St James Tidal Pool

St James is one of a chain of walled tidal pools along the False Bay shore - a concrete rim built out over the rocks so that the sea refills the pool at high water and leaves a calm, safe basin behind. It works: the water is warmer than the open bay, there is no surf and no current, and it is the reason families with small children come here rather than to the beach. Behind it stands the line of bathing boxes in flat primary colours, smaller and older-looking than the Muizenberg row and the more photographed of the two. The catwalk path along the rocks connects St James to Muizenberg in about twenty minutes on the seaward side of the railway, which is the best way to arrive. Whales pass close inshore here between roughly July and November.

What you actually see

• The walled pool - a sea-filled basin with no surf and no current.
• The bathing boxes - a short line of painted Victorian huts above the rocks.
• The catwalk - a rock path along the shore to Muizenberg.
• Whales inshore - southern rights passing close between about July and November.

When to go

November to April for swimming. An hour or two. Go at or just after high tide when the pool is freshly filled.

Honest expectations

It is small and gets full on hot weekends and in school holidays. At low tide the water can be murky and weed collects. Parking on the M4 is very limited. The railway runs directly behind the beach and is noisy.

Nearby

Muizenberg is a short walk west; Kalk Bay harbour is east.