From the haunting beauty of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast to the Mediterranean like playgrounds around Cape Town, the breathtaking beaches of the Garden Route and the tropical climes of KwaZulu and Mozambique, whatever kind of experience you are after is delivered by the bucket load on this stretch of coast.
Trying to do this majestic coastline justice in a single post would be difficult, but we decided to give it a go anyway, so here are our top picks for a romantic beach getaway.
Thonga Beach Lodge is a perfect destination for an idyllic beach honeymoon, especially if you enjoy getting active in unspoilt nature in between cuddles. The lodge is situated in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park which stretches for 220km along the northern coast of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa. The Park was South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the handful of small resorts scattered along this protected coast ensures an experience that immerses you in a spectacular and unspoilt natural setting.
Here couples can enjoy candlelit dinners on the beach deck, take romantic walks on an endless, pristine wilderness beach, scuba dive, snorkel, kayak, relax at the spa, and enjoy excellent cuisine. The thatched bush suites offer ocean or forest views, as well as complete privacy, ideal for newlyweds to frolic in whichever fashion they choose.
Clifton is undoubtedly one of Cape Town’s most famous and beautiful beaches. This upmarket yet relaxed neighbourhood nestled between the mountain and the sea is a renowned summer playground. The four picturesque beaches here offer sheltered harbour from the windy conditions that can lash other shores in the city. Here you will find the exclusive Cape View Clifton. With only seven elegantly appointed suites, all with uninterrupted views of the coast-line, this boutique hotel offers the airy brightness and feel of a luxuriously appointed beach house.
A Cape Town icon as much as accommodation, the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa is one of Cape Town’s most awarded hotels. Flanked by Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles mountain range, it is a stone’s throw from trendy Campsbay and the Atlantic Seaboard, yet feels far removed from the city bustle. Surrounded by rugged coastline and with sweeping views over Campsbay, it's impossible not to sit back and enjoy your surrounds as you sip on a cocktail or one of the many fine wines produced in the nearby Cape Winelands. This well-appointed hotel also offers plenty of incentive not to leave the premises with its spa and four different dining venues on site.
Although well known to South African tourists, Mozambique largely remains an undiscovered jewel to the rest of the world, and nowhere more so than the Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique. The jewel-like crystal clear water teems with marine life and with limited development across this cluster of six paradise islands, exclusive hideaways like Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort offers pure luxury amid unspoilt nature. It offers lavish accommodation, extraordinary local cuisine and as much nurturing spa treatments as your heart desires, and your body can handle.
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Canelands Beach Club and Spa is focussed on indulging every whim of the visitor in a tranquil setting on the north coast of South Africa’s KwaZulu province. It offers 180-degree views over the ocean, and you will be mesmerised by the sound of waves crashing meters away. And with staff on hand to deliver any delights you require from their executive chef, it would be hard not to relax and take it easy at this resort. For the more adventurous the resort also offers a host of more active options such as microlight flights and horse riding on the beach.
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“Nestled between lake and sea” is probably the best way to describe this boutique hotel that upholds a strong sense of social responsibility. Hotel Sentido is hidden among mangroves inhabited by exotic birds and looking out over the deep blue ocean once travelled by sailors and pirates. This resort is a true oasis to soothe the ardour of the African heat. With Tofo Beach just a stone’s throw away this getaway is also ideally positioned to participate in some extraordinary marine experiences. The area is considered one of the best spots in the world to go swimming with whale sharks. Whale sharks are found in huge concentrations here owing to the nutrient-rich water, and lack of development or shipping lanes in the area.
Journeez is part of an exclusive network with preferred access to these, and nearly 1,000 more upmarket properties. We have access to pricing and availability that you won't find online so get in touch if you would like to know more or would like us to sense check a quote you received.
