Christine's Beach Cottage: Clifton Information

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Clifton is located on Cape Town's "Atlantic Seaboard" between Camps Bay,the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and Table Mountain. While it is worth staying at Clifton purely for it's own scenic beauty, it also offers easy access to all these popular attractions, as well as Robben Island cruises and the Cape Point scenic drive. Accommodation in Clifton is scarce and precious due to the steep mountains that serve as a backdrop, and the surrounding nature reserves which are free of building development.

Click on the Cape Town map to see a detailed map of the Clifton area.

Weather

Sunday 5 February 2012

Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate: Warm, usually-dry summers and mild, wet winters. Summer temperatures - December to March - typically reach 25-30 deg C (77-86 deg F) during the day, dropping to 18-22 deg C (64-72 deg F) at night. Clifton's position on the slopes of Lion's Head Mountain protects it from the prevailing south-easterly summer wind. Its reputation as Cape Town's most sheltered beach is one of the reasons for Clifton's popularity among sun-loving locals and well-informed visitors, and it's enduring status as the most sought-after address. Hot days are moderated by the sea air and the cool water is guaranteed to refresh you when the temperature rises.

Winter - June to September - sees daytime temperatures of around 18-25 deg C (64-77 deg F) and nights of 12-18 deg C (54-64 deg F). Rainstorms occur fairly frequently with a north-west wind whipping up the waves spectacularly, but the weather can change quickly and a rainy morning often changes to a warm, sunny afternoon. Here again the inhabitants of Clifton find good fortune: Clifton's north-facing orientation* means that it collects and captures all the warmth of the winter sun. The result is that afternoons are usually sunny and sunbathers can enjoy the beach year-round. Fine, sunny days are ideal for sightseeing as the temperatures are moderate and the scenery is lush and green with new growth.

* Remember that — contrary to the northern hemisphere where south-facing slopes are coveted — it is the north-facing slopes that are best on this side of the world.

Whales and other sea life

June to September is also the best time for whale watching and you may be lucky enough to see and hear whales from your bedroom when they come into Clifton to take shelter and to calve.

You may also see seals and dolphins playing in the surf or working in groups to round up shoals of small fish.

Sunsets

Clifton's sunsets are legendary, and for good reason too. Depending on the clouds the sky might be filled with candyfloss-wisps of pink, or a fading rainbow of colour from blood red on the horizon to midnight blue on the mountains behind.

On any summer evening, throngs of people make the pilgrimage down to the beach laden with picnic baskets for the tradition of evening "sundowners" - drinks and snacks at sunset time. And as dusk sets in you will see the curve of the bay become decorated by rings of candlelight reflected in the sand.

Accolades

Clifton was listed by Forbes & MSNBC.com in the Top topless beaches 2006.
Clifton is rated as one of the world's best beaches by the Travel Channel.
Clifton is rated as one of the world's sexiest beaches by the Travel Channel.
Clifton has received Blue Flag status by meeting the stringent standards of facilities and water cleanliness set by the international Blue Flag organisation.

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