5 remote beach towns in South Africa worth the drive
Why go: Kosi Bay isn't just remote – it's wild. Think mangrove estuaries, ancient fish traps, and untouched sandbanks that stretch to Mozambique.
What to do: Snorkel in the estuary, explore by canoe, or go turtle tracking under the stars. It's a nature-lover's dream.
Getting there: A long haul from Durban (about six hours), but the payoff is pristine isolation.
Why go: White-washed fishermen's cottages, windswept beaches, and a raw Atlantic backdrop. Paternoster feels frozen in time.
What to do: Stroll barefoot along the shell-strewn beach, kayak with dolphins, or book a table at Wolfgat , one of the world's best restaurants hiding in plain sight.
Getting there: About two hours north of Cape Town on the R27, it's an easy drive with zero city stress. Paternoster beach. Image: wikimedia commons.
Why go: No signal. No traffic. Just rolling hills, empty waves, and the kind of peace that resets your brain.
What to do: Surf, hike, or just lie back and watch Nguni cattle wander down the beach. This beach town is off the grid, both literally and spiritually.
Getting there: A five-hour drive from East London with a 4×4 stretch at the end. Getting there is part of the adventure.
Why go: Tucked at the mouth of the Breede River where it meets the Indian Ocean, South Africa's Cape Infanta is quiet, rugged, and seriously underrated.
What to do: Go fishing off the rocks, swim in the estuary, or just watch the sun melt into the ocean. It's sleepy in the best possible way.
Getting there: Around fours hours from Cape Town, the last stretch is gravel – adding to the sense that you're going somewhere secret. Cape Infanta, Western Cape. Image: wikimedia commons.
Why go: If Mars had a beach, it would look like this! Stark. Isolated. Strangely beautiful. It's a beach town that time skipped.
What to do: Explore shipwrecks, visit the unique 'Aristea' ruins, and stare into the night sky – it's some of the clearest stargazing in the country.
Getting there: A mission from Cape Town (about six–seven hours), but if you're chasing solitude, Hondeklip delivers.
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