Platboom Beach, Cape Peninsula
While tourists queue at Boulders Beach and Cape Point, Platboom Beach — tucked inside the Cape Peninsula National Park just north of the Cape of Good Hope — lies almost entirely empty on most days. A wide arc of white sand backed by milkwood trees and fynbos, it's the kind of beach that makes you feel like you've discovered something the internet forgot to mention.
What Makes It Special
Platboom is a swimming beach with relatively sheltered water by Cape Peninsula standards, though the Atlantic is always cold (around 14–16°C). The real draw is the solitude and the scenery: dunes, indigenous milkwood forest, and the distant silhouette of Cape Point's cliffs framing the southern end.
Southern right whales regularly enter the bay between July and November, and it's not unusual to watch them breach from the shoreline without another person in sight. Ostriches wander the dunes with casual indifference.
Getting There and What to Bring
Access is via a signposted gravel road inside the Cape Peninsula National Park — you'll need to pay the park entrance fee at the gate. The road is navigable in a standard car. A basic toilet facility exists but there are no shops, lifeguards or restaurants, so bring everything you need.
The combination of Platboom and Cape Point makes a logical full-day itinerary: spend the morning at the point, drive the 4 km back to Platboom for a picnic lunch on the sand, and leave the park in the late afternoon.
Platboom Beach, Cape Peninsula on video
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