Shelley Beach

Description

Shelley Beach is a hidden gem in the popular holiday town of Kenton on Sea, in the Eastern Cape. As the beach is enclosed by a semi-circle of high rock, the bay is sheltered from most winds and from the masses of crowds. The beach got its name from the rough, shell-lined beach, which can be rather sharp for bare feet!

The beach is reached by a 20 minute hike across the dunes. Once you reach the top, you will be afforded a fantastic view of Kenton on Sea and Bushman's River Mouth. A makeshift path leads down to the coastline and the closed-off beach of Shelley Bay.

If you get to Shelley Bay at low tide, you can scuba dive or explore the tidal pools and rock formations around the bay. At high tide, the shore break can get quite rough and is not ideal for swimming (the nearby Bushman’s and Kariega River are tranquil and popular for kids). The beach is known for its dumper waves, which make for fantastic body surfing. You can have some fun with the blasting holes which measure around 30cm in diameter. These holes in the rock have been created through ages of continuous battering by the Indian Ocean!