Witsand Beach

Witsand Beach on St Sebastian Bay is a popular seasonal waterside playground at the mouth of the Breede River, This beach is somewhat undeveloped and is a well-kept secret. Witsand Beach has Blue Flag status.

Witsand is also known as Southern Africa’s whale nursery. Each year, between June and November, record numbers of southern right whales migrate through St Sebastian Bay, where they’ll stay a few weeks nursing their young

The beach offers pristine white sand, hence the name. This is caused by a body of underground water that leaches the red iron oxide coating from the sand. The beach is very wide and it stretches for 4km. While The nearby river estuary, where the Breede River flows into the Indian Ocean is safe for swimming, windsurfing, rock and surf angling, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, and spearfishing, the wind can pick up in the late morning and make the beach quite unpleasant, especially in the early summer.  There is plenty of space for beach walks and exploring rock pools which are filled with interesting marine life.

Under the right conditions, the sand dunes make spooky rumbling sounds when disturbed, this is a phenomenon known by locals as  ‘Brulsand’ or Roaring Sands.  Witsand is situated within the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site, so you can also while away the hours discovering its incredible variety of indigenous plant life.

Witsand tidal pool

Check the sea temperature here

Check the tides here

Witsand is a famous whale-watching spot as it is an important nursery for whales.

Surf report