The five best skinny-dipping spots in South Africa

If you’re bored with the usual candle-lit dinner for date night, it might be time to spice things up a little with your partner with a skinny-dip.

Although winter is fast approaching, there is still some time to shed your clothes for a memorable picnic and birthday suit swim.

Dating review website, MyDatingadvisor.com compared 100 nude beaches across the globe to determine the best place to enjoy a skinny-dip.

The study looked at beach quality, safety, weather and lodging across seven key metrics of skinny dipping friendliness:

• Pollution
• Blue Flag status
• Weather
• Air temperature
• Water temperature
• Safety
• Hotel cost.

Each location was 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.

The study found that Mzansi has some of the best spots in the world for a nude swim.

Top 5 skinny dipping spots in South Africa:

Mpenjati Nature Reserve, Palm Beach, Port Edward

The Mpenjati Nature Reserve is situated on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, 20km 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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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