Smitswinkel Bay is stunning. But is it a secret beach? It’s hidden in plain sight, and a simple Google search will give you over 26 000 results about this beach. So it’s not exactly hidden. Despite this, I didn’t know it existed until 2018, when I saw a blog post raving about the beach. I only visited this year this past Sunday. A pandemic had to ravage the globe, and now I’m much more interested in secluded places. There’s no WiFi signal, no electricity, no bathroom facilities, and not a single shop. Admittedly, it’s not the ideal beach for everyone. Don’t be fooled by these “drawbacks.” Smitswinkel is a slice of heaven. The beach is spectacular and pristine. If you love calm and sheltered spaces, this is the beach for you.

Why is it called Smitswinkel Bay

It isn’t really clear where the beach got its name from. Some say there was a blacksmith who was a homeowner in the area. There are others that say it’s named after a farm owner called Smit. And then there’s the theory that two stones on the shoreline look like anvils, hence the name. Honestly, no one knows, and chances are that we will never know where the name comes from.

Where is Smitswinkel Bay

Smitswinkel is just outside of Simon’s Town, about 20 minutes outside of it, and just before Cape Point Nature Reserve. It’s on the False Bay coast side in Cape Town. The side of Cape Town that I call home.

How to get to Smitswinkel Bay

Like I said, it’s after Simon’s Town and just before the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Ride along the M4 past the iconic Boulders Beach and lesser known Miller’s Point. Once you’ve reached a bend with a rocky parking lot, you’ve arrived. It’s the last beach that is free to enter on the False Bay coast. It’s not easy to get to this beach. There are no tarred roads, and you have to hike down. The trail is on the side of the road and isn’t marked. You have to park at the hiking trail parking lot. Do note though that the hike is up the mountain. It’s not the trail you want to take. You have to cross the road, and you will find the trail on the opposite side of the parking lot. From there on, you have to hike for 15 to 20 minutes. The hike is steep and, at times, narrow. There’s even a little stream flowing from the mountainside. And a makeshift bridge that runs across it, which you will pass by. It’s safe and absolutely adorable. The views on the way are totally worth it. The trail is clearly marked, and you just have to keep going downwards. I will say that the hike down isn’t that tough. The hike back up to get to your car that’s another story altogether. I was huffing and puffing.

You do need a car to get to Smits, as it’s also known. You can take the train to Simon’s Town and then maybe get an Uber from there. But I highly doubt it’s going to work; rather, hire a car from a place like Rent a Cheapie.

Smitswinkel Bay accommodation

There are a few places to stay in Smitswinkel Bay. The majority of the homes are privately owned and have been passed down from generation to generation. The one house only has an outside tap. Yip, no running water inside the house. The other house has no TV. And once again, no WiFi. Be prepared to carry whatever you need down the hiking trail. Yes, that includes your food, clothes, sunscreen, and whatever else you want with you. My advice is to travel light if you’re planning to stay for a day or even for longer. It will make the hike down and up again much easier. Click the link to find out where you can stay in Smitswinkel Bay below: Perfect Hideaways

Smitswinkel Bay things to do

The beach is perfect for swimming, walking, scuba diving and kayaking.

The Smitswinkel Reef, renowned among scuba divers, features five shipwrecks that were intentionally sunk by the Navy in the 1970s. These wrecks, which include the SAS Good Hope and SAS Transvaal (both frigates), the Princess Elizabeth and Oratavia (both fishing trawlers), and the diamond dredge Rockeater, have created an artificial reef rich with marine life. The area is covered with vibrant soft corals, sponges, and sea fans, and divers might spot large stingrays. This deep, multi-level dive site averages between 30-36 meters and is accessible by boat.
Please note that the specific blog post containing detailed descriptions of these wrecks is no longer available. For similar information, you can refer to current resources and dive guides about Smitswinkel Reef and its underwater attractions

Please note that the specific blog post containing detailed descriptions of these wrecks is no longer available. For similar information, you can refer to current resources and dive guides about Smitswinkel Reef and its underwater attractions.

There’s no kayak rental store. I’m guessing that you can kayak from Cape Point or from Castle Rock to get to Smitswinkel Bay. I don’t think it would be fun carrying a boat down the hiking trail.

There’s lots of rock pools, which makes walking on the beach exciting. There’s little fish, sea snails; I saw a few muscles, sea urchins, lizards, and birds. The area also has baboons, which occasionally visit. If you do see a baby, move away slowly, and if they are after your food, let them have it. Remember that baboons are awesome and are wild animals; rather, be safe. Never feed them, and don’t try to interact with them. Just watch from afar.

You can also picnic at Smits or simply do nothing by just sunbathing. Remember to bring sunscreen and water along. These are essential items, and like I said, there’s no stores close by to quickly grab this.

Are there restaurants at Smitswinkel Bay

Since Smitswinkel Bay is off the beaten path beach there are no restaurants at the beach. There are a few restaurants close by in Simon’s Town. My favourites include the Seaforth Restaurant at Seaforth beach. Minari which sells South Korean food and Saveur where I had a delicious breakfast. There are lots of restaurants relatively close by, by car but none you can walk to easily.

What is the best time to visit Smitswinkel Bay?

The answer is summertime, early and on a good weather day. I hiked down early on Sunday morning. There was no one else along the trail down. It’s best to go early to avoid Cape Town’s beating sun from frying your skin; from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is when you should try to avoid the sun. It shines at its harshest between those hours. You shouldn’t hike the route down in the dark without a torch. I’d avoid it even with one. I also wouldn’t stay too late and hike back up in the dark. There’s no light along the trail. And imagine bumping into a baboon in the dark. The trail can also get muddy from what I saw, as it’s mostly a sand-covered path. Sand and rain equal muddy, slippery trails. It’s best, in my opinion, to avoid all of that unless you love falling on your butt.

I was fortunate since the sky was moody and it was warm. As the morning lazily dragged on, everything cleared up, and it was absolutely perfect. At first I didn’t want to write about this place and maybe unknowingly draw in crowds, which will ruin it. Then I thought about it carefully, and I think that people aren’t all fit enough or willing to hike. This is a beach without a single shop, WiFi, or electricity. Since there’s so many posts on Smitswinkel already online, I figured it would be okay to share this “hidden gem”. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading this post.

For more details, visit: Worlds Best Hidden Beaches Cape Town , Scuba Shack

Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment or just chat. I would love to hear from you.