When it comes to the beauty of nature, Africa is home to some of the world’s most stunning sights of interest. From beaches to islands, wildlife, deserts, lakes, landscapes, and wonders of the world, each has its own fascinating stories, and cultures.
With 18,950 miles of coastline spread across 54 countries from the West to the East, North and South. Madagascar has the longest coastline on the continent at 3,000 miles, while the Southern and Eastern parts of Africa are home to the finest types of beaches you can wish for anywhere around the world. Little wonder these regions are being marked as destination travels for tourists around the world especially during summer. This doesn’t leave out some parts of North African and West Africa .
With so many stunning strips of sand spread across multiple countries in Africa, it’s hard to narrow down the best of the best when it comes to beaches. However, we have compiled a list of 10 countries where these beautiful beaches are located based on clear coastline, safe environment which is good for swimming, diving, and snorkeling.
South Africa
If you want to visit beaches that also offer you the privilege of seeing beautiful sea creatures like dolphins, penguins, etc, then South Africa is the place to be. Whether you’re looking for the best waves, the most secluded tanning spot, or the best scenic boardwalk, then you should visit South Africa’s beaches.
One particular is the Boulders Beach – an excellent place for kids as the waves are calm and offer the right swimming temperatures. If you want a feeling of the Maldives beaches, then the Kraalbaai in the West Coast National Park is your go-to place. It has a gin-clear, turquoise water, an idyllic jetty, and even a couple of houseboats floating in the bay. You can also combine your beach exploring with a hike or a birding adventure in its surroundings. Other beautiful beaches are Camps Bay Beach, Thonga Beach, Gonubie Beach, Kommetjie Beach, etc,
It is absolutely safe to visit the South African beaches. However, make sure you confirm from local authorities that the beach you’re visiting does not have sharks before going swimming or surfing.
Seychelles
If you’re heading to the Seychelles, the chances are that you are likely planning on heading to the beach. The beauty of the Seychellois beaches is beyond words and unmatched anywhere else in the world: exquisite ribbons of powdery-soft white sand are lapped by turquoise waters and backed by palm tree covered hills and big rocky boulders. Some of the best beaches in Seychelles become top reasons for visiting this archipelago. Almost everyone knows that both the surf and turf on the 115 islands are world-class.
Anse Source d’Argent is perhaps the best-known beach in the Seychelles, and certainly one of its most spectacular locations. It is remarkable how quiet this beach can be given that there is now a luxury hotel at one end of it.
Beau Vallon is the longest beach on Mahe, the largest island in Seychelles and the home of its capital. It’s also among Seychelles’ most visited beaches.
Ranked the sixth-best beach in the world by TripAdvisor in 2015, Anse Lazio is a beach to be, thanks to its picturesque, postcard scenery, including perfect white sand, crystal-clear water, imposing palm trees, and much more. Other notable beaches in Seychelles are Anse Lazio Praslin, Anse Georgette Praslin, Grand Anse, La Digue, Anse Intendance, Mahé, etc.
Madagascar
The expansive island nation of Madagascar off the coast of East Africa boasts some truly stunning beaches along its 5,000km (3,100 miles) of Indian Ocean coastline and surrounding islands.
Madagascar has more kilometers of seafront than any other African nation. With tons of jaw-dropping beaches and amazing wildlife, it really makes an unbeatable holiday destination.
Ambondrona is probably the island’s finest beach, with a very shallow incline and sheltered conditions that ensure calm waters and safe swimming throughout the year. Relaxed hotels such as the excellent Nosy Lodge stand on the beach, with their pools and restaurants literally steps away from the sand.
The Mitsio Islands are known as “the Maldives of Madagascar” thanks to their white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and exotic wildlife. The beaches are truly stunning and there are a few nearby hotels.
Ramena Beach is another to look forward to. This is a working beach with real fishermen pulling in their catches, beach snack bars and restaurants
Other beaches include Tsarabanjina, Anjajavy, Nosy Komba, Nosy Be, Ille Sainte-Marie, Princesse etc.
Mozambique
Senegal
There are a number of beaches in Senegal; these beaches are as diverse as the country itself. From endless expanses to hidden coves, the country’s sandy offerings are tailor-made for all types of beachgoer.Saly Beach, Engore Beach, Yoff Beach and Nianing to include some of Senegal’s best beaches. They have a lot to offer to all those who want to enjoy a good day.
Dakar Beaches are popular for their clean blue water and an amazing view. One must surely visit the beaches if they go to Darak Africa. Dakar Beach is one of the must visit places in the city. It does not just offer the visitors a good time with friends and family, but also great food and a number of water sports.
One of the things that set Senegal apart from other countries in Africa with beaches is the seafood cuisine. Fish is the country’s staple and most menus are peppered with oysters, prawns and squid.
The national dish, thieboudienne, marries freshly grilled fish with spicy tomato rice, cassava and carrots.
There are many other beaches in Senegal and most popular are Cap Skirring, Langue de Barbarie, Plage Popenguine, Somone, Kayar
etc.
Kenya
Kenya is a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. Although Kenya is justly celebrated for its national parks and wildlife, it’s also home to some of the continent’s best beaches. Kenya has lots of beaches with a clean and clear coastline. More so, the beaches come with a wide range of accommodation, with beach resorts, hotels, hostels and honeymoon tree houses. Most of Kenya’s best beaches are located just north and south of Mombasa in the southeast.
