Best beach spots for ….
There’s an African beach out there to suit every taste and budget. We’ve rounded up some of the best here, but as it’s impossible to give detailed information in a few words, please give us a call for more ideas on Africa’s best beach retreats.
Families
A few seaside days are the perfect complement to a family safari holiday and the African coast offers plenty of options. The sophisticated resorts on Mauritius and the Maldives cater to families travelling with children of any age, but are particularly good if you’re looking for kids’ clubs for the younger element or varied water sports for active teens.
Kenya and Mozambique have a handful of gorgeous private villas and beach houses which are lovely for bigger family groups. The lodges scattered along Malawi’s sunny lakeshore are definitely worth considering if you’re after something off the beaten track – ditto Madagascar, though an adventurous outlook will help here. The Seychelles islands will delight families in search of eco-chic exclusivity while Zanzibar is great for those after a slice of African heaven with a touch of culture.
Kanifushi Kids Club, Atmosphere, Maldives
Private family villas with pools, Vamizi Island, Mozambique
Honeymoon
Top and tailing a honeymoon safari with a few nights on the beach, so you have somewhere to relax at the start and some downtime before returning home, is highly recommended. And as Africa’s coastline and islands are home to some of the world’s prettiest beaches the choices are endless. With exclusive, secluded resorts, iconic over-water beach villas, wonderful spas and superb dining, it’s no surprise the Maldives tops many a honeymoon list. The Seychelles, too, hit the nail on the head for captivating beauty and romance with fine resorts scattered throughout palm fringed islands. The charming boutique style hotels on the Kenyan coast and Mozambique islands dovetail neatly with nearby wildlife reserves, while Madagascar’s beaches offer great bragging rights – you need to be bold to tackle this extraordinary country but the rewards are priceless, and few others will have been. Mauritius too, has enduring appeal and the superb resorts here never fail to please honeymooners.
Private infinity pool, Niyama by Per Aquum, Maldives
Daybed and private plunge pool of the Presidential Villa, North Island, Seychelles
Adventure
If adventure means remote and little visited then Madagascar has to be the first choice in this category. The island’s 5,000km of Indian Ocean coastline and 250 islands offer beachgoers a stunning and very private experience – combining time with a Madagascar safari to see the island’s extraordinary diversity of endemic species like frogs, lemurs and fossas is easily done. Island hopping in Mozambique’s Quirimbas archipelago is another for would-be explorers, where sailing a traditional dhow along an unspoilt coast combined with camping on uninhabited islands and a lodge stay is a great mix of adventure and comfort. Remember though, that many of Africa’s beaches are wild and unspoilt – far, far removed from the beach club and sun-bed norm in the Med (which I love too, but it’s just very different), so if walking for miles along pristine sand without seeing another soul is your idea of adventure then let us know and we’ll find you the perfect spot.
Uncrowded white sands at Tsarabanjina, Madagascar
Sailing a traditional dhow on Ibo Island’s silver shores, Mozambique
Diving
Africa’s Indian Ocean coastline contains some of the world’s finest coral reefs and offers wonderfully varied diving holidays from the warm tropical waters around northern Mozambique to the cooler seas off South Africa’s coast. Several marine parks and reserves line the coast of Kenya, continuing to even better diving off Zanzibar and Tanzania’s offshore islands.
Mozambique and the Seychelles offer truly world-class dive sites, while Mauritius is a wonderful holiday destination for first-time divers. Madagascar’s diving is superb, with all sorts of exciting discoveries to be made, and South Africa offers tropical waters off northern KwaZulu-Natal and cold-water diving off the southern coast if you are brave enough to dive with great white sharks. Finally, some of the most rewarding diving is in the freshwater Lake Malawi; with its range of colourful freshwater species and underwater rock formations; it is a revelation to even the most experienced divers.
Scuba diving on the reef at Six Senses Laamu, Maldives
Freshwater diving with cichlids at Kaya Mawa, Lake Malawi
Value
As a general rule, African beach nights are less expensive than nights on safari, so as well as sunny days and gorgeous beaches – it’s good value too. Several of our favourite properties have very good offers so do ask us if you are looking to fulfil a particular budget and we will do our utmost to find the best value for you.
Private picnic lunch at Benguerra Island, Mozambique
What Next?
Start your safari holiday planning now. Our team of friendly safari experts can ask the right questions, suggest camps, lodges and safari areas, or match you and your family with an Indian Ocean island beach perfect for your holiday. Just give us a call or pop us an email and we will do the rest.
I have a special birthday on March 2019 and have always wanted to see Giraffes in their natural habitat. My husband and I would like a 2 week holiday which combines a safari and beach with some luxury thrown in.
I’m not sure the best time of year to travel and I have also heard about a Giraffe hotel? Any help to organise this trip would be great.
Thanks
Sharon
Dear Sharon, Thank you for your enquiry, a safari sales expert will be in touch shortly. Best Wishes Renate
Hi! My fiance and I are trying to plan a honeymoon for December 2018 (over Christmas and New Years when we have a lot of time off work). I have done a Safari before in South Africa, outside of Port Elizabeth. My fiance has never done a safari and my dream is to see a male lion (along with a lot of the other big 5 as I saw only 3 on my prior safari). We are then looking for some time on the beach! The whiter the sand and bluer the water the better. Any tips of locations to hone in on/places to stay would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Dear Lyndsay, Your enquiry has been passed on to a sales expert who will be in touch, Best regards Renate