How to Keep Cool in South Africa’s Big Cities
Whether you’re in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban, you may need a place to cool down, a body of water to dive into and a way to refresh in between your city sightseeing. Here’s a few hotels, pools and dams to dip into within South Africa’s big cities:
Johannesburg
Saxon Hotel
Find solace at the luxurious, leafy retreat of the Saxon Hotel in the heart of Sandhurst, Johannesburg. Some luxury villas and suites have their very own pools else you can dip into their heated pool. Or even better, book yourself into their spa with cascading water features and Himalayan salt and copper influences.
Public Swimming Spots
With no coastline, lots of nearby dams and a few public swimming pools; your best option would be at your hotel or there’s the Linden indoor heated swimming pool or the biggest public swimming pool ( Olympic-size) at Ellis Park.
Durban
The Canelands Hotel
Whether you’re on deck on walk or sipping cocktails on the terrace of The Canelands Hotel; you’ll be surrounded by views of the ocean and the pool blue beside you. Wake up to hear crashing waves, dive into the ocean, dip in the pool, go horse-riding on the coast or micro-light along the coast.
Public Swimming Spots
Durban’s golden mile of coastline is a wonderful place to enjoy the beach. With safe-swimming beacons, lifeguards on duty at most beaches, warmer water, shark nets and public amenities, there is so much on and around the beach to enjoy.
Cape Town
Mandela Rhodes Place Hotel
Catch a city break here in the heart of Cape Town’s cultural quarter at Mandela Rhodes Place and when the days get hot and you’re not keen on finding your way to the seaside, laze on lofty heights and dive into the rooftop swimming pool.
Public Swimming Spots
Being a peninsula, Cape Town has a plethora of options where everyone can cool down. Dams and little streams running down from the mountain and beaches galore. Choose between the Atlantic Seaboard beaches tucked between giant boulders with white sand beaches and cooler Atlantic ocean water or the False Bay peninsula with warmer water and family-friendly tidal and rock pools and beaches. Here’s more ideas in our Mini-guide to Cape Town’s Coastline.
