South Africa has some of the best skinny dipping locations according to dating reviews website MyDatingAdviser.com. The site recently ranked the top skinny dipping locations worldwide.
To determine the best skinny dipping locations, MyDatingAdviser compared 100 nude beaches across the globe to determine the best places to enjoy a skinny dip. They then ranked the top skinny dipping locations in South Africa.
This study considered the beach quality, safety, weather, and lodging. This was across seven key metrics of skinny dipping friendliness:
- pollution
- Blue Flag status
- weather
- air temperature
- water temperature,
- safety, and
- hotel cost.
Each location has been given a ‘Skinny DIpping Index Score’ using the data points. This represents the quality of the skinny dipping experience you could have at the location.
Mpenjati Nature Reserve, Palm Beach, Port Edward.
The Mpenjati Nature Reserve is situated on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast, 20 km south of the popular holiday destination of Margate. The beautiful reserve lies around the Mpenjati River Lagoon and extends 500m seawards, protecting the unique fossils.
Otter Trail, Tsitsikamma National Park
The Otter trail is officially the oldest and undoubtedly the most iconic hiking trail in South Africa.
The trail, which runs along the spectacular coastline between the Storms River mouth and Nature’s Valley, was opened in 1968 and is considered one of the finest multi-day trails in the world. It is named after the shy, mostly nocturnal Cape Clawless Otter, which inhabits the estuaries and streams of the South African coast.
Jonkershoek Tweede Waterval, Stellenbosch
The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is situated just outside the town of Stellenbosch, in a valley lined by the Stellenbosch mountain range on the one side and the Hottentots-Holland mountains on the other. This is a relatively easy hike and is family-friendly. Cape Nature runs the reserve, and a permit will be required to gain access.
Sardinia Bay, Gqeberha
Sardinia Bay, which lies between Schoenmakerskop and Seaview, is accessed by traveling to the start of the trail in Schoenmakerskop. This popular beach has picnic facilities and is regarded as one of the best walking beaches, with miles of unspoiled coastline.
Fishing is not permitted as the coast has been declared a Marine Reserve, but snorkeling and scuba-diving are very popular. Sardinia Bay is the starting point of the popular eight-kilometer Sacramento hiking trail. Some of the best spots to enjoy the sunset.
Sandy Bay, Cape Town
In the Twelve Apostles Mountain range valley, naughties and naturalists go nude and free at Sandy Bay Beach. This is South Africa’s only nudist beach, situated just south of Llandudno and shielded from sight by Hout Bay sand dunes.
Though captivating, the deep blue Atlantic Ocean is characteristically freezing, so dips are usually ankle-deep and not for the proud. Big swells sometimes result in splashy beach breaks with a minimum beach for tanning but bulbous boulders to watch the wave display.
Nonetheless, hanging out on these shimmering white sands with spectacular mountain and ocean views is a breathtaking experience worth the trek on a windless day.