Struisbaai Beach has been awarded South Africa’s Blue Flag status just in time for summer 2024/2024. As South Africa’s holiday season and warmer weather approaches, beach enthusiasts and recreational travellers welcome the Blue Flag announcement.
WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) recently celebrated our nations top beaches and coastlines for summer 2024/2025, solidifying Struisbaai’s position as a premier Western Cape coastal destination. And, there’s even more fantastic news for Struisbaai, as it proudly achieves the coveted Blue Flag status for another year in a row.
Blue Flag Recognition for Struisbaai
Struisbaai Beach has been recognised as one of the 48 beaches nationwide to receive the prestigious Blue Flag status for 2024. Managed locally by WESSA since 2001, in collaboration with the Foundation for Environmental Education and participating coastal municipalities, the Blue Flag status is a symbol of service excellence and coastal preservation in sustainable tourism.
Also Read: Top 10 Things To Do In Struisbaai
What Qualifies a Beach for Blue Flag Status?
Local municipalities across the country submit their beaches for a national assessment every year. To ensure each beach meets Blue Flag status, WESSA sets high standards to determines the level of service excellence, using 33 different criteria to assess each submission. However, to achieve full blue flag status, every beach is measured against four main categories:
- Environmental Management
- Education & Awareness Initiatives
- Safety Measures
- Water Quality.
Blue Fag Status Beach Criteria
Struisbaai Beach, in particular, has showcased exceptional commitment to meeting this strict criteria, ensuring that water quality, environmental preservation, safety services, and educational aspects are all met and maintained at an exemplary level.
The 33 individual criteria allow for an in-depth analysis of a variety of areas of competence, which include:
- Universal beach access (for the disabled, elderly and mothers with young children)
- Control of domestic animals (such as dogs on beaches)
- Availability of interpretive signage
- Effective waste management
Download the complete list of Blue Flag Status Criteria.
South Africa’s Blue Flag Status Beaches
Western Cape
- Silwerstroomstrand – City of Cape Town
- Clifton 4th – City of Cape Town
- Camps Bay – City of Cape Town
- Llandudno – City of Cape Town
- Muizenberg – City of Cape Town
- Bikini – City of Cape Town
- Melkbosstrand – City of Cape Town
- Fish Hoek – City of Cape Town
- Kleinmond – Overstrand
- Hawston – Overstrand
- Grotto – Overstrand
- Castle beach – Overstrand
- Struisbaai – Cape Agulhas
- Witsand – Hessequa
- Preekstoel – Hessequa
- Lappiesbaai – Hessequa
- Jongensfontein – Hessequa
- Gouritzmond – Hessequa
- Stilbaai Wes – Hessequa
- De Bakke – Mossel Bay
- Hartenbos – Mossel Bay
- Klein Brak – Mossel Bay
- Santos – Mossel Bay
- Glentana – Mossel Bay
- Herold’s Bay – George
- Victoria Bay – George (New)
- Wilderness – George
- Brenton-on-Sea – Knysna
- Buffalo Bay – Knysna
- Robberg 5 – Bitou
- The Waves – Keurboomstrand – Bitou
- Nature’s Valley – Bitou
- Lookout – Bitou
- The Dunes – Bitou
- Singing Kettle – Bitou
Eastern Cape
- Cape St Francis – Kouga (New)
- Dolphin – Kouga
- Kings – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Humewood – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Hobie – Nelson Mandela Bay
- Kariega – Ndlambe
- Kelly’s – Ndlambe
- Middle Kenton on Sea – Ndlambe
Kwa-Zulu Natal
- Marina – Ray Nkonyeni
- Trafalgar – Ray Nkonyeni
- Southport – Ray Nkonyeni
- Umzumbe – Ray Nkonyeni
- Hibberdene – Ray Nkonyeni
