Camp's Bay Tidal Pool
The Atlantic-seaboard tidal pool at Camp's Bay — the cold-water swim with the Twelve Apostles behind.
Trip Role
Ideal stay
Best for
Our take
The Atlantic-seaboard tidal pool — cold water, the Twelve Apostles behind, and the Camp's Bay convenience. Go prepared for the cold.
The Atlantic-seaboard tidal pool — cold water, the Twelve Apostles behind, and the Camp's Bay convenience. Go prepared for the cold.
- Trip Role
- Quick Stop
- Ideal Stay
- A swim
- Best For
- Cold-water swimmers, Atlantic-seaboard travellers, photographers.
- Skip If
- Warm-water swimmers.
- Go If
- You want an Atlantic-seaboard swim with a mountain backdrop, or you're staying in Camp's Bay.
- Worth Extra Drive
- 0 min
Why it's worth your time
A tidal pool at the southern end of Camp's Bay, on the Atlantic seaboard — the cold-water swim with the Twelve Apostles and Lion's Head behind. Camp's Bay tidal pool is the Atlantic alternative to the False Bay pools: cold water, a stone-walled shelter from the Atlantic swell, and a dramatic mountain setting. For Atlantic-seaboard travellers it's the swim that doesn't require driving to False Bay; for cold-water swimmers it's the dramatic setting.
What we love
The Twelve Apostles backdrop; the cold Atlantic setting; the sheltered pool; the Camp's Bay convenience.
What to know
Cold (12–15°C) — go prepared. Best at mid-to-high tide. The pool is at the southern end of the beach, below the rocks.
More tidal pool in Western Cape
Dalebrook Tidal Pool
A tucked False Bay tidal pool between Kalk Bay and St James — the Cape's most characterful sea swim.
Milton Tidal Pool
A Simon's Town tidal pool on the False Bay coast — a quiet, well-kept swim at the naval town's edge.
St James Tidal Pool
The iconic coloured-hut tidal pool on the False Bay coast — a summer family swim with a postcard backdrop.
Woolley's Pool
A quiet tidal pool at Woolley's, south of Kalk Bay — the less-crowded False Bay swim.