Kommetjie is the southern peninsula’s open secret. Everyone knows it exists and everyone knows that it offers beautiful tranquillity to revive tired souls, but it somehow manages to remain quiet and underestimated.
Kommetjie is situated between Slangkop Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, which means that it has sea and mountain views and activities for water babies and intrepid mountain explorers.
Highlights
Slangkoppunt Lighthouse
Slangkoppunt Lighthouse is the tallest cast-iron lighthouse in South Africa and a fantastic bird viewing platform. Kommetjie is one of the best places in the Cape for bird watchers with petrels, cormorants, African Black Oystercatchers and albatrosses in flight.
One of the most popular activities is to traverse the walkway between the Kom (or basin) to the lighthouse. The lighthouse has been in operation since 1914. It is 30m high and its light is visible for 33 nautical miles. Guided tours are available and you’ll get the opportunity to meet an actual lighthouse keeper.
Long Beach
Depending on who you talk to, Long Beach either belongs to Kommetjie or Noordhoek. Regardless of ownership, the 8km stretch of sand unites the two towns and provides ample space for horse riding, dog walking, surfing, kite surfing, picnicking and swimming. A tidal pool provides safe swimming for kids, while the point is popular among crayfishermen.
Imhoff Farm
Imhoff Farm is something of an institution in Kommetjie. It’s been around for what seems like forever and never goes out of favour. It’s the one place in the Cape where you can ride camels, visit a cheese dairy, get up close and personal with animals on a petting farm, drink coffee, eat cake, get a massage and amble around an art studio.
The petting farm is called Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard and it offers guided tours and educational programmes as well as the opportunity to roam around on your own.
Imhoff is the perfect place for families to while away an afternoon.
Bicycle tour in Masiphumelele
Technically Masiphumelele isn’t in Kommetjie; it’s the township or settlement just outside the town. It’s where the bulk of casual labour in the area comes from but some enterprising souls have started their version of the township tours popular in larger settlements like Soweto and Khayelitsha. A particularly memorable way to experience township life in the southern peninsula is by bike. Contact Cape Tourism on 021 405 4500, Noordhoek Visitor Information Centre on 021 789 2812 to find reputable guides.
Solole Game Reserve
Not many people know that there is a game reserve in the Noodhoek Valley, but as the reputation of the restaurant there continues to grow, that is sure to change. The Rioja Restaurant is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best in Cape Town. If you can tear yourself away from the good food, you can see some of the sights that reserve has to offer; these include buffalo, wildebeest, ostrich and the varied bird and plant life for which the region is renowned. There are game drives and walks and open cart rides during which you’ll be pulled by tractor up the mountainside.
Getting There
Kommetjie is accessible via Kommetjie Road from Fish Hoek, the Glencairn Expressway from Simon’s Town and Ou Kaapse Weg from the Constantia side of the mountain.
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