Clifton’s beaches are world-famous so many reasons, and if you’ve ever laid eyes on that golden corner, with its ocean-fronting mansions right on the beach, pristine white sands and rough granite boulders (dotted both in the azure waters and on the shoreline), then you will already know the answer: it is because the four Clifton beaches are simply some of the most beautiful you’ll find anywhere in the world! It’s why celebrities, personalities from across the globe and local South Africans too, flock to its beaches – but here are a few other well-deserved reasons why Clifton’s beaches are so well-loved and famed:

1 - Location, location, location

Photo credit: www.cliftonsharkfiles.com 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 (if traffic’s minimal, that is) from the city centre. 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. But all that aside, it’s the natural location, which makes the Clifton beaches so wonderfully alluring. With majestic mountains encircling them and tantalising coastline, hugged by the bluest blue of the Atlantic Ocean, what’s not to love about these gorgeous beaches?

2 - Blue Flag Beach

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 all, is 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 continues to!

3 - Protected from the elements

Although Clifton’s four beaches can get as cold and wintry as any beach along the Cape Peninsula, they are nevertheless more secluded and protected from the wind for the most part. This ensures a wonderful beach experience, without sand stinging your eyes during a blustery breeze! (Which, sadly, can sometimes be the case at the more weather-exposed Camps Bay beach...) Most times throughout the year, especially in summertime, visitors to the Clifton beaches can enjoy a near-perfect day on the beach… that’s definitely one of the reasons why it’s so popular!  Photo credit: www.bevanlangley.com 4 - Something for everyone<> 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 volley ball, have a quick surf or simply to explore the waters… if they’re brave enough to get in, that is! These two beaches generally draw a younger adult crowd, making them popular among the 20- and 30-somethings in the Mother City. What’s more, they are quite frequently used for wedding, beach or fashion photo shoots because of the idyllic setting, especially with the large boulders and nearby crashing waves. Clifton 1^st, on the other hand, is the smallest and thus, generally the quietest of the four. Because it’s a less used beach, dog owners generally take their furry babies 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!

5 - Master massages and other interesting things

And finally, as a fun fact, you can even order your own massage on the beach at Clifton. While this luxury is offered by external services, it’s still pretty cool! You can also buy ice lollies, cold drinks and sun hats from hawkers, who patrol the beaches, offering their wares. Visitors can even enjoy viewing a proper tournament, as sports’ matches (like beach volleyball) are sometimes held at Clifton 1^st. Finally, the best part of all about Clifton’s beaches? While they lie next to some of the most expensive real estate in the country – they’re free to visit! And these are just some of the many reasons why Clifton is world-famous for its beaches!  Photo credit: mycapetown.co.za