
6 quiet coastal getaways in SA where you can truly unwind
If you crave silence, space, and the kind of stillness cities can’t offer, these coastal escapes in SA will give you exactly that.

Feeling drained by the always-connected lifestyle? Escape to South Africa’s coastline, where you’ll find more than scenic views, discover quiet, unplugged towns where the internet barely works, and no one’s checking their phones.
These aren’t polished tourist hubs or fancy beach resorts. They’re authentic hideaways with salty air, dirt roads, and waves that replace your notifications.
Here are six coastal getaways where you can truly disconnect…
1. Strandfontein, Western Cape / Northern Cape border
Strandfontein (not the one in Cape Town) sits atop a cliff overlooking a deserted beach, offering pure tranquillity. This fishing village on the edge of South Africa’s Olifants River estuary delivers wide-open skies, salty sea spray, and slow, peaceful days. You won’t come across malls or nightlife here – just rugged coastline, scenic hiking trails, and star-filled skies. It’s the perfect place to go when you need space to hear yourself think.
2. Natures Valley, Western Cape, South Africa
Natures Valley awaits at the end of South Africa’s iconic Otter Trail, a quiet coastal village surrounded by forest and silence. You won’t find a main road, a strong cell signal, or much commercial development here. Instead, a lagoon, a wild beach, and the dense Tsitsikamma forest surround you. Bushbuck outnumber people, so pack your supplies, switch off your phone, and immerse yourself in nature.
3. Mdumbi, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Mdumbi captures the soul of the Wild Coast, remote, raw, and rugged. You’ll spend hours navigating dirt roads to reach this coastal haven, but once you arrive, you’ll see why the journey matters. The village rests where a river flows into the sea, framed by rolling green hills and endless ocean. Life slows down here. No rush, no stress, just surf, sunshine, and room to breathe.
4. Boggomsbaai, Western Cape
Just south of Mossel Bay lies Boggomsbaai, a ghost-quiet town with dirt roads, no shops, and endless empty beach. There’s no nightlife. No noise. Just whales in the distance and footprints in the sand. Locals come to this coastal escape to switch off completely – and once you’re in, there’s no reason to leave. Perfect for solitude seekers who don’t mind packing groceries ahead of time.
5. Port Grosvenor, Eastern Cape
Port Grosvenor, a tiny and almost forgotten gem on the Wild Coast, offers true remoteness. Tucked near the Mkhambathi Nature Reserve, it has no real town centre, just a handful of homes scattered along the rugged shore. The beach crashes wild against dramatic cliffs, and the entire place feels completely removed from modern life.
6. Rooi-Els, Western Cape
At the foot of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Rooi-Els is a one-road coastal village where baboons outnumber cars. It’s quiet, slow, and stunning. Hike, read, swim, repeat. You won’t miss the internet. You might even forget it exists.