Which Clifton beach does the camera show?

It overlooks Clifton Fourth Beach, the largest and busiest of the four Clifton coves on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Why is the water at Clifton so blue?

Clifton sits on the cold Atlantic side of the peninsula. The cold, clear water and white sand give the beaches their striking turquoise colour.

Is Clifton Fourth Beach sheltered from the wind?

Largely, yes. The beaches sit below the mountain slopes, which shelters them from much of Cape Town’s south-easterly wind.

Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town

Clifton 4th Beach

Sheltered white sand and turquoise water on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Watch this view live

Clifton is a string of four sheltered beaches tucked below the Atlantic Seaboard’s most exclusive slopes. Fourth Beach is the largest and most popular, known for its white sand, granite boulders and clear turquoise water. Tucked beneath the Twelve Apostles, the coves are protected from much of the wind that funnels across the rest of the city.

What you’ll see on the camera

The camera looks over Fourth Beach and the Atlantic beyond. Expect sunbathers and swimmers through the warmer months, paddle craft on calm days, and the deep blue of the Atlantic against pale sand. The light here is bright and clean, and the water keeps its vivid colour even on overcast days.

Best time to watch

Summer afternoons are when Clifton is busiest and at its most photogenic, with the beaches catching full afternoon sun thanks to their west-facing aspect. The boulders between the beaches glow at sunset. The Atlantic water stays cold year round, which is part of why the sand stays so pristine.

Things to do nearby

Spend a beach day on the sheltered white sand of Fourth Beach
Walk between all four Clifton beaches over the granite boulders
Catch the sunset from the sand with the Twelve Apostles behind you
Continue south to Camps Bay for restaurants and palm-lined seafront

Frequently asked questions

Which Clifton beach does the camera show?: It overlooks Clifton Fourth Beach, the largest and busiest of the four Clifton coves on the Atlantic Seaboard.
Why is the water at Clifton so blue?: Clifton sits on the cold Atlantic side of the peninsula. The cold, clear water and white sand give the beaches their striking turquoise colour.
Is Clifton Fourth Beach sheltered from the wind?: Largely, yes. The beaches sit below the mountain slopes, which shelters them from much of Cape Town’s south-easterly wind.