dash of culture thrown into your beach vacation, visit the beautiful Bwejuu beach (where you can stay in the sleek Baraza resort) on Zanzibar, from which you can visit Stone Town with its crumbling Omani forts and eight-foot-high Zanzibarian doors

It’s fair to say that there is no shortage of honeymoon-suitable beaches around Africa, particularly in Mauritius, the Seychelles, Mozambique and Zanzibar. For glamour, you’ll want to fly out to the Seychelles. Some top beach properties include Raffles, Maia and the Four Seasons, from which you can take advantage of the pristine beaches of these Indian Ocean islands.

Although most travel articles tend to focus on North Island in the Seychelles (famed for hosting Kate and Wills’ royal honeymoon), this is just one – very high-end – option for privacy and romance.

Desroches Private Island in the Seychelles is a superb beach spot for a luxurious family holiday, with over 14km of unspoilt beaches and virgin forests surrounded by the sparkling Indian Ocean.