Sardinia Bay is one of those delightfully elusive coves that have managed to retain a certain amount of anonymity, despite being one of Port Elizabeth’s lesser discovered gems.

Sardinia Bay also borders a sand boarding enthusiast’s haunt and a firm favorite with kite surfers. Located just on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, the beach paradise is just a ten-minute drive out of the city; this stunning beach is still relatively undeveloped and not crowded.

One of the best aspects of Sardinia Bay is the beach’s proximity to a protected natural area. It has a number of walking and horse riding trails, small watery alcoves and plenty of vegetation and wildlife. The sand dunes are accessible to sand boarders though care should be taken not to ride over natural vegetation. The beach is also open to dog lovers, but surfers should take care since there are strong undercurrents further off -shore.

It’s an ideal way to avoid the crowds and bustling streets of South Africa’s hugely popular Port Elizabeth whilst making sure you get your fair share of the beach. What probably keeps the crowds at bay is the lack of facilities, but locals celebrate the fact that this beach remains a refuge during holiday season.

Sardinia Bay lies between the seaside resort of Seaview and the small coastal village of Schoenmakerskop on the road just outside Port Elizabeth. As part of the Sunshine Coast, Sardinia Bay offers visitors miles of endless sand and un-spoilt beauty and the Sardinia Bay beach walk lays claim to being one of the best in the area. There are a number of picnic spots and horse riding is popular.

Sardinia Bay is also the start of the 8 km Sacramento hiking trail, named after a sunken Portuguese ship on the offshore reefs. This well-known ramble passes through vegetated dunes and bridle paths of the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve.

The Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve is situated on 320 hectares of picturesque landscape and is home to the famous 8km Sacramento hiking trail. The magnificent kilometres of unspoilt coastline, is perfect for diving, snorkelling, and surfing and long walks on the beach. There are also picnic facilities for visitors to Sardinia Bay to make use of, while taking in the majestic sand dunes surrounding the beach. The beautiful natural flora and fauna, as well as animal and bird life will give you a new found appreciation for the beauty of our environment.

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