KWT #1: Die Kom(metjie)
This 5-cache mini-series highlights a beautiful stretch of Atlantic coastline on the western side of, and about half way down, the Cape Peninsula. It features plenty of fresh air, crashing waves, stunning sea and mountain views, a notable historic lighthouse, coastal fynbos . . . and was the scene of a dramatic shipwreck.
The cache, a small camo-taped tablet pot, is hidden near the northern end of the coastal walkway, close to the village, overlooking the tidal pool and near one of the many fine sea-front residences.
To Reach the Cache Location:
a) from the Kommetjie (north) end: park at or near S 34 8.586 E 18 19.380 the shady parking area near the cache.
b) from the Slangkop (south) end: park S 34 8.848 E 18 19.213 at the end of Lighthouse Road and the start of the wooden boardwalk. Follow this to then along the coast to the cache location, passing the other caches in the series en route (except for #5 which requires a short detour).
To Find the Cache:
Step 1: at the published coordinates S 34 8.574 E 18 19.374 you will find a concrete/stone bench with a memorial plaque. On this you will note that Bessie passed away in 198A
Step 2: a short distance away at S 34 8.562 E 18 19.395 you will be standing in front of a fine beach front property. On the wall there is a security company sign which the large number 1B at the bottom.
Step 3: now move across to the small stone building @ S 34 8.576 E 18 19.383 – the Die Kom pump station. On the wall are several information plates . . .
a) On the Kom Walkway sign, of the 8 rule circles C have an image of a person
b) The two white plates to the right of the door concern the required monitoring and testing of something. The alphanumeric value of the 2nd letter of this = D
c) Finally move around the rear side of the building where you will find a water meter with the name of an English county on it, which has E letters.
The cache is hidden at:
S 34 8.(A+C)(B+3)(A+1) E 18 19.(E-1)(Bx2)(A+B)
Kommetjie (Afrikaans for ‘little basin’) is named after Die Kom, a roughly circular, rocky bowl-like sea basin, which is situated on the edge of this quiet, rustic, coastal village. There is some evidence that this basin was used long ago as a fish trap by strandlopers.
It was founded in 1902 when a consortium of businessmen developed the area as a residential suburb of Cape Town. Electricity was introduced in 1939 and piped water soon after.
The area around the town is a popular spot for surfing (see KBT #4) as powerful waves from the Atlantic Ocean rise up over rocky reefs formed by hard sandstones of the Table Mountain Group. Wherever the bottom is rocky, the shallower waters are thick with giant kelp forests.
During the ‘kreef’ season crayfishing boats launch down a small sandy slipway through the kelp to fish along this stretch of coastline. Although famous for its excellent crayfishing, changes in fishing quotas have drastically reduced the daily catch allowed.
It one of Cape Town’s surfing & kite surfing hot spots and has world class windsurfing with one of the biggest drops in the Cape Peninsula. Being beside the Atlantic Ocean, the cold Benguela current passes through this region, and it is exposed to the prevailing south westerly swell from the Southern Ocean.
The Slangkop Lighthouse is situated on the beach to the south of the town.
The village supports a few small enterprises, including a garage, convenience store, laundromat, a café, a few restaurants – and of course a surf shop. A farm stall at the Primary School sells organic produce grown in their market garden.
Disrupting this peaceful, laid-back atmosphere baboon troops periodically descend from the nearby hills to raid for food among the residences.
World-famous Kommetjie-born people include:
Chris Bertish (b 1974), record-breaking surfer and motivational speaker (see here)
Jeremy Loops (b 1984), singer-songwriter and record producer (see here)
Alice Phoebe Lou (b 1993), Berlin-based singer-songwriter and former fire-walker! (see here)
See here for an illustrated article on Kommetjie, here for a drone video of the shoreline, here for a drone video of Long Beach (Kommetjie Beach) and here for Kommetjie crayfishing.
