Tag Archives: clifton

Birds on the horizon

Birds on the horizon
This is one of the things that I love about the end of day on Clifton beach - the birds that flock over the horizon, resting on the large boulders about 150 meters off in the ocean. It creates such a peaceful atmosphere. :)

Vacationing in Cape Town

Vacationing in Cape Town
If found this couple (who by their accents sounded foreign) were sitting watching the sun set over Clifton 4th beach. I handed them a card and said I'd email them the photos - but I haven't heard from them, so I guess the language barrier was just a little too much to cross. :-(

A busy smelly Clifton 4th

A busy smelly Clifton 4th
I felt a little bad for first-time visitors to Clifton 4th. It's normally such a pristine beach, but ocean tides were unkind to us and an unusually-large mass of smelly kelp had washed up onto shore.

Even though many were, there was no freegin' way I was getting into that water. I only managed to stay around for half an hour before I decided that it really wasn't fun on that overly-hot, massively-crowded, somewhat-smelly beach. :(

I shall return another day. When the kelp has left our shores. :)

Clifton at peak tourist season

Clifton at peak tourist season
Phew - lots of people hey?! We really love tourists visiting Cape Town. It's fantastic for our economy and, well, the divergent cultures and beautiful people that descend on our little city over this time is spectacularly interesting. It's a pleasure having you!

It is however sad that most tourists never get to see the calm, relaxed, and quiet beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay. I often wonder to myself if crowded and busy beaches are as all they know. It's a shame, because these beaches are spectacular from late February through to April and even May. Next time you visit Cape Town - consider coming a little later in the new year - I pretty much guarantee you'll enjoy it more than the Christmas/New Year period. :)

Beach-sand art

Beach-sand art
I made this using a discarded plastic fork that I happened to come across while digging my hands under the sand. Eeeewe... yes.

I went to an art gallery recently and was somewhat confused by what people classify as art. I guess it's highly subjective; dependent on one's personal point of view. And that said, I rate if I could frame this piece of beach I could make a fortune. ;)

Our pretty white beach sand

Our pretty white beach sand
The beaches along our Atlantic seaboard, stretching from Clifton, through Camps Bay and along to Llandudno, have some of the most pristine-white beach sand I've seen; except for those rare day when unusual currents drive a layer of green sea-slime (possibly a form of green algae) onto the beachfront. This was one of those days, but I kindly refrained from posting a photo of the waterline. It's a pleasure. :)

Beach kids and bodyboards

Beach kids and bodyboards
There were far too many kids on this beach. Well, actually, I'm kidding. ;) What I mean is, I've taken to frequenting the more refined and sedate Clifton 3rd and 2nd beaches. Clifton 4th (the one in this photo) is probably the best of the four beaches along the stretch of coast, but in summer tends to get quite crowded and noisy (with babies, toddlers, and ice-cream salesmen).

Seaside property

Seaside property
In my previous post I mentioned that I wouldn't mind baby-sitting one of the many empty properties along the Atlantic Seaboard; even just for a little while. Given the pointing, I imagine that's exactly what the young girl on the left was proposing.

Just look at those houses, crowded onto the slopes of Table Mountain. How spectacular it must be to live there! Well, for 6 months of the year, I guess. :)

A golden-sunset beach

A golden-sunset beach
Imagine returning from work each summer's day, to be greeted by this view?

Clifton (and our Atlantic Seaboard in general) is one of the most beautiful sea-side areas in the country - which is why the properties in this area are of the most expensive in the land. What's interesting (though not unexpected) is that most of the prime real-estate is owned by foreigners; many of whom spend only a little time in the country each year.

I wouldn't mind house sitting... just putting it out there. ;)