This article featured in Kiteworld print issue #101. First published: September 2019
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INTRO: One of the world’s most popular kiting locations has so many amazing spots that few visitors ever bother to reach? It’s hard to believe.
Kyle Cabano grew up in Strand, 40 kilometres east of the city of Cape Town. He spent his youth surfing the coastline’s nooks and crannies, only to return years later chasing the onshore winds and flat water estuaries with a kite. Now working in the Airush marketing and design department at their HQ in Muizenberg, his knowledge of eastern spots reaches far.
When the famed Kite Beach and its surrounding spots in Blouberg to the north of the city get too busy, jump in the car and head east to enjoy magic and varied conditions without the crowds. We asked Kyle to helps us compile this spot guide, taking you from Cape Point all the way across to the awesome lake kiting of Knysna, 500 kilometres east of Cape Town.
WORDS AND PHOTOS: Kyle Cabano (unless stated otherwise)
DEEP FALSE BAY (CAPE POINT THROUGH TO FISHHOEK):
I’m going to start with this section because these spots are little known to travellers, but the section of coast between Cape Point and Muizenberg along the M4 has east facing beaches that are great for kiting in easterlies. The wind rips along the east coast, scraping past the tip of Cape Point and there are often sessions to be had in this deep end of the Cape Peninsula when there’s no wind on the west coast.
Launching in Glencairn, west of Muizenberg, closer to the city / Fun onshore wave sesh at Glencairn, the stretch between Cape Point and Fishhoek
Most of these beaches are cross / onshore in easterlies with small waves all the way along the beach before it drops away into deeper water. These spots are great for all riding styles, but you will often be alone, so make sure you have a good understanding of ocean and wind conditions before just heading out. Don’t worry, we feature more warm and safely welcoming spots within this guide!
MUIZENBERG – SUNRISE CIRCLE:
Situated just 500 metres east of the famous ‘Surfers Corner’, the spot at Sunrise Circle is very accessible. Travel south from the city along the M5 until you reach the ocean where you’ll find a large, sandy parking lot in front of the launch area.
Muizenberg is a good spot for all levels. In the summer months the Cape Doctor southeaster is very onshore, but slightly from the right, making it easy enough to get off the beach and enjoy the mushy, soft waves, but primarily freestylers are going to love the big flat sections between the waves.
Muizenberg
The wind generally isn’t as fierce as it is on the northern beaches, which will be more appealing to some. If you’re looking for proper big air sessions, don’t worry, you will score those here, too. The local crew is humble, mostly just frothed out on kiting and keen for a chat. If there aren’t any people in the water, it’s worth a second guess as to why.
Muizenberg itself has an super chilled surf vibe and is well worth a visit, with great coffee shops, seaside bars, surf stores and souvenir shops. The local kite shop is Surfstore Africa.
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
Muizenberg needs a clean southeaster. If it bends into a southwest direction it doesn’t work. There are big surges on high tide, so aim for a lower tide session, which is ideal.
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BADEN POWELL DRIVE (MUIZENBERG TO STRAND):
Travel east from Muizenberg and you’ll end up on the Baden Powell coastal drive that runs all the way along the sandy False Bay beaches. The first ten kilometres of this drive offers an extension of the conditions at Muizenberg’s Sunrise Circle, but the spots are less accessible.
The next spot of interest is Macassar beach. Blowing cross-shore in the southeaster, it also handles easterly wind well and picks up loads of swell, making it a good option to check out when the west coast is flat.
There are some more spots along this stretch of coast, but due to the poverty surrounding some of these areas it’s better to only kite this stretch when going with a local who knows when to be where.
“Blowing cross-shore in the southeaster, Macassar Beach also handles easterly wind well and picks up loads of swell, making it a good option to check out when the west coast is flat”
STRAND – HOBIE BEACH:
Travelling from Cape Town, head east along the N2 for about 40 kilometres before taking the R44 off-ramp towards Strand. Follow the road until you reach the golf course. Turn onto the beach road and you’ll see a sailing club next to the Lifesavers Club just as you get onto the beachfront.
