Cape Town - Strand

Strand, in the Western Cape, South Africa.

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Geography and History

The Strand (Afrikaans for 'beach') is a seaside resort town situated on the eastern edge of False Bay and at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The Strand is situate just between Macassar and Gordon's Bay, and is about 50 km southeast of Cape Town. The Strand's main attraction is the beach which consists of 5 km of white sandy beach lapped by the waters of False Bay.

Activities

The Strand has great views of the Cape Peninsula and fine beaches. During the summer visitors flock to the area and this tourism is the principal source of local income. This has been the case since at least 1950. Even in those days the town was popular with visitors from the north and was home to quite a few retired veterans of the Boer War. There is a train service from Strand to the CBD of Cape Town. The great coastal road that makes its way up the eastern seaboard of the Cape rises into the coastal ranges from near Strand.

The main beach in the Strand, Melkbaai Beach, is known to be one of the best and safest swimming areas in the country.

Activities include Dune Park with a super tube and mini-golf and Harmony Park which boasts a huge tidal pool. Water sports may be conducted from various points along the beachfront.

For the sporting enthusiast Strand offers a wide variety of organised sport including a golf course capable of hosting international events, tennis courts, rugby fields, squash clubs, jukskei, and water sports like surfing, sailing, power boating, paddle skiing and board sailing. The Pipe is a part of the beach marked off for surfers and is known for its big, "surfable" waves.

Strand also boasts an Olympic-sized, covered, centrally heated swimming pool which is open all year round.

The coast between the Lourens River mouth and up to Rooi Els is very popular with beach fishermen and rock anglers, whilst organised and social diving activities beckon the more adventurous.