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South Africa is blessed with stretches of practically untouched, god-tier coastlines.

The Western Cape, especially, has some truly magnificent beach gems along the beautiful Cape West Coast Region – that is, without the devastation of massive mining operations that desiccate the land and leave the ocean polluted.

Condé Nast Traveler compares a good beach that enlivens the senses to a favourite poem – “individual, important, and something that makes our hearts sing” – acknowledging the critical space that sandy sea spots hold in our human lives. In other words, what is happiness without a good beach?

The publication went all out to put together a list of the world’s best beaches, from Mozambique to the Philippines, but “instead of the typical sandy spots dotted with sun umbrellas and gaggles of tourists, we’ve sought out spaces that you may have to venture a little further for, but that remains incredibly beautiful and very often crowd-free.”

A little-known South African spot made the list – little-known compared to Clifton, say.

That is Die Plaat, Walker Bay Nature Reserve in Hermanus.

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“Don’t be surprised to spot the occasional southern right whale wallowing offshore at Die Plaat, a ruggedly beautiful swath of sand fringed by rocky limestone outcrops near Hermanus, South Africa’s whale capital,” Condé Nast writes.”Chubby seals [don’t mention the rabies] slouch on the rocky shoreline here, and you’ll find the ground littered with huge, pearlescent abalone shells.”

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Condé Nast is also fascinated with the history courted in these wind-whipped sands, noting how the beach is home to Klipgat Cave, a bat-filled cavern where late Middle Stone Age people lived up to 85,000 years ago.

They say if you keep your eyes peeled, you may even spot ancient tools on the ground.

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Lastly, the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is also given a nod – voted among Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards for 2022 and 2023 – allowing guests a generous 6,177-acre space to take in the untouched surroundings.

 

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It’s also whale season around about now, so this Hermanus beach stretch is sure to dazzle in more ways than listed above.

The other sandy spots that made it onto Condé Nast’s list of the best beaches around the world include Benguerra Island in Mozambique, Ora Beach in Indonesia, Al Mughsail in Oman and Awaroa in New Zealand, among around 30 other gorgeous gems to be explored from Iceland to Hawaii. Check it all out here.

[source:cntravel]