The 10 Best Tidal Pools in Cape Town

Blessed with views, a blue-water horizon over the ocean and shoreline rock pools filled with colourful marine life, tidal pools lift the spirits of nature-lovers and water-lovers alike. Whether floating, swimming for exercise, paddling and chatting with buddies, or exploring underwater with goggles and a snorkel, this is one of the best ways to spend your free time.

Cape Town’s tidal pools range from the Insta-famous and family-friendly gems to serene escapes from daily life where you can hit “pause and refresh”. With the recent arrival of mobile saunas (Hot Huts and Shu Shu), you can also indulge in some Nordic-style hot-cold immersion therapy. So grab your sunscreen, pack a picnic basket, and make your way to one of these natural swimming pools.

Important note Remember that tidal pools are natural ecosystems, and filled with little marine creatures. Treat them with respect. There may be sea urchins, which are spiny and hurt if you stand on them. For serene waters, go at low tide; at high tide, waves crash into the pools. As with any beach in SA, take precautions and be alert as crime and accidents do happen. Those venturing into the Table Mountain National Park areas should have the emergency numbers on hand: 086 110 6417/107 or 021 480 7700.

St James Tidal Pool

Where St James, South Peninsula
Distance from the city 30 minutes
Cape Town’s most famous (and popular) tidal pool – it’s the one you’ll see on the postcards, with its multicoloured changing huts – tucked neatly between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay. On perfect-weather days it can be busy, so the earlier you get here, the better.
Why we love it It has a wind-sheltered, family-friendly beach, perfect for sunbathers and youngsters, as well as a stretch of lawn to the one side and toilets. There are no steps to negotiate getting into the water – just an easy wade in. The iconic Victorian-style bathing huts add a bright splash of happy colour that, along with the aqua waters and children playing in the sand, paints an idyllic seaside-holiday scene like something out of an Enid Blyton storybook.
Good to know The eye-catching “Meet the Locals” mural on the railway wall was created by The Beach Co-op, an organisation advocating for greener cleaning of the city’s tidal pools. Look out for the mobile sauna on Wednesday morning.
How to find it Through the subway from St James Station or beside Folk Café on Main Road (or along the coastal path from Surfer’s Corner, Muizenberg).

Camps Bay Tidal Pool

Where Camps Bay, Atlantic Seaboard
Distance from the city 20 minutes
Camps Bay has a wide, sun-drenched beach, tantalising water and great waves, but if you’re not looking for surf, head over to the beautiful tidal pool (which is sometimes a little warmer than the sea). It’s very popular because it’s so easy and convenient to access (paved, with stairs and a ramp), straight off the main road.
Why we love it It’s one of the larger tidal pools, perfect for swimming laps or an invigorating dip after a morning run or walk along the beachfront, and it’s safe for the little ones to splash about in. It has a strip of white sand, a lawn area, the quintessential boulders and rockpools of this coastline, and those views of the distant horizon. Being just off the main road, restaurants and cafés are close by too.
Good to know Look out for the mobile sauna on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (morning and late afternoon).
How to find it On Victoria Road, just left of Camps Bay Beach (on the Bakoven side).

Dalebrook Tidal Pool

Where Kalk Bay, South Peninsula
Distance from the city 35 minutes
Tucked between St James and Kalk Bay lies one of the most beautiful pools in False Bay – a veritable pilgrimage site for content creators. It’s best in the morning, as it loses afternoon sun behind the mountains. That said, as the early birds know, this east-facing pool is one of the best places to be at sunrise, as it seamlessly melds into the ocean over the low wall.
Why we love it The large boulder in the middle of the pool invites bathers to make like mermaids contemplating the horizon… This is a pool with a real vibe and a strong community spirit (it even has its own Facebook page). Surrounded by rocks, and accessed via two sets of metal stairs, there is no beach (aka sand) here – perhaps another reason for its popularity?
Good to know It has an outdoor shower, toilets and a changing room. Look out for the mobile sauna on Monday morning and Friday morning and late afternoon.
How to find it Subway entrance (under the railway line) across the road from Chardonnay Deli, 24 Main Road, Kalk Bay.

