These things you absolutely have to do during your stay at Longbeach Lodge. You're in a unique area of the world and almost all these amazing experiences are unique to this area.
The surf's always up at Kommetjie Longbeach! It's easy to spend days lapping up the sunshine watching the surfers, kite-surfers and body-boarders but how about doing it yourself? No better place to start than Kommetjie! Grab a wetsuit and a surf or body board from the Kommetjie Surf Shop (021-7894804) at Post Office House, Huskisson Way, Kommetjie, and take to the waves. You'll be surprised how quickly you get the hang of it!
Glen Cottage is only 10 – 15 minutes away from False Bay (warmer waters), and Simon's Town, where you'll find Boulders Beach. There are over 3000 African ‘Jackass' Penguins living here and the area is now a National Park. You can see them up close as they frolic in the water and waddle on land, and this is the one place in the world where you can actually swim and sunbathe with them. In a survey done by the BBC, Boulders Beach was rated one of the five best beaches to visit before you die.
Don't even think of not spending a day at this landmark at the south-westernmost tip of Africa – it's a must! Home to 1750 different types of fynbos, 245 bird species and 58 mammals (including several species of large buck, zebra, ostrich and baboons, the reserve is a scenic spectacular of rugged, rocky outcrops, sheer cliffs, and rolling, fynbos-covered plains. Take the funicular high above the ocean to the old lighthouse or tackle one of a number of magnificent hiking trails, including a one-hour trail from the peak to the cove of the Cape of Good Hope. Enjoy a meal at The Two Oceans Restaurant (021-7809200) perched high above crashing waves - great seafood and staggering Atlantic and Indian Ocean views.
African Shark Eco-Charters, based in Simon's Town, will take you out by boat early morning into False Bay to watch the great white sharks breach around Seal Island - where the seals breed - followed by a shark cage dive (www.ultimate-animals.com). You don't need any previous diving experience - just bring a warm sweater, your camera and some sunblock! Or you can try one of their cruises into deep blue water to see pelagic birds and watch the great shoals of yellowfin tuna running. (Bookings: 021-7863038)
People in the know say this experience is second only to seeing the mountain gorillas. Spend the morning in the mountains above Kommetjie with a guide from Baboon Matters (www.baboonmatters.org.za). He or she will take you up where you'll meet and spend intimate time with Eric and his troop and learn how important these endangered primates are to the mountain. Let the baby baboons play with your shoelaces while you snap up close and personal pics of the Kommetjie troop interacting, feeding and playing. (Bookings: 021-7822015 or 084-4139482)
A local Kommetjie outfit called Seascape Tours specialize in arranging amazing days out, especially for you (www.seascapetours.com). It's run by Tim and Dot Cummings (083-4123275) and they'll arrange any day out you care to mention. Here are a few tour ideas: Cape Point; Cape Peninsula; Whale Route; Waterfront Shopping; Masiphumelele Township; The Cape Winelands and/or Constantia Winelands. They can also take you crayfishing by boat at Kommetjie – and then later, help you barbeque and eat your catch - great fun and very tasty, too!
It's just so romantic ambling along in the breakers together on horseback. From Imhoff Farm, a little way up the road, (www.imhofffarm.co.za), you can ride out through the Cape fynbos countryside to the surf, where you can spend a few hours riding along this breathtaking beach and back again. (Bookings: 082-7741191). Imhoff also offer lots of stuff for kids, including camel rides, donkey rides, a snake and reptile park, farm shop, tea garden and fresh cheeses.
Walk Longbeach from Kommetjie all the way to Noordhoek (approx 1½hours), taking in the wreck of the Kakapo, c.1900, on the way, and visit Skebengas Pub at the Red Herring, Noordhoek (021-7891783), famous for it's draught Guinness and mouth-watering pizzas! (And after that, walk back, of course!!) In the right season, you'll see whales and dolphins and if you walk it very early in the morning you might see a Cape Clawless Otter fishing in the inter-tidal zone. Either way you have the pounding surf on one side, miles of empty beach on the other and stunning views all round!
There are so many really excellent restaurants locally it's embarrassing! For a comprehensive list email us for the Longbeach Lodge Good Food Guide. Here are our three Kommetjie favourites:
If you're a birder you'll love Longbeach Lodge. On the beach you'll see the endangered African Black Oystercatcher, Cape, Crowned and White Breasted Cormorant, Sacred, Hadeda and Glossy Ibis, Pied Kingfisher, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Whitefronted, Crowned and Blacksmith Plover, Kelp and Hartlaub's Gull, Common, Caspian and Artic Tern, African Yellow-billed Duck, Black Winged Stilt, Cape Wagtail and, if you're lucky, Spoonbill Stork. Elsewhere locally you'll see Pied Crow, White Necked Raven, Spotted Prinea, Cape Francolin, Black Shouldered Kite, Crested Guineafowl, Rock Pigeon, Cape Turtle Dove, Red Eyed Dove, Malachite and Lesser Double Collared Sunbird, Fiscal Shrike, Southern Boubou, Fairy Flycatcher, and Cape Canary. Around the cottage you'll see Cape White-eye, Cape Robin, Cape Bulbul, Redwinged Starling, European Starling, Cape Weaver and hear the distinctive cry of the African Fish Eagle. (Contact Peter Cardwell at Avian Leisure - 083-2722455 and website www.avianleisure.com for more info on Cape birding activities.)
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Incredible Longbeach
Surf those waves
Swim with penguins
Discover Cape Point
Dive with great whites
Walk with baboons
Spend a day fishing
Horseride on Longbeach
Walk to the Kakapo wreck
Eat out at Rioja
Blue Water Café
African Black Oystercatcher
African Yellow-Billed Duck