As South Africa welcomes summer, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and V&A Waterfront hosted the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards on October 28, celebrating the country’s outstanding beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourism operators.
In total, 48 beaches, four marinas, and seven tourism boats were recognised for meeting the highest environmental management, education, safety, accessibility, and sustainability standards, earning them the esteemed eco-labels.
In addition, seven sites were awarded Green Coast status, these being community-driven coastal conservation areas of high biodiversity and eco-tourism value in South Africa that appeal to people seeking adventure and nature-based experiences.
This year’s awards also acknowledged the efforts of 18 pilot beaches, highlighting their progress in striving for Blue Flag status.
By doing so, WESSA aims to promote a strong connection between communities and the protection of South Africa’s coastal environments, ensuring the well-being of both people and coastal ecosystems.
A highlight of this year’s awards included the recognition of Pennington Beach from Umdoni Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, which has been newly awarded Blue Flag status.
Additionally, three new pilot beaches have been introduced: Paternoster Beach from Saldanha Municipality on the West Coast, and Kidd’s Beach and Gonubie Beach from Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
For the 2024/25 season, Cape Town’s eight Blue Flag beaches are:
- Silwerstroomstrand
- Clifton 4th
- Camps Bay
- Llandudno
- Muizenberg
- Bikini Beach
- Melkbosstrand
- Fish Hoek
The nine Blue Flag beaches in KwaZulu-Natal are:
- Marina Beach
- Trafalgar
- Southport
- Umzumbe
- Ramsgate
- Hibberdene
- Pennington (new)
- Blythdale
- Thompson Bay
The 2024/25 Blue Flag season officially opens on December 1 and runs until January 31 at all accredited beaches.
Click here for the full list of South African Blue Flag beaches for the 2024/25 season.
