Two beaches in Cape Town named among world’s top 20 most beautiful beaches!

Online gambling company Betway recently searched the internet for the world'd best beaches. To set up a ranking of the top 100 beaches in the world, data was analysed from each location to determine average temperature in August or January (depending on location) as well as amount of precipitation, number of Instagram tags and reviews with a positive sentiment on TripAdvisor. The aforementioned data points were then indexed and given a weighted score between 0-100. Data is up to date as of June 2023.
According to Betway's ranking, two beaches in Cape Town made it to the top 20. Camps Bay beach in Camps Bay has been named the 15th most beautiful beach in the world with an average temperature of 27,6 degrees in January, an estimated 118mm of rainfall, and has been tagged on Instagram over 460.000 (#campsbay & #campsbaybeach) times, while Hout Bay beach in Hout Bay (average temperature in January: 27.1 degrees, 90mmm of rainfall and 237.000 #houtbay hashtags on Instagram) was ranked 20th.

Photo by Joshua Kettle on Unsplash

Overall winner of the ranking is Elafonissi Beach in Chania on the Greek island of Crete. Turquoise Bay in West Australia came second in the list, followed by Four Mile Beach in Fort Douglas (Australia) and Oludeniz Beach in Fethiye (Turkey).

Here’s a list of the top 20 most beautiful beaches in the world:

1. Elafonissi Beach, Greece
2. Turquoise Bay, Australia
3. Four Mile Beach, Australia
4. Oludeniz Beach, Turkey
5. Whitehaven Beach, Australia
6. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda
7. Venice Beach, USA
8. Red Beach, Greece
9. Durdle Door, UK
10. Kaputas Beach, Turkey
11. St Paul's Bay, Greece
12. Kelingking Beach, Indoneisa
13. La Concha, Spain
14. Diani Beach, Kenya
15. Camps Bay, South Africa
16. Railay Beach, Thailand
17. Beit Yanai, Israel
18. Arashi Beach, Aruba
19. Egremni Beach, Greece
20. Hout Bay, South Africa

Cape Town: Hout Bay beach temporarily closed! [update #2]

update (16 January 2023): The City of Cape Town has announced that Hout Bay beach in Hout Bay was reopened on 14 January 2023. Water samples taken for water quality testing indicated the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines for coastal waters.

update (14 January 2023): The City of Cape Town has announced that Hout Bay beach in Hout Bay remains closed until further notice. The City continues to investigate (a) possible pollution source(s) that has led to the temporary closure of Hout Bay beach, as a precautionary measure.

The City of Cape Town has announced that Hout Bay beach in Hout Bay has been closed as a precautionary measure. Various City departments are investigating (a) possible pollution source(s) that has led to the temporary closure of the beach. The City of Cape Town's City Health is taking water samples on a daily basis for water quality testing until such time as the levels are within the minimum requirement for recreational activities as determined by South Africa's National Water Quality Guidelines. We'll keep you posted!

Cape Town: Expect roadworks on Chapman's Peak Drive until December 2017!

update (01 December 2017): According to the facebook page of the Chapman's Peak Drive, all major works along the famous coastal road have been completed. Only some minor patches of work, as well as some clean ups here and there, have to be done. Users don't have to expect any more road closures!

According to a media release by Western Cape government's Department of Transport and Public Works, sections of the Chapman's Peak Drive in Cape Town will be closed from 23 October 2017 until 01 December 2017 for the re-surfacing of the roadway.

• During the second half of November 2017, the section from Lookout Point to the Noordhoek end will be closed entirely to traffic from 09:30 until 16:00 every day. 
• The resealing of the road from the Hout Bay end to Lookout Point will be tackled in half widths, with stop/ go controls in place. Motorists can expect delays of between 10 to 20 minutes while this section of the road is under construction.

Resurfaced sections will be reopened once they have been swept and all loose stones removed.

Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town. 

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive is closed to traffic again!

update (30 Aug 2017): Chapman's Peak Drive has been reopened to the public!

Cape Town's famous Chapman's Peak Drive has been closed again to traffic until further notice due to rock fall. One of the catchment fences has been damaged and the drive is considered not safe. We'll keep you posted!

Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town. 

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive is currently closed to traffic!

update (18 July 2017): Chapman's Peak Drive has been reopened!

update (03 July 2017): The Day Pass option is still open and available from the Hout Bay side of the Chapman's Peak Drive!

update (20 June 2017): Chapman's Peak Drive has been closed for at least three to four weeks after approximately 15m³ of rock came down on the Noordhoek end, causing significant damage to two catch fences and the road surface. Visitors should use Ou Kaapse Weg as an alternative.

update (15 June 2017): Chapman's Peak Drive will be closed for a few weeks!

Cape Town's famous Chapman's Peak Drive has been closed to traffic due to rock fall. We'll keep you posted!



Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town.

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive closed due to rock falls!

update (27 July 2015): Cape Town's Chapman's Peak Drive is open!

update (22 July 2015): Cape Town's Chapman's Peak Drive will remain closed for the time being due to rock falls!

Cape Town's Chapman's Peak Drive is expected to be closed for at least two days after a six ton rock has broken off and needs to be brought down off the mountain slopes above the road. Motorists and other road users are urged to make use of the Ou Kaapse Weg as an alternative route during the closure.

A 6 ton rock has broken off & needs to be brought down off the mountain slopes above the road. #Chappies will be closed for about 2 days if all goes well.
Posted by Chapman's Peak Drive on Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town.

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive to be closed every time it rains during winter!

The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works announced earlier today (15 June 2015) that Cape Town's Chapman's Peak Drive is expected to be closed every time it rains during the winter period, and when certain weather-related thresholds are exceeded. Motorists and other road users are urged to make use of the Ou Kaapse Weg as an alternative route during these closures.

Morning roll to kickstart the day! #chappies #cycling #vibe

Ein von Ross Rivalland (@rossrivalland) gepostetes Foto am 13. Jun 2015 um 1:54 Uhr

Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town.

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive temporarily closed!

update (12 June 2015): Chapman's Peak Drive has been re-opened to traffic. Restrictions remain on the Noordhoek side for cyclists.

update (08 June 2015): Chapman's Peak Drive remains closed to traffic indefinitely!

update (05 June 2015): Chapman's Peak Drive will remain closed this weekend!

Cape Town's Chapman's Peak Drive is currently closed due mudslides that occured on 31 May 2015. Clean up is in progess, but the drive will remain closed to the public at least until Friday (05 June 2015). Visitors should use Ou Kaapse Weg as an alternative.

Not looking good on Chappies, the road will be closed for a few days pic.twitter.com/NZRIrV9GNk

— Chapman's Peak Drive (@ChapmansPeakSA) May 31, 2015

Clean up in progress on CPD pic.twitter.com/BgksdRQXnT

— Chapman's Peak Drive (@ChapmansPeakSA) June 1, 2015

Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town.

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive to be closed every Wednesday for 4 weeks

#Chappies must be fully assessed for safety before the drive can re-open to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. We remain CLOSED to all.
— Chapman's Peak Drive (@ChapmansPeakSA) March 6, 2015

Due to alien vegetation clearing, Cape Town's famous Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world, will be closed every Wednesday for four weeks between 09:00 – 16:00 starting 25 Feb 2015.

Scheduled road closure on Wednesdays, for approx. 1 month between 09h00 – 16h00 starting Wed 25/02.15...for Alien Vegetation clearing
— Chapman's Peak Drive (@ChapmansPeakSA) February 17, 2015

Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town.

Cape Town: Chapman's Peak Drive to be closed every Wednesday for 8 weeks

The final day tomorrow Wed 22nd to close chappies for Alien Veg clearing, closure will be from 10am - 4pm
— Chapman's Peak Drive (@ChapmansPeakSA) May 21, 2013

Cape Town's famous Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world, will be closed every Wednesday between 09h00 – 16h00 for 8 weeks from 20 March 2013. South African National Parks (SANParks) needs to continue with the clearing of alien vegetation on the area above the Drive, which makes the road closure necessary.
The Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic 9km route between Noordhoek and Hout Bay along the western flank of the Chapman's Peak, a mountain on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, located about 15 kilometres south of Cape Town.

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Whale watching hot spots in Cape Town and surrounds

Every year between June to November, Cape Town and its surrounding areas are becoming some of the best land-based whale watching spots of the world. It is the time when the Southern Right Whales are migrating from the heir icy feeding grounds off Antarctica to warmer climates off South Africa.
Southern Africa's coast is exactly what the whales need during this time of the year.The shallow, sandy-bottomed and sheltered bays are perfect for mating, calving, nursing their young and resting.


View Top five whale watching spots in Cape Town and surrounds in a larger map

The top spots to watch whales in Cape Town & surrounds are:

• Road between Llandudno and Bakoven
• Hout Bay area (you will need a powerful pair of binoculars)
• Chapman's Peak Drive
• Road between Scarborough and Kommetjie
• Cape Point
• Road from Boulders to Smitswinkelbaai
• Coastal road between Fish Hoek and Simon's Town
• Glencairn
• Fish Hoek
• Road to Fish Hoek to Kalk Bay
• Boyes Drive from St James to Kalk Bay
• Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els
• Hangklip, home to the Kogelberg Biosphere
• Hermanus

Leopard seen on Chappies (Hout Bay)

According 790tv.co.za, a webchannel for Houtbay & Llandudno, this photo confirms previous sightings of a leopard living in the mountains above Hout Bay. The photo was sent in by P Pardus, one can clearly see the Sentinel in the background.

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