The art of the skinny dip

It's reckless. It's cheeky. It's dangerous... but it's also downright fabulous. Skinny dipping (or what some dub chunky dunking - not quite the romantic vibe) is back in fashion.

Not that it ever went out - winter just dulled its flame a little.

Summertime is just around the corner, and it’s time to shed those clothes and dive on in. We’ve put together a list of some awesome spots to keep you inspired and invigorated.

Why is it so alluring?

The cheekiness of it all, the spontaneity, the possibility that you may get caught, the magnificence of just getting downright naked and relishing in your own beauty while surrounded by nature at its best - all of these factors collide to create a pretty exciting and decadent experience. Click here to check out the gallery that bares all.

The key is location, location, location.

Skinny dipping is not something you can do just anywhere. There is an art to selecting a good buffing spot. First and foremost it requires a great deal of discretion.

Bob and Martha who happen to be taking little Benny for an afternoon stroll might not share your or your loved one's enthusiasm when it comes to stripping down and diving in.

One of the best spots has to be Crystal Pools in Gordon’s Bay, just outside of Cape Town.

This walk - which requires a permit and means it's not necessarily free for all – is dotted with quite a few dipping pools. I say head on right up to the top pool which gets less traffic and is truly magnificent.

There is a little waterfall at the very top. Allow your daily stresses to run away along with the cascading water as you admire the view.

Shiver less at Beaverlac

With discretion in hand, we travel further afield to Beaverlac just beyond Porterville in the Western Cape.

Here you can meander amongst the various rock pools near the campsite. There is a choice of following the river further up the valley or down as it makes its’ way to the Olifant’s River.

Some of the rocks have flattened out over time and make rather fabulous spots to warm in the rays of the sun post dipping.

Just around the corner is Die Hel, nestled in Die Grootwinterhoek Mountains. Here you descend to a paradise of a waterfall fuelled pool that at its’ widest measure 70m!

A good mate of mine suggested up north near Tzaneen, the Debengeni Waterfalls. Take a picnic along as well as a warm and toasty towel, this spot is not famed for its warmth.

Or make use of the all-encompassing well designed body heat we have working for us. That’s a winner.

Buff it at Bulungula

The Wild Coast brings expanses of uninhabited beaches ready for the taking, especially at the lovely eco-village of Bulungula.

Sunrise brings another aspect to this already wonderful equation. Moonlight and phosphorescence are also pretty good additions.

Or whenever you’re out in the wilderness hiking and you come across one of those marvellous pools, kit off and jump in.

The options are endless…

Crystal Pools above Algeria in the Cederberg comes to mind. Or else try the pools up in the Ampitheatre of the Drakensberg.

Have a bath in nature at Marble Baths in Central Drakensberg with its unusual white sandstone lining. There is also The Blyde River or the rock pools out in Sebastian Bay, fed by the Breede River.

Tonquani Kloof is another in the Magaliesberg Mountains with its rather ridiculous views.

There for the taking...

Mountains and valleys, beaches and roads or you could even risk it within the cityscape (there’s always Adderley Street fountains... but we never said so). In the good old land of South Africa, we are blessed with hundreds of options that will delight the senses.

All you need is a little sense of adventure and a bit of beautiful water - it reminds us that we are free and that we can be passionate and spontaneous. Keep your eye out for little gems wherever you are, be aware of your surrounding and remember, bikinis and bordies are not always required.

Go well my skinny dipping champions...