Iconic Swimming Pools in southern Africa

Several swimming pools in southern Africa have gained iconic status over the years, due to their architecture, location, age or being a venue for national championships.

The first swimming pool mentioned in the local Cape Town newspapers was a floating swimming enclosure in Table Bay, modelled on a popular design from Victorian England. It was reported to have been swept away during a storm in 1869. 19th-century entrepreneurs built indoor swimming pools in various locations around Cape Town, including Camps Bay, Long Street and Claremont, where they were managed on a commercial basis. Swimming pools were also built in the other major centres, including Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein and Pretoria. 

Click here to see a map of where many of the derelict pools used to be located in southern Africa 

No new Olympic-sized competition swimming pools have been built since the Kings Park facility opened in 2009 in Durban. It is the only swimming facility in South Africa with FINA (International Swimming Federation) accreditation, recognised by the International Olympic Committee for hosting international water sports competitions.

In 2025, the King's Park facility is being revamped, while the Newton Park pool in Port Elizabeth is used to host the annual national swimming championships.