Wooley’s Tidal Pool

Where Kalk Bay, South Peninsula
Distance from the city 40 minutes
Wooley’s may be pint-sized but it has its own merits, tucked away in between rocks on the edge of Fish Hoek bay. It’s not visible from the road (between Kalk Bay and Clovelly), and thus provides a less crowded alternative to nearby Dalebrook and St James.
Why we love it The view is exhilarating – whether from the sea wall in the pool, or the flat rocks next to it (but be careful as the rocks as they can be slippery). The location feels more cosy and a little “wilder” than its Kalk Bay siblings; there is no beach and no facilities, and it’s perhaps not the safest terrain for very young children.
How to find it Via a staircase (that goes under the railway line) opposite 222 Main Road, Kalk Bay.

Saunders’ Rocks Tidal Pool

Where Sea Point, Atlantic Seaboard
Distance from the city 20 minutes
Nestled into a rocky crevice on the Bantry Bay side of the Promenade, this small, hexagonal tidal pool beckons like a diamond in the rough. Alongside a lovely white-sand beach perfect for sunbathing, it’s a popular spot on weekends but fairly quiet during the week (except when the early-bird swimmers descend).
Why we love it This pool is almost guaranteed to be wind-free, thanks to the large granite boulders around it, which are the perfect perch for watching the ships pass by. They’re also a popular launching platform for brave folk to jump into the sea (note that there are rip currents, so it’s not safe for swimming – hence the popularity of this pool). Go for a late-afternoon dip, then enjoy a sunset picnic or dine out on the Sea Point strip.
Good to know Look out for the mobile sauna on Thursday, Friday and Sunday (morning and late afternoon).
How to find it Opposite 331 Beach Road, Sea Point, steps lead down off the Promenade onto the beach.

Maiden’s Cove Tidal Pools

Where Camps Bay, Atlantic Seaboard
Distance from the city 20 minutes
Hidden among clumps of rocks, these two sheltered tidal pools offer spectacular views of the Twelve Apostles mountains and ocean. Camps Bay is known for its buzzy restaurant strip, and the prospect of taking a dip in these pools is yet another incentive to visit.
Why we love it In addition boasting some of the best views you’re likely to find from any poolside in Cape Town, and boulders for sunbathing on, Maiden’s Cove has a stretch of beach and a grassy area for braais or picnics. It’s a great family option, is an easy wade-in pool, and one of the best spots to watch the sun dipping into the Atlantic at the end of a beautiful day. It draws Instagrammers by the dozen.
How to find it Signposted on Victoria Road, between Glen Beach and Clifton 4th.

Miller’s Point Tidal Pool

Where Simon’s Town, South Peninsula
Distance from the city 1 hour
Miller’s Point is divided into two sections. The first turn-off leads to a caravan park and the Black Marlin restaurant; the other leads to Rumbly Bay, where you’ll find two boat launch sites and, in between them, this secluded, heart-shaped tidal pool. Named after the man who set up a whaling station here in 1825, today it is a popular whale-watching site.
Why we love it For its hidden location – unless you know it’s there, you’ll miss it. There are incredible views across the rocky bay, a fun waterslide into the pool and natural rock pools (ideal for kiddies to paddle in), changing rooms and a grassed picnic and braai area. It’s also a great spot for kayaking, snorkelling, surf skis and scuba-diving, with popular dive sites (Partridge Point, Castle Rock and Smitswinkel) nearby.
Good to know Beware of baboons in the area – don’t approach or feed them. An entry fee (R22 adults, R7 children) is charged on weekends and during peak season.
How to find it About 5km out of Simon’s Town on the M4, turn left at the Cape Boat & Ski-Boat Club sign, and follow the left fork in the road to the parking area.

