It's feeling like autumn in Grahamstown and the last scorching days of summer are fading fast. Have you made the most of the sun, or do you still need to cram in a few weekend beach trips before the chill sets in for good? Here italGrocott's Mailital gives you a bird's-eye view on the four most popular beach areas just a short drive away.
It's feeling like autumn in Grahamstown and the last scorching days of summer are fading fast. Have you made the most of the sun, or do you still need to cram in a few weekend beach trips before the chill sets in for good? Here italGrocott's Mailital gives you a bird's-eye view on the four most popular beach areas just a short drive away.
Port Alfred
60km from Grahamstown, travelling on the R67.
Kelly's Beach in Port Alfred is another Blue Flag accredited spot on the Sunshine Coast that we can be proud of.
This long, flat beach offers plenty space to sun yourself, even if there are some crowds. The rock pools are a great source of entertainment for the young and young at heart, and exploring the rocky nooks and crannies makes for great learning.
One aspect of Blue Flag accreditation is that environmental education activities must be offered at the beach. Geraldene Arnold, a teacher at Victoria Girls Primary School (VP), has made good use of this opportunity. By phoning in advance and making an appointment, William Body, the Ndlambe environmental officer, accompanied the VP children to the rock pools and gave them a fun filled, tactile lesson on the different creatures living on our shores, all free of charge.
East Beach in Port Alfred isn't as fancy as Kelly's, but is still very popular. The waves are considerably larger for those wishing to do some body surfing in the swell and there are no lifeguards so you won't get shouted at when the wave you ride carries you out of what would be the designated flag area. The winter swell is also highly popular with surfers and competitions are held there on the odd occasion.
Kleinemonde
73km from Grahamstown, on the R72 north of Port Alfred.
If Port Alfred is getting a little too crowded for you, then take a left turn and carry on about 20km up to Kleinemonde (or Kleinies as the locals call it) instead.
This small settlement has little development, meaning there are no lifeguards, but on a positive note, there are no crowds. A meander down the beach makes for a great sunset walk, but if you're feeling a little more energetic, a gentle 3km stroll south will reveal the Three Sisters – three large jaggered rocky outcrops covered in rock pool fauna and dry earth flora – ready and waiting to be explored.
Guided horse trails, canoe trails and hiking trails can be found at Kleinies as well. The east beach is open to the public, whereas the west side is a gated community, so when driving from Port Alfred, take the second turn to your right and push the red button on the boom gate which will let you in regardless of whether you are a resident or not. Carry on down to the beach where a small parking lot can be found, but just use a lot of speed when driving in as many a car has needed a push to get out of the beach sand that often drifts across the entrance.
Kenton-on-Sea
60km from Grahamstown on the R343.
There are three main areas of interest along the Kenton coast for the eager beach-goer.
Kariega beach is the obvious choice, located right by the Kariega River mouth, and it has Blue Flag status.
A tranquil spot with no sharp rocks and a big stretch of soft white sand, it's ideal for small children.
Off the beaten track is Shelly beach, a sheltered cove enclosed by cliffs. Very private if you want to truly relax and become one with nature! It's ideal at low tide.
Further along towards the Bushman's River mouth is Middle beach, which is very popular with families. Its calm waters and expanse of tidal pool and interesting rock formations make it fun to explore, and it offers a bit more privacy than Kariega beach. The Bushman’s River mouth estuary at Kenton is also very popular with kite surfers when there's good wind. Go for a dunk in these relatively calm waters and watch the surfers show off their stuff.
Boknes and Cannon Rocks
74km from Grahamstown. Turn right upon reaching Kenton-on-Sea, carry on south down the R72, take the first left turn, about 6km out, to where it is signposted: Boknes and Cannon Rocks.
The beach strip between these two tiny coastal towns (named Boknesstrand) is as quiet as a mouse. The sea can be quite rough though, so take extra precaution as there aren't any life guards. There is a replica of the Bartholomew Diaz Cross (found at Cape Point) closer to the Boknes side and when walking from the Cannon Rocks direction you can explore a shipwreck that is easily accessible in low tide. Restaurants and cafés aren't really the scene here, so rather take a picnic lunch and relax in the solitude.
Blue Flag beaches
Blue Flag status is an international ranking system that distinguishes beaches all over the world for excelling in the areas of safety, cleanliness, available facilities and environmental standards.
This means secure parking, trained life guards on duty, clean ablution facilities and environmental sustainability and education projects. South Africa was the first country outside of Europe to be awarded Blue Flag accreditation for its beaches. To gain accreditation, the beach must excel in 14 criteria spanning these three aspects of coastal management: water quality, environmental education and information, safety and services, which include life-saving, secure parking and exceptional ablution facilities.
