Clifton Beaches (4th Beach)

Clifton Beaches are four connected white-sand coves strung along Victoria Road in the Atlantic Seaboard suburb of Clifton, Cape Town, in South Africa's Western Cape. Granite boulders divide the coves, and each is reached by its own flight of stairs from the road above, which keeps the beaches compact and relatively uncrowded compared with nearby Camps Bay. The sand is fine and white, and the Atlantic water is clear but cold, typically around 12-16 C all year, so most visitors paddle or take short dips rather than swim. The coves face west and are sheltered from the summer south-easter by the mountain behind, which makes them among the calmest places to sunbathe on a windy day elsewhere in the city. Fourth Beach is the largest and most family-oriented, with Blue Flag status, summer lifeguards, toilets and sunbed and umbrella hire. First, Second and Third beaches are quieter and smaller; Second Beach is popular with a younger crowd and Third Beach has a lively social scene, while First Beach is the most secluded. The coves are not pet-friendly and there are no restaurants on the sand itself, so visitors usually bring food and drinks or walk to cafes in nearby Camps Bay. Access is by car, e-hailing ride or MyCiTi bus to Camps Bay followed by a short taxi. Roadside parking on Victoria Road is very limited and fills early on summer weekends, and car guards expect a small tip. The stairs are steep in places, and the climb back to the road is a workout after a day in the sun. Sunset is the main draw, when the light turns the granite and the Twelve Apostles gold, and the beaches are among the most photographed in South Africa.