Strand, Cape Province

Lying at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, between Macassar and Gordons Bay and just 40 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, Strand is a town in its own right and a bustling one at that. New Dubai-style apartment blocks have joined the ranks of 70's-style beachfront homes to give the Strand beachfront a modern face lift. The Strand, Strand’s beachfront, is 5 km of white sand that is a water sports magnet and among the safest swimming beaches in the country. The Beach in Strand is warm, sheltered and lie on the edge of a promenade that includes a few coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. There is also a large entertainment area with putt-putt, a water slide, a heated Olympic-size swimming pool and tidal pool, which should keep most of the family amused. Strand’s beginnings were as a fishing and holiday resort and things haven’t changed other than the development that has placed Strand at the heart of the beautiful Helderberg Basin with easy access to wine routes, Somerset West’s Mall and the coastal drive past Gordon’s Bay to Betty’s Bay providing perfect viewing points during whale watching season. Fishing can still be arranged along the stretch of coast between Lourens River Mouth and Rooi Els as well as diving trips, and if you need to get away from the beach and its attractions, Stellenbosch is 25 km away and Cape Town and her attractions an easy drive along the N2.