This post is about the Main Beach in Brenton on Sea. Its found in Knysna, on the Garen Route, in the Western Cape of South Africa.
Have you ever walked along the main beach of Brenton on Sea? If you have not – let me try to convince you that this is a ‘must visit’ or better yet, ‘must’ stay part of the world. It happens to be my closest playground – and for this I count my blessings – but before it became my ‘home’ beach, I had travelled here many times and from the first, had fallen in love.
I will never forget my first trip to this beach. It was over twenty years ago. I sat above the beach, looking down at the stretch of unspoilt beauty, and longed with all my heart to stay forever. Somehow, life brought me back several times over and about fifteen years later, my husband and I made it our home. This beach is tucked away in a little pocket of suburban bliss called Brenton-on-Sea. It is about fifteen minutes by car from town – Knysna – and is home to only a few. We are all very lucky to live here, and we are beyond grateful to have this beach a hop away from our homes.
It is wild, almost untouched, and magnificent. The beach runs a stretch, all the way to our neighbouring hamlet – Buffalo Bay (a leisurely two hour walk to get there). The foliage that hugs the beach is a nature reserve, so no houses spill onto this beach – pray it always stays that way.
In summer the beach sand is hot underfoot, and the water temperature welcoming. It can still be quite cool – but a comfortable fresh to escape the hot African sun. The waves are fun to play in, and the water is always crystal clear… but this is no tame beach. It is a beach for the adventurer. Those who like to adsorb everything wild and natural will love it. The currents can be strong and there are riptides present, but in summer lifeguards guard those having fun, and keep swimmers in the safest spots. There is also a beautiful board on display, educating visitors about how to identify the safest swimming spots.
And then there is an abundance of sea-life. Sitting on the beach you will often see whales far out and huge pods of dolphins passing by. They surf the waves with such expert skill – and genuinely play with one another in the surf. You can not sit and watch without wanting to smile. Then there are the smaller creatures – the ‘beach snails’ that burrow into the sand. If they see a Blue Bottle wash up, their speed to devour it is fascinating – extraordinary! From time to time we see a large spectacular jellyfish drifting past and, in the shallows, you might find yourself swimming with a skittish school of darting fish.
The exposed rocks on this beach are wonderful to climb. My young son called them ships, for they are often long, their pointed fronts facing the ocean. He would stand on their tip and pretend to be a captain of the seas. One famous rock – just to the left of the beach – is called Castle Rock. At low tide you can walk up to its entrance and, thanks to a kindly person who has built a short wooden ladder, you can climb into it. Once inside you will find ‘rock rooms’, one interleading into another, creatively carved out by the ocean surrounding it. Climb through and climb up to enjoy the magnificent view.
Even though this beach can become busy in the height of season, it is never crowded. It is too vast and wide for this to happen. Every beach goer gets a comfortable space to spread their towels, without bumping umbrellas. Then… out of season you can find yourself enjoying this beach all to yourself – often! If you are not alone, there will be very few around. It’s a magical experience finding yourself on an unspoilt stretch of beach like this, almost alone.
In winter Brenton beach is just as spectacular. The water may be too cold to swim, and the sand underfoot is quite icy early in the morning, but the joy a walk here can give you is priceless all the same. On a cold grey day, the scene on this beach can be described as ‘what writers long for’- dramatic, ominous, and tragically beautiful. Waves can get tall and crash onto the sands with dominant force. Winds can get strong, keeping the observer indoors – but if you have the chance to observe it from behind glass, you will want to grab a hot coffee and allow your eyes to remain transfixed.
Above, at the entrance of the beach – at the top of the walkway down – treasure can be found. A man by the name of Wellington makes and sells his art from here. His talent is abundant in the wirework and beaded animals he shapes. He is also environmentally conscious in some of his work – he repurposes coffee machine pods into owls, rhinos, and the like. Then further up from his ‘office’ (the best office in the world) is a lovely coffee shop and restaurant attached to the Brenton Haven Hotel. So there is something for everyone at this beach site.
This little place along the African coastline is truly special and one that you simply have to visit one day. Personally – its my church, its my recharge and play station. It’s the place where I find peace and a place I celebrate for its natural beauty – always have, always will.