The town of Strand is situated on the shores of False Bay at the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, an easy 40 minute drive from Cape Town. It is a bustling metropolis of some 50 000 residents and forms part of the picturesque Helderberg Basin, along with Somerset West and Gordons Bay.
Strand originated some 200 years ago as a holiday and fishing resort and was founded in 1714. Strand's main attraction is "the strand" - 5 kilometers of beautiful white sandy beach lapped by the warm waters of False Bay.
The beach is known to be one of the best and safest bathing areas in the country. Facilities on or nearby include Dune Park with a supertube and mini-golf and Harmony Park which boasts a huge tidal pool. Watersports may be conducted from various points along the beach front.
For the sporting enthusiast Strand offers a wide variety of organised sport including a brand new golf course capable of hosting international events; tennis, rugby, squash, jukskei, athletics, and watersports like surfing, sailing, power boating, paddleskiing and boardsailing.
Strand also boasts an olympic sized, covered, centrally heated swimming pool which is open all year round. The coast between the Lourens river mouth and up to Rooi Els is very popular with beach fishermen and rock anglers, whilst organised and social diving activities beckon the more adventurous.
Strand offers a wide variety of restaurants guaranteed to appease even the most selective palate. The choice of shopping facilities is simalar - from the comprehensive Somerset Mall situated just outside the town to the local Dorpsmeent Centre, one would be hard pressed to find a service which is not locally available.
Base to Travel from
Strand forms an ideal base from which visitors can explore the Cape Peninsula and its environs:
* The majestic Peninsula with its renowned coastal drive from Muizenberg to Cape Point to Hout Bay via the magnificent Chapmans Peak to Sea Point;
Cape Town itself with Table Mountain brooding over the city and the vibrant V&A Waterfront;
* The West Coast and Swartland;
* The scenic Boland with its wine routes and the Helderberg wine route a mere 10km away;
* The coastal road past Gordon's Bay to Betty's Bay and Hermanus, part of the Cape whale route
