Indian Ocean

National Marine Month is celebrated from 1 to 31 October in South Africa; it's a time when protecting the country's marine resources comes to the fore. One of the reasons to take action is because the oceans feed us. Learn more about our seas by viewing our gallery.

National Geographic Travel magazine has named South Africa's "capital of cool" in second place on its latest list of the top 10 best beach cities in the world. Cape Town pips sweet spots such as Honolulu, Miami and Rio on the list.

There is more to Durban than its year-round perfect weather, big surf and golden beaches – though these are reason enough to visit. Durbs is a melting pot of Zulu, Indian and colonial culture, offering good food, great music, a long history and an active lifestyle.

There is more to Durban than its year-round perfect weather, big surf and golden beaches – though these are reason enough to visit. Durbs is a melting pot of Zulu, Indian and colonial culture, offering good food, great music, a long history and an active lifestyle.

The republic is seeking ways to unlock the potential hidden in its oceans. Operation Phakisa has identified opportunities in aquaculture, ship building and maintenance, and fishing that will grow the blue economy. It is a strategy lead by The Seychelles and that requires continent-wide co-operation.

The art, culture and beliefs of two ancient tribes on two sides of Earth are united in an exhibition ringing the links between art, science and religion, hosted by the Square Kilometre Array. Most science is beautiful, and so is most art, says the head of the South African mission of the joint South Africa-Australia initiative.

Indigenous astronomy in the southern hemisphere colourfully blurs the lines between fact and fiction; ancient humans used the stars scientifically to track seasons and navigate, but also wove magical myths about the origins of the universe based on the shining spheres. The Shared Sky exhibition captures these stories in handmade quilts and textiles.

On the long drive back from East London after the Iron Man triathlon, two Captonians decided to do "something absolutely epic" – and settled on a 500km swim from Mozambique to the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. In doing so, they are raising funds for Miles for Smiles.

From the pristine coastal stretch of Cape Vidal in KwaZulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape's famous Wild Coast, from the penguin colony of Boulders Beach to sun- drenched Camps Bay in Cape Town . South Africa has some of the most spectacular beaches in the world.

South African hotel and casino operator Tsogo Sun is to invest R220-million in Durban's famed "Golden Mile" through refurbishing and combining its Southern Sun Elangeni and Southern Sun North Beach hotels into one complex, the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani.