Bloubergstrand Tourism Information

Quick Facts: Bloubergstrand

• The long sandy beach at Bloubergstrand is a popular location for a classic view of Table Mountain and Cape Town across the bay
• Surfing
• Body boarding
• Kite surfing
• Wind surfing
• Big Bay

Distance to Airport: 35 km

Distance to City: 25 km

Introducing Bloubergstrand

Bloubergstrand is beautifully situated in close proximity of Cape Town along the shores of Table Bay in South Africa.  It is located about 25 km to the north of the Cape Town city centre. Its name Bloubergstrand in Afrikaans means "blue mountain beach" derived from Blaauwberg, a nearby mountain. Bloubergstrand is mainly residential and attracts a large numbers of visitors. The beach at Bloubergstrand is a popular location for a classic view of Table Mountain across the bay.

A local hero, “Harry die Strandloper”, was the leader of the Goringhaikonas, who were the first people documented to live in Bloubergstrand. He was taken to Java in 1629 by the Captain of the ship 'London' to be taught English. Because of his entrusted duties to deliver letters to the British seafaring community, he became the first “Postmaster” in South Africa.

The Bloubergstrand area falls within a Marine Nature Reserve and diving for delicacies such as the Cape rock lobster or West Coast rock lobster as well as perlemoen are not allowed. To catch previously well-known local varieties of Galjoen and Hottentot, the hopeful angler has to be in possession of a license.

Seafood in Bloubergstrand is popular including the local white mussels. In season Southern Right Whales, occasionally Killer Whales, Humpback Dolphins, Haviside's Dolphin and Cape Fur Seals are commonly seen in the bay.

Bloubergstrand has a long white sand beach on the Atlantic ocean, with a few rocky outcrops where black mussels are found. The water is cold due to the cold Benguela current but the beach is popular with surfers. The bay on the west side of Bloubergstrand, known as 'Big Bay' has become a very popular kitesurfing spot due to the constant trade winds bringing a 1-3m surf for a majority of the year. Big Bay Beach is also well known for the ease with which White Mussels can be extracted from the sand by a process locally known as 'jiving'.