Event information
The Full Moon Swim Society is a community-organised tidal pool swim held on the full moon each month. The May 2026 edition takes place at the tidal pool adjacent to the Brass Bell Restaurant in Kalk Bay, on the False Bay coastline. Participants enter the water and swim as the full moon rises. Afterwards, tea, biscotti, and an informal gathering are offered on site.
The initiative was founded with a focus on access and inclusion in Cape Town's outdoor swimming spaces. Many of the city's tidal pools and coastal swimming areas carry a history of being exclusionary, and swimming after dark remains an experience that is not equally accessible to all communities, particularly for women and other more vulnerable groups. The Full Moon Swim Society frames each monthly gathering as a low-barrier opportunity to reclaim those spaces collectively, through shared experience rather than formal programming.
The event is free, requires no advance booking, and is open to all. Swimmers are encouraged to bring their own towel and a warm layer for afterwards. The Brass Bell Tidal Pool sits directly off Main Road in Kalk Bay, within easy reach of the Kalk Bay train station on the Simon's Town line, and street parking is available along Main Road.