Kommetjie, Cape Town

Kommetjie
Kommetjie viewed from Hout Bay
Street map of Kommetjie
Kommetjie Show map of Western Cape Kommetjie Show map of South Africa Kommetjie Show map of Africa  Kommetjie shown within Western Cape
Location within Cape Town  Kommetjie
Coordinates: 34°08′25″S 18°19′45″E / 34.14028°S 18.32917°E / -34.14028; 18.32917Coordinates: 34°08′25″S 18°19′45″E / 34.14028°S 18.32917°E / -34.14028; 18.32917
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Main Place	