Beginners all the way through to expert freestylers and wave riders are in for a treat! Strand’s wind is some of the cleanest along the Cape Coast and the gentle beach gradient makes for perfect flats between the clean breakers.
Strand
This is a fickle spot in terms of conditions, but has its runs of luck. Ideal directions are south, southwest and westerlies, which slip under the nose of even the most enthusiastic kiter as they generally happen in the small periods between the gale force southeast winds. When the conditions come together you’ll enjoy whistle-clean wind and fun waves.
The die hard locals ride the section in front of the clubhouse, but you’ll find lots more free space on a long stretch of beach just a little way downwind, which is even better.
“Ideal directions (for Strand) are south, southwest and westerlies, which slip under the nose of even the most enthusiastic kiter as they generally happen in the small periods between the gale force southeast winds. When the conditions come together you’ll enjoy whistle-clean wind and fun waves.”
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
Strand’s low pressure weather systems tend to blow strongest between midday and 4pm, so don’t expect it to be there after work! My second top tip is: if you’ve come this far already, cross over the imaginary boundary line that welcomes you into the Overberg area of the east coast, where the real magic starts!
CLARENCE DRIVE (GORDON’S BAY TO KLEINMOND):
If you drive east along the R44 from Strand, you will get onto Clarence Drive coastal drive. Along this road are a few coastal resort towns, some facing west and some facing east, meaning there are onshore spot options for most wind directions. These towns are really seasonal, so in the winter times they can be dead quiet but pick up some traffic over the weekends and holiday seasons. I recommend this spot to the thrill seekers as the waves can be very powerful due to the exposing angle of the beach.
Clarence Drive
BOTRIVER LAGOON:
If you continue along the R44 out of the final town of Kleinmond, you’ll find the Bot River Lagoon which has a few rideable banks along it that work on different wind directions. The lagoon is massive, so you can kite the easterly wind on the western bank from the Rooisand parking lot, and in a westerly you can ride the eastern bank from the town of Fisherhaven. Foilers will have to seek out the deeper regions, but it is possible to foil here. It’s suitable for riders of all abilities, however, you are likely to be riding alone and please take caution if the wind is offshore and be extra vigilant on the Fisherhaven side near the homes.
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
Very suitable for an overnight mission – if so, be sure to check out the local wine farms in the area. Best parking spots are near the yacht club. Keep an eye out for the wild horses.
GROTTO BEACH & LAGOON:
Follow the R43 through the coastal town of Hermanus towards the Grotto Bay beach and lagoon. Turn right at the ‘Grotto’ turn off at 10th avenue and head on down until you are encountered with a tough decision – ocean or lagoon. Westerly winds are best for the lagoon and an easterly breeze presents the perfect cross-shore set up for wave riding, which is known for big swell. Whilst the wave side is never too busy, the lagoon can get crowded at the top end.
Epic backdrop for adventure kiting, Photo: Bianca Asher / Shhh, this is Secret Pond…!!
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
Sometimes the lagoon can get grassed up with algae. If so, it is essential to keep your kite up. Don’t let that put you off though, it can be quite fun sliding on the slime! Otherwise hit the ocean – the water is crystal.
CAPE AGULHAS & STRUISBAAI:
Driving along the N2 from Cape Town take the turn off at Caledon onto the 316 and follow the road south. Cape Agulhas is the southern most tip of the African continent, where the Indian and the Atlantic ocean meet. Pretty epic. Struisbaai beach is a popular spot and on a prevailing easterly the wind blows cross-shore into the bay. The Indian Ocean water is warm and there are small waves that roll in on the high tide that are good for twin-tips and wave riders. In the deeper water off of the backline you could foil, but the waters are particularly fishy out there (code word for ‘you know what’!).
