аÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û

Clifton Beaches- Author; South African Tourism-

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Clifton Beaches, Cape Town

Clifton’s beaches are world-famous for so many reasons, and if you’ve ever laid eyes on them and fallen in love instantly, no one can even blame you. With its ocean-fronting mansions right on the beach, pristine white sands and rough granite boulders, Clifton beaches are indeed a sight to behold.

It is why celebrities, personalities from across the globe and local South Africans also, flock to its beaches.

1. Clifton is located in one of the most affluent surbubs

Cape town- Image by Jean van der Meulen from

Clifton’s four beaches are ideally situated in one of Cape Town’s most affluent suburbs, without being more than a 15-20 minute drive from the city centre (when traffic is minimal).

With some of Africa’s most exclusive, highly sought-after property investments located here, Clifton is second only to its bigger sister, Camps Bay and yet, it’s so close to the CBD.

Its natural location makes the Clifton beaches so wonderfully alluring. With majestic mountains encircling them and the tantalising coastline, hugged by the bluest blue of the Atlantic Ocean, anyone will most definitely fall in love with these beautiful beaches.

2. It is a blue flag beach

Clifton beach, Capetown- Author; SkyPixels-

Clifton 4^th  the most family-friendly of the four beaches is also a deserved Blue Flag Beach. This means that the beach is immaculately clean, has good ablution facilities and parking areas and, above everything else, it is also safe, secure and environmentally friendly.

Although a beach can lose this rating from one season to the next, Clifton 4^th has been going for a few years steady and hopefully, it will continue to.

3. It is a more secluded place that is protected from the wind

Image by dennishamer from

Although Clifton’s four beaches can get as cold and windy as any beach along the Cape Peninsula, they are nevertheless more secluded and protected from the wind for the most part.

This thus ensures a wonderful beach experience, without sand stinging your eyes during a blustery breeze.

Most times throughout the year, especially in the summertime, visitors to the Clifton beaches can enjoy a near-perfect day on the beach

This is definitely one of the many reasons why it’s so popular.

4. Clifton is pretty diverse

Clifton Beach in Cape Town- Photo by Sophie Pascarella de Klerk on

Clifton’s four beaches are fairly diverse too. While Clifton 4^th is populated more by young families because of its safer, cove-like setting, Clifton 3^rd and 2^nd are where more adults go to play beach volleyball, have a quick surf or simply explore the waters.

These two beaches generally draw a younger adult crowd, making them popular among young people of ages between their 20s and 30s.

What’s more, they are quite frequently used for weddings, beach or fashion photo shoots because of the idyllic setting, especially with the large boulders and nearby crashing waves.

5. The quietest and smallest beach is Clifton 1st

Photo by Jean-Baptiste D. on Unsplash

Clifton 1^st,  is the smallest and thus, generally the quietest of the four. Because it’s a less used beach, dog owners generally take their pet dogs for walks and fetch games here.

It’s also a good place to suntan or read a book because it’s not normally too crowded, even on the busiest of beach days. Thus why it is preferred by most visitors.

6. Clifton beach is naturally divided by boulders and rocks

Rock formation at clifton beach- Photo by Finding Dan | Dan Grinwis on

Hiding from the visibility of the coastal road and vicinity of the wind, Clifton is a secluded collection of four beaches naturally divided by boulders and rocks.

Taking a stroll across all beaches is easily accomplished despite nature’s scattered beach borders.

Clifton Fourth, which is situated on the Camps Bay side, is the biggest Clifton beach with amenities, including toilet facilities, cold outdoor showers, umbrella and chair hire, roaming snacks and refreshments vendors and a restaurant at the small parking area.

7. Clifton 4th is the most popular of the four spots

Clifton Beaches- Author; South African Tourism-

Clifton Fourth is also the most popular of the four spots for ocean dips due to the calm waters and lifeguards.

This Atlantic alcove teases with transparent turquoise waters, yachts floating on the postcard horizon and water temperatures cold enough to qualify a swim as an extreme sport.

Games of touch rugby, Frisbee and beach bats pop up in any towel flanked gaps.

8. It is perfect for sundowner picnics

Picnicking at Clifton 4th beach- Photo by Garth Manthe on

Sundowner picnics are splendid although be sure to feast on all your basket food so that the load on the journey of a hundred stairs leading to and from this spectacular shore is lighter on the way up.

You can park wherever you can find a spot on Victoria Road. Parking is scarce between the penthouse residents and the resident sun worshippers.

As an official blue flag-rated beach for experience and safety, a visit to Cape Town is for sure unfulfilled without dusting bleached Clifton sand off summer sandals.

Visitors at Clifton Beach, Capetown- Photo by Teddy Jansen on

At the northwest tip of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula lies the swanky coastal gem Clifton Beach, a haven for international hipsters and jet-setters. Clifton is actually a series of four beaches, each separated by a stretch of granite boulders.

The beach is sprawling and clean, reflecting the brilliant African sunshine off white sand and throngs of tanned bodies.

10. The best of the Clintons to visit on a windy day are Clifton 2nd and 3rd

Clifton beach, South Africa- Photo by Jalome Chirwa on

On windy days, Clifton 2 and 3 are the best beaches to visit. Because of the cove formation around them, they remain largely unaffected by the wind.

Also, due to Cape Town’s extended daylight hours in summer, you can tan until it’s as late as 6.30pm, since it only gets dark much later.

Popular beach sports at Clifton include volleyball, touch rugby, Frisbee and beach bats (hitting a tennis ball back and forth with small, round bats).

The waves along this beach, although relatively small, are better suited to more experienced surfers. Bathers can however walk fairly far out before the sand shelf level drops, provided they can handle the chilly waters.

Those looking for a more relaxing time can get a professional massage on the beach. This service is usually offered on weekends during the summer months.