The African continent has roughly 18,950 miles/30,500 kilometers of coastline, including an abundance of magnificent beaches. With so many options available, deciding where to go on your African beach trip might be challenging. From the rough beauty of South Africa’s Wild Coast to Madagascar’s most extended coasts are all options. With so many beautiful stretches of sand scattered across several nations, it isn’t easy to choose the finest of the best when it comes to beaches. However, we believe that the beaches featured below are the most captivating on the African continent.
Watamu Beach, Kenya
Kenya’s coastline is plenty of lovely spots, but none captures its allure quite like Watamu. The white-sand beach here stretches for about 7 kilometers and is framed by mangroves, trees, and an untouched fishing town. The waters here are part of a marine park, and being here might seem like discovering Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast before visitors came. Small lonely islets surround the coastline. There are additional sandbars that provide access to the islands. Hermit crabs, starfish, and other sea creatures may be seen on the white sand beaches. The lengthy beach includes a small reef where visitors may snorkel and observe rays, octopus, bargains, and colorful fish.
Figure 1 – Watamu Beach. Source – Google
Quirimbas, Mozambique
The Quirimbas Archipelago, which consists of 32 picturesque islands strung along Mozambique’s coastline, has tremendous cultural and historical importance, not to mention some of Africa’s greatest beaches! Many of the islands are protected by the Quirimbas National Park, allowing nature enthusiasts to explore beautiful woods, view rare marine species like turtles and dugongs, and find healthy coral reefs. Medjumbe, Quilalea, Vamizi, Ibo, and other islands may be found in the Quirimbas.
Figure 2 – Quirimbas, Mozambique. Source – Google
Cabo Ledo, Angola
Angola has been closed to foreign travel for decades due to the violent civil conflict, but with calm politics and flexible visa rules, it is gradually becoming more accessible. It’s a region waiting for rediscovery, with 1,025 miles of different shoreline ecosystems, and surfers were the first intrepid visitors. Cabo Ledo has the most accessible and beautiful beaches. Cabo Ledo, located in a traditional fishing community in a vast bay two hours from Luanda’s city, provides extensive sandy coasts, rolling rides, and calm seaside accommodations. According to experts, the winter season between May and October has the finest consistency for huge waves.
Figure 3 – Cabo Ledo, Angola. Source – Google
Margarida, Príncipe
The two-island republic of So Tomé and Principe, once known as the Chocolate Islands, is now renowned as Africa’s own Galapagos, owing to its remote position 130 miles off the coast of West Africa. Margarida, perched atop Principe, is a remote beach only accessible by boat or foot. The warm water laps in emerald green waves here, and kingfishers sing from the trees as you wade in.
Figure 4 – Margarida, Príncipe. Source – Google
Elmina, Ghana
While most beach vacations are inconsequential and easygoing, many of Africa’s coasts are immensely historical. Visit Elmina beach to remember the land — and those who left it. The Portuguese erected Elmina’s St. George’s Castle in 1482, making it the earliest European structure in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Cape Coast Castle Museum, located nearby, laments the heinous deeds and repercussions of slavery.
Figure 5 – Elmina, Ghana. Source – Google
Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.