From this point of the coastline onwards the summertime boardshort / bikini sessions become more of a reality. During the winter there are more westerlies, which present the opportunity to explore some unique rock pools along the Agulhas coast.
“Cape Agulhas is the southern most tip of the African continent, where the Indian and the Atlantic ocean meet. Pretty epic!”
WITSAND BREEDE RIVER:
Travelling east along the N2 about 250 kilometres from Cape Town, take the R322 turn off towards Witsand, a small coastal town at the mouth of the mighty Breede River. I say mighty because it’s massive and the sand spit makes an incredibly slick offshore spot on the inside, with small onshore waves on the outside. This is a spot for good intermediate twin-tippers and above (plus foilers) as the prevailing easterlies blow straight off the lagoon sandbar and the drop off is quite steep. Although Witsand is a well known kiting destination on the east coast, due to its distance from the city it doesn’t ever seem to get too busy!
Whitsand sand bar
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
The low tide can make the inside section of the lagoon a bit smaller and less daunting, it also results in a slicker flat water section as the perimeter of sand sits slightly above the water level. On the ocean side the beach has a gentle slope and there are heaps of tiny, choppy, onshore waves. Be careful at the mouth of the main channel as the water can move quickly with it being so tidal.
STILL BAY REEF & LAGOON:
Continuing east along the N2 about 300 kilometres from Cape Town, take a right turn onto the R305 and follow the road for about 20 kilometres until you reach the beach at Still Bay. On the prevailing easterly, the shallow lagoon offers amazing flat water for twin-tippers. Wave riders can explore the ocean and even venture up to the rocky point break for some long right handers. There’s plenty of room for all, even at weekends, and during the winter months the prevailing westerly winds make for some incredible offshore wave riding at the point.
“On the prevailing easterly, the shallow lagoon (at Still Bay) offers amazing flat water for twin-tippers. Wave riders can explore the ocean and even venture up to the rocky point break for some long right handers.”
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
The main channel of the river can be quite tidal. Depending on the tides that day, it might be better to stick to the ocean as the flat water can get choppy, due to the sheer amount of current. Post session, the Inverroche Gin brand house is in Still. They make some amazing craft Gins using the local fynbos flora.
SEDGEFIELD – MYOLI BEACH:
Sedgefield is located about 450 kilometres up along the N2 from Cape Town. Take a right onto Kingfisher Drive and follow the winding Swartvlei river towards the seaside and park at the Pili-Pili beach restaurant. The prevailing easterly winds can get very strong and the conditions are much like what we get on the west coast in Blouberg, but with far warmer waters. The water conditions can be quite wild, so this spot is only recommended for intermediate to advanced riders.
Sedgefield
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
Pili-Pili sometimes organise downwinders around here so check in with them to see if anything is being arranged during your visit. Sedgefield is a well-known windsport destination and there are some old legends that kite here regularly, so keep an eye out!
KNYSNA – BRENTON ON LAKE:
The Knysna lagoon is the next stop on the east coast after Sedgefield. Approaching along the N2, turn left at the Belverdere / Brenton-on-sea turn off. Follow the road for about seven kilometres before taking another left towards Brenton-on-lake. At the stop street take a right and park near the slipway. From here you can walk about 200 metres along the edge of the caravan park before arriving on a big grass bank that is ideal for rigging and hanging out during the day.
Knysna
Water-wise, the warm, waist deep flat water makes this spot ideal for all twin-tip riders and beginners. The wind, however, can be a little tricky to predict due to its location and dependence on thermals. Having said that, it’s blown stronger than predicted each time I’ve ridden there! Gorgeous spot and friendly locals.
TOP TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION:
It wouldn’t be a shock to arrive and find four knots. If so, don’t panic. Sometimes the wind on the lake takes longer to kick in. Head to Knysna waterfront, enjoy the curio shops and return to the spot later on.
Feature author, Kyle, at Honey Hole
Thanks to Kyle for his deep eastern knowledge in helping pull this feature together
Follow him: @as_the_dodo_do
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