Kommetjie is one of the Southern Suburbs’ lesser known treasures, unless you’re from the area itself that is. Those who know it appreciate its serenity and tranquillity and the fact that it offers beautiful mountain scenery and beach views.
Kommetjie has three primary attractions: the 8km beach that links it to Noordhoek, Imhoff Farm and Slangkop Lighthouse.
- The beach, aptly called Long Beach, is ideal for all kinds of surfing: wind and kite surfing and the regular kind. Horse riders exercise their magnificent beasts on the beach, dog owners find it especially popular among their canine companions and it’s a wonderful sunset picnic destination.
- Imhoff Farm is one of those places that have something for everyone. It’s built on a farmstead that is roughly 267 years old and many of the original buildings now house art galleries featuring work from local artists, craft and gift shops, home made furniture shops and organic food markets. The Free Range Farm Shop is known throughout the peninsular for its free range and organic food stuffs. The shop even has a coffee shop so you can enjoy all the freshness while basking in the relaxing atmosphere.
But there is more to Imhoff Farm than arts, crafts and good food: you can go camel riding; pet the animals at the Higgeldy Piggeldy Animal Farmyard; see how goats’ milk cheese is made; visit the snake park; and even enjoy paintball and yoga and massage, although not at the same time.
- Slangkop Lighthouse is the tallest cast iron tower on South Africa’s coastline. It is 100ft high and is one of the four strongest lighthouses in the country; its light can be seen from 33 nautical miles away. It was first built in 1914 and was automated in 1979. Guided tours are available on which you will learn about the history of lighthouses up and down the country’s coast and find out why South Africa is one of the few remaining places where lighthouse keepers are still employed.
Unfortunately, as is the case in so many coastal regions across the globe, Kommetjie’s fragile eco-system is under threat from commercialisation and tourist development. The very things that attract tourists are rapidly disappearing in an effort to attract them, and houses and hotels are constructed on what should remain undeveloped land. The Kommetjie Rate Payers and Resident Association (KRRA) and a number of like-minded tour operators are trying to halt the damage, slow development and address tourism from a sustainable perspective. Visit sunsetbeach.co.za for details on their fight.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
