The Western Cape has 27 Blue Flag beaches, the largest percentage of the 45 Blue Flag beaches awarded in our country in total this year. More than 4000 Blue Flag beaches have been accredited world-wide.  In addition, five marinas and six whale-watching boats were accredited, and some pilot Blue Flag beaches have been announced.  All the beaches in the Hessequa Municipality (Stilbaai, Witsand, Gouritzmond, and more) have achieved Blue Flag status.

The Blue Flag status of each beach is done by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, based on international standards for water and beach cleanliness, water and sand quality, and environmental education and management, set by the Foundation for Environmental Education.  The number of Blue Flag beaches awarded locally is growing year on year since the beach accreditation system was introduced in our country 13 years ago.

The Blue Flag Beaches, and accredited marina and whale-watching boats, in the Western Cape are the following:

* Matizikama’s Strandfontein Beach in Vredendal.

* Cape Town: Silwerstroomstrand, Clifton 4th Beach, Camps Bay, Llandudno, Muizenberg, Strandfontein, Mnandi, Bikini and Melkbosstrand (pilot) beaches.

* Overstrand:  Kleinmond, Hawston, and Grotto beaches.

* Hessequa:  Witsand, Preekstoel, Lappiesbaai, Gouritzmond, Jongensfontein (pilot), and Stilbaai West beaches

* Mossel Bay:  Santos, De Bakke, Hartenbos, and Klein Brak beaches.

* Wilderness Beach.

* Knysna:  Buffalo Bay, Brenton-on-Sea, and Swartvlei (pilot) beaches.

* Plettenberg Bay:  Robberg Five, Keurbooms, Nature’s Valley, and Lookout beaches.

* Cape Agulhas’ Struisbaai Beach (pilot).

* Marinas: False Bay Yacht Club, Granger Bay Water Bay, Yachtport, Saldanha, and Harbour Island.

* Whale-watching boats:  Gaia, Samara, Robberg, Fling, Whale Whisperer, and Ocean Odyssey.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here