Posted: January 14th, 2020 by Cathy
Within a few moments of putting your bags down and arriving for your holiday in one of our Kommetjie villas, you’ll find yourself slowing down to the laidback rhythm of Kommetjie time. Feel your breathing deepen and your body unknot as you take in the expansive views of Long Beach and Chapman’s Peak. Let the song of the waves soothe you as you savour the thought of days ahead filled only with sun and sea.
When you’re ready to emerge from the self-contained comfort of your holiday home, wander over to the village hub for breakfast at one of the cafés, then browse the local deli to stock up on artisan breads and Cape wine for a languorous lunch at the poolside of your villa.
Take an easy stroll along the wooden boardwalk towards the lighthouse, with occasional stops for the kids to explore the many rock pools along the way.
The lighthouse in Kommetjie, called Slangkop (Afrikaans for ‘snake head’) has been burning on the shores of the Atlantic since 1917, warning ships about the rocky coastline. Book a guided tour of this beacon, one of South Africa’s oldest lighthouses. The lighthouse keeper will take you up the internal spiral staircase all the way to the top with its panoramic views.
Head back along the boardwalk and appreciate the view of Table Mountain from a different angle. Sink back into the welcoming comfort of your holiday home and savour the luxury of long days ahead… of Kommetjie time.
Posted: December 24th, 2019 by Cathy
Only 4 kms north of Simon’s Town, the little village of Glencairn, with its mountainside homes, boasts sweeping views of False Bay. Glencairn is central to all the scenic stops on the Cape Point Route, only 2 kms away from Harbour Bay shopping centre and 10 minutes drive from the penguin colony at Boulders.
But once you’re ensconced in your holiday villa, you won’t want to leave this gem of a spot, which has everything you need for the perfect holiday.
There’s Glencairn beach, a beautiful long beach with a newly refurbished tidal pool for the kids to swim and snorkel safely and explore the nearby rock pools.
Glencairn is also a great spot for whale watching in season (July to November). The wreck of the Glencairn barge lies just off the coast and serves as a popular diving haunt, with the fascinating reef that surrounds the wreck.
Across the road from the beach, there’s the Glencairn Wetland (great for bird-watching and long walks), part of the Wetland Conservation area and home to diverse plant species, birds, Cape clawless otter, mongoose and buck. Overlooking the wetland, there’s Hotel Glencairn (built in 1904), which serves the best burgers in the area. Downstairs, there’s a fab vegan café, a quirky bar, as well as a waste-free grocer stocked with organic produce and artisanal fresh breads. Up the road there’s Dixie’s Restaurant, a family-run restaurant that’s been serving hearty meals to locals and tourists alike for 40 years.
You can also take the family to visit the Scratch Patch and Mineral World Gemstone shop, where the kids can forage for shiny treasures or play cave golf while the grown-ups marvel at the collector’s gemstones and fossils available in the shop.
A holiday in Glencairn will leave you feeling rested and replenished, your mind filled with the glorious views of the bay and your skin kissed by the sun.