Glencairn Tidal Pool

Where Glencairn, South Peninsula
Distance from the city 45 minutes
Just before Simon’s Town is Glencairn – a slightly longer and less populated beach than nearby Fish Hoek. On the southern side, near the train station, is a tidal pool where you can swim safely. Built in the 1920s, the pool was refurbished and the walls almost completely rebuilt a few years ago.
Why we love it A good portion of beach is enclosed within the walls of the tidal pool, so there’s lovely golden sand to stretch out on. It’s quite a shallow and spacious pool (you can have a good and proper swim here when the tide is in). It’s also surrounded by rocks with pools to explore at low tide. Glencairn Beach itself is good for a dog-friendly stroll or jog, as is the revamped coastal walkway.
Good to know The mobile sauna parks here on Saturday morning, as well as at nearby Long Beach on Saturday morning and Sundays.
How to find it On Glencairn Main Road (M4), 5km from Fish Hoek (or 4km from Simon’s Town in the opposite direction). Park at the beach or station, hop across the railway line and head along the walkway.

Soetwater Tidal Pool

Where Kommetjie, South Peninsula
Distance from the city 1 hour
This strip of wild coast in the shadow of the Slangkop Lighthouse, at the most-southwestern end of the Peninsula, was proclaimed a conservancy in 2009 due to its rich biodiversity. There’s also a dense kelp bed just offshore – part of the giant kelp forests our shoreline is known for. The tidal pool, also known as Infinity Pool, forms part of the facilities at the rustic Soetwater Recreational Area.
Why we love it The unspoilt surroundings, made up of rocky shoreline and kelp-strewn white beaches, affords visitors the chance to enjoy a refreshing dip in a nature area – and fascinating beachcombing, rockpooling and birdwatching. The pool, which has a separate kiddies section, is adjacent to a braai area and picnic site. The (cashless) entrance fee is R22 for adults, R7 for children. Day visitor numbers are limited to 250, and no alcohol permitted.
Good to know Nearby De Kom tidal pool (corner of Beach Road and Van Imhoff Way) is a great, free alternative at mid- and high tide (it empties out a fair bit at low tide). It’s easy to access, with steps and a handrail, and has a grassy area for picnics. The mobile sauna parks at Kommetjie’s Long Beach on Saturday and Monday afternoons.
How to find it On Den Anker Road, off Lighthouse Road, Kommetjie.

Buffels Bay Tidal Pool

Where Cape Point Nature Reserve
Distance from the city 1.5 hours
Even though it’s at Cape Point, Buffels Bay is a crowd-free beach. With breathtaking white sands, clear blue water and green lawns, it’s worth seeking out for a beach day. The area is abundant in fynbos and fauna – you may even spot an antelope or ostrich.
Why we love it This part of the False Bay coast is protected and unspoilt, which makes for a “wilder” swim and incredible views. That said, the neat little tidal pool is a safe option for children, and fabulous for a post-hike dip. There are actually two pools here – there’s a second natural rockpool right next to the manmade one. It’s an ideal setting for a picnic or braai (but watch out for baboons – don’t leave food lying around), and on the other side of the pool is a slipway that’s handy for launching kayaks or canoes.
Good to know Around the headland from Buffels Bay (accessed via a separate road) is Bordjiesrif, a popular fishing spot, also with a large tidal pool and braai spots. From here, if you’re up for a walk, you can head to Venus Pool – a magnificent, aquarium-like natural rockpool filled with sea life and great for snorkelling. The reserve’s gates open at 6am and close at 6pm in summer.
Cost SA citizens: R110 (adult); R55 (child under 12 years)
SADC: R225 (adult); R115 (child)
International: R515 (adult); R250 (child).
Bring your ID document; no cash payments.
Contact 021 780 9204 (visitor centre)
How to find it Cape Point’s entry gates are 20km from Simon’s Town on the M4; once in the reserve, after passing the Buffelsfontein Visitors Centre, look for the left turn to Buffels Bay.

Which are your favourites? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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