The most popular is the Diani beach, which has white, powdery sand and the turquoise water, surrounded by lush green vegetation. It is an adventure sports hub, renowned for kitesurfing, skydiving and deep-sea fishing. Diani makes it easy to combine surfing with safari at nearby Shimba Hills National Reserve and Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, both little over an hour away.
Shela Beach is one of the most perfect places to chill out and adopt a slow coastal living style. The smooth white beach of Watamu, which slides gently into shallow, turquoise water, forms part of the Malindi Marine Reserve Park, a marine protected area. The snorkeling and diving around the offshore coral formations is said to be the best in East Africa.
Others are Chali Island, Nyali Beach, Bamburi Beach, Lamu Beaches, Mambrui Beach, Shanzu Beach, etc.
Tanzania
The most famous beaches are located on Zanzibar Island, though the mainland also has good beaches. These stunning beaches are some of the finest in the world, with powder white sands and turquoise blue seas. The balmy temperatures are around 30 degrees centigrade throughout the year, making Tanzania and its islands the perfect beach getaway, whatever time of year you want to go.
Located at the northern tip of Zanzibar is the Nungwi Beach. It has crystal-clear waters flowing upon white sand shores.Popularity comes at a price, though, and Nungwi can be overpopulated with tourists and locals attempting to sell their wares.
If you want to combine the safari and beach elements of your trip, head 62 miles (100 kilometers) north of Dar es Salaam to Saadani National Park. It’s the only national park in East Africa to border the Indian Ocean.
Further south of Tanzania, Fanjove Island is the place to go for those in search of an authentic Robinson Crusoe experience.
Other beaches are Kipepeo Beach, Bongoyo Island Beach, Mafia Island, Paje Beach, Nungwi Beach, Nakupenda Beach, etc.
Morocco
Morocco’s coastline runs along both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, meaning it has a huge array of beaches that are good destination places for beach travel. With some fantastic spots for keen surfers and water sports enthusiasts, there’s no shortage of waves along much of the country’s sprawling, sand-dune sea sides.
An iconic sight and one that has garnered much attention around the world, is the natural rock formations at Legzira Beach. The beach still remains a remarkable place to take in the strange rock formations, and is famous for sunsets that span the sky and highlight the array of reds in the rocks. Legzira, with its windy weather, is an extremely popular spot for paragliders and surfers.
Tourism is on the rise in the area in the little coast town of Taghazout, with the Moroccan government focusing on the development of Taghazout as a resort town, but for now, most of the tourists here are backpackers and surfers. This chilled-out town is truly a surfers’ paradise and a magnet for those who want to spend summers riding the waves.
Essaouira beach is another beautiful beach in the North African country. It is located on the shores of Essaouira, an influential port city, which attracts tourists with its stylish beachfront, but still has its roots firmly in tradition. Known for its relaxed atmosphere and glimmering sands, Essaouira beach remains a magnet for tourists .
It also features some fantastically indulgent dining restaurants that serve world-class dishes in the beautiful beachfront setting. Other beaches to visit are Las Cuevas Beach, Asilah, Martil Beach, Dragon Beach, Dakhla Peninsula, Sidi Kaouki, Ain Diab, Casablanca, etc.
Ghana
There are a number of beautiful beaches in Ghana that will assure a memorable and fulfilling trip. Sunbathing, cocktails, music, parties: the beach is a great place to be.
We start with the Cape Coast & Elmina – a place for slave trade built by the Swedes, then held temporarily by the Dutch and the Danish before being developed into the impressive structure that remains today by the British in 1665, and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Busua Beach Resort, one of the best resorts in Ghana, is a magnificent location for business trips or family vacations away from the stress of the city. Tourists flood in especially between September and December to see dolphins or small groups of whales.
Bojo Beach is known as one of the most beautiful and cleanest sandy beaches in Ghana. This is a budget, quiet and comfortable place. There is also the Labadi beach found near Teshie in the Greater Accra region.It boasts of a large beach front with numerous seating spaces and umbrellas that bow to Accra’s warm afternoon sun. Others are Ankobra Beach, Kokrobite Beach, La Palm Royal Beach, etc.
It’s advisable to aim for beaches outside central Accra to avoid overpacked and plastic-splattered beaches. These are some of the county’s most popular and cleaner beaches to enjoy.
Egypt
On Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Naama Bay, is the epicenter of the country’s top beach resort, Sharm el-Sheikh. This beach is the reason Egypt makes this list. Sharm el-Sheikh has become Egypt’s resort capital for good reason: the warm, crystal waters and wide beaches are great for swimmers and sunbathers and it’s the gateway to some of the best diving in the world, along the reefs of the Red Sea. In winter, Naama Bay gets crowded, as Europeans head here to escape the cold in their countries. The area around Sharm el-Sheikh is also famous for its diving in the coral reefs around Ras Mohammed National Park. There is also excellent snorkeling in the area.
There are numerous lodging options around this beach, including Movenpick Sharm El Sheikh, which is a large and modern resort that looks out onto the bay from its perch atop a cliff.
Other beautiful beaches in Egypt include Marsa Nayzak, Dream beach, Agiba beach, Sahl Hasheesh Beach, Ras Um Sid beach, etc.