Igoda beach near East London

Tony, the boys and I took a drive out to Igoda beach yesterday afternoon, just for fun. It was quite late in the afternoon already and we could not stay long, but we took our cameras, romped around on the sand dunes a bit, tried out a homemade sandboard that didn't work, and generally just had a "winter outing to the beach." I haven't been to Igoda in years, but used to go to Igoda with my parents often when I was a kid. My parents used to like fishing there, and I would run around on the sand dunes, or try catch a few fish in the rock pools - further along the beach, as the first bit of beach is just beautiful sand and ocean. My mother used to put red ribbons in my hair in case I wandered off a little too far, she would be able to spot me easily (and reel me back in) :)

The route seems to have changed somewhat, from what I remember. Obviously it's still leave East London and travel past the East London airport, but now it's straight down into Winterstrand, then turn right at the bottom, drive along the coast through the little Winterstrand residential village, then as you start to head away from the ocean again, turn left onto a little dirt road, that ends in a small parking area at Igoda beach.

Basti's Igoda story and photos

Zooty's Igoda story and photos

Igoda beach, near East London, and not far from Winterstrand

As you walk down onto the sand at Igoda beach,

this little village and lagoon is off to the right, a bit magical, like Brigadoon.

Zooty (11) and Basti (12) stand on rocks at Igoda Beach.  The beach itself is long and beautiful,

without any  rocks unless you walk pretty far along the beach, but these rocks (and ideal fishing area)

are immediately off to the left as one walks down from the little Igoda beach parking area.

Taking photos on the beach near the surfers marathon start, in Kwelera Village, East London

Also see some 2010 Surfers Marathon photos

The annual 16km East London Surfers Marathon coastal challenge is tackled by many runners, walkers and paddlers every year, so February is a good time to mention this popular East London race! Probably even a little late, if training has not yet begun, and you are keen to enter. In this photo, Basti is taking photographs of the rocks and ocean on the beach near Kwelera Village - this is about 1km after the start of the Surfers Marathon, and about only 100 metres from Petra and Spuds self catering accommodation within the little Kwelera Village itself. Photographers must be very careful with their cameras on beaches, and try not to expose their cameras to too much sand, water, and salty air. If it's a windy day, rather keep your camera off the beach completely!