Here are all of South Africa’s Blue Flag beaches

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) has listed all of SA’s cleanest and safest Blue Flag beaches for 2022/23.

The Western Cape is leading with the most Blue Flag beaches in this year’s list released by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA). 

The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.

ALSO READ: KZN North Coast: Beautiful beaches you HAVE to visit

SA’S BLUE FLAG BEACHES FOR 2022/23

WESSA is a South African environmental organisation which aims to initiate and support high impact environmental and conservation projects to promote participation in caring for the Earth.

In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

In total, 51 beaches achieved the Blue Flag status and Western Cape leads with 33 beaches followed by the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with nine beaches each.

Notably, for the first time since a long while, none of the Durban beaches in eThekwini Municipality achieved a Blue Flag status this year. This comes as no surprise given the damage caused by the floods earlier this year which saw raw sewage flow into rivers and the sea. A number of beaches have been closed due to high E.coli levels. 

REGION	MUNICIPALITY	NAME OF SITE
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	SILWERSTROOMSTRAND
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	CLIFTON 4TH
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	CAMPS BAY
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	LLANDUDNO
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	MUIZENBERG
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	BIKINI
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	MELKBOSSTRAND
WESTERN CAPE	CITY OF CAPE TOWN	FISH HOEK
WESTERN CAPE	OVERSTRAND	KLEINMOND
WESTERN CAPE	OVERSTRAND	HAWSTON
WESTERN CAPE	OVERSTRAND	GROTTO
WESTERN CAPE	OVERSTRAND	CASTLE
WESTERN CAPE	OVERSTRAND	ONRUS
WESTERN CAPE	CAPE AGULHAS	STRUISBAAI
WESTERN CAPE	HESSEQUA	WITSAND
WESTERN CAPE	HESSEQUA	PREEKSTOEL
WESTERN CAPE	HESSEQUA	LAPPIESBAAI
WESTERN CAPE	HESSEQUA	JONGENSFONTEIN
WESTERN CAPE	HESSEQUA	GOURITZMOND
WESTERN CAPE	HESSEQUA	STILBAAI WES
WESTERN CAPE	MOSSEL BAY	DE BAKKE
WESTERN CAPE	MOSSEL BAY	HARTENBOS
WESTERN CAPE	MOSSEL BAY	KLEIN BRAK
WESTERN CAPE	MOSSEL BAY	SANTOS
WESTERN CAPE	MOSSEL BAY	GLENTANA
WESTERN CAPE	GEORGE	WILDERNESS
WESTERN CAPE	GEORGE	HEROLD’S BAY (NEW)
WESTERN CAPE	BITOU	ROBBERG 5
WESTERN CAPE	BITOU	THE WAVES
WESTERN CAPE	BITOU	NATURE’S VALLEY
WESTERN CAPE	BITOU	LOOKOUT
WESTERN CAPE	BITOU	THE DUNES
WESTERN CAPE	BITOU	SINGING KETTLE
EASTERN CAPE	KOUGA	DOLPHIN
EASTERN CAPE	KOUGA	CAPE ST FRANCIS (NEW)
EASTERN CAPE	MARINA MARTINIQUE	MARINA MARTINIQUE BEACH (NEW)
EASTERN CAPE	NELSON MANDELA BAY METRO	KINGS
EASTERN CAPE	NELSON MANDELA BAY METRO	HUMEWOOD
EASTERN CAPE	NELSON MANDELA BAY METRO	HOBIE
EASTERN CAPE	NDLAMBE	KARIEGA
EASTERN CAPE	NDLAMBE	KELLY’S
EASTERN CAPE	NDLAMBE	MIDDLE KENTON ON SEA (NEW)
KWAZULU‐NATAL	RAY NKONYENI	MARINA
KWAZULU‐NATAL	RAY NKONYENI	TRAFALGAR
KWAZULU‐NATAL	RAY NKONYENI	SOUTHPORT
KWAZULU‐NATAL	RAY NKONYENI	UMZUMBE
KWAZULU‐NATAL	RAY NKONYENI	RAMSGATE
KWAZULU‐NATAL	RAY NKONYENI	HIBBERDENE
KWAZULU‐NATAL	KWADUKUZA	THOMPSON’S BAY (NEW)
KWAZULU‐NATAL	KWADUKUZA	WILLARD (NEW)
KWAZULU‐NATAL	KWADUKUZA	BLYTHDALE (NEW)

By: Nokwanda Ncwane