Bikini Heaven
There can be no more famous beach in Africa than Clifton. It’s synonymous with petite bikinis, lithe lifesavers and an ethos of fashionable hedonism. Justin Fox grabbed beach bats, a Frisbee and suntan cream and spent half a morning looking for parking.
Rio’s Copacabana, LA’s Malibu, Sydney’s Bondi, Miami’s South Beach and Cape Town’s Clifton. These are the world’s most legendary patches of sand. Protected from the Mother City’s howling southeaster, Clifton spends the summer months crammed with local beach lovers and tourists from across the globe.
It actually comprises five beaches separated by granite boulders. All have squeaky-white sands and pale, icy waters. Moses is the northernmost and disappears in the winter months when the westerlies scour the sand. This cove is very secluded and often features a nude sunbather or two tucked behind the rocks.
Work on your Tan
First Beach is surrounded by tall apartment blocks and the wave action here is stronger. As a consequence it tends to be frequented by surfers, their supine molls and groups of locals playing vigorous ball games. Surrounded by million-dollar bungalows, Second and Third beaches are for the young, beautiful and trendy. Work on your tan before setting foot here. It’s all about seeing and being seen. Skimpy bikinis, oiled muscles and lots of energy.
Fourth is the biggest, has easy access, more parking and has become the family beach. It’s also the most sheltered from the westerly swell, so it’s here that yachts and motorboats spend the day at anchor. Fourth is the closest you’ll get locally to the Cote d'Azur.
So much for Clifton on a sizzling summer day. If you want to discover its essence, however, visit it on a crisp winter evening when it’s deserted. (Ironically the water is also much warmer in winter.) The sun’s last rays turn the granite red, water fizzes across the beach and tendrils of fog snake between the boulders. It’s then that you’ll understand what makes this stretch of sand so special.
By Justin Fox
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