In essence, Kommetjie is a beachfront community with beach houses that date back to the early 1900s, when plots could be purchased for as little as £5. As Capetonians use the hamlet as a commuting suburb and opt to drive the 35 km in and out of the city in exchange for the lifestyle, they have been joined by larger and more modern homes. The residents of Kommetjie still consider themselves to be living outside of Cape Town and away from it all, and the community has been able to maintain much of its rustic attractiveness.
Kommetjie’s Long Beach is nearly 5 kilometres of white sand with waves that are popular with the surfing community and a reputation for crayfishing, which is done to perfection between November and April in one of Cape Town’s most picturesque and unspoiled settings. Even during high season, the Kommetjie beach is tranquil and offers a protected tidal pool ideal for young children.
The tallest cast-iron lighthouse in the nation, Slangkoppunt Lighthouse, which was constructed in 1919, is located in Kommetjie. From the lighthouse, a boardwalk leads to the basin that bears the name Kommetjie. One of the best places on land to see seabirds, Kommetjie is mentioned no less than three times on the Cape Bird Route. This natural basin forms a little harbour ideal for small boats.
On the road to Fish Hoek along Kommetjie Road, which passes Imhoff Farm along the way – with its converted farm buildings providing a bakery, tea garden, artisan shops, art studios, and cheese dairy – there is a retail centre at Long Beach Mall, not quite five kilometres away. Children can ride horses and camels as well. You may get to Scarborough by going the other way via Kommetjie Road.