Camps Bay Beach

Camps Bay Beach is a wide stretch of white sand on Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard, backed by the jagged peaks of the Twelve Apostles mountain range and fronted by palm trees along Victoria Road, in South Africa's Western Cape. Lying about 15 minutes by car from the city centre, it is one of the city's best known beaches and a favourite for sunbathing, beach volleyball, long walks and photography. The beach is divided into sections, with the main sandy area opposite the cafes and a quieter stretch towards the rocks at Glen Beach, where surfers and photographers gather. Victoria Road is lined with restaurants, bars and cafes, which offer outdoor seating with ocean views, and these are especially lively at sunset, when the sun sinks into the Atlantic and the sky turns orange. The water is cold year-round, usually 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, so most visitors paddle rather than swim, though lifeguards patrol in summer daylight hours. The best photo angle is from the beach looking back at the mountains, ideally in the late afternoon light, and from the rocky outcrops at the northern end for sunset. A visit typically lasts two to four hours, longer for a sunset dinner. Summer afternoons and weekends bring heavy crowds, and parking can be difficult, so using Uber/Bolt or the MyCiTi bus is practical. Mornings are quieter and often calm, but south-easterly winds in summer can be strong in the afternoon and blow sand. The beach has toilets and showers, and the area is generally safe in daylight, though valuables should be kept out of sight and not left unattended. Evenings are busy and safe on the main road, but visitors should take care walking on the beach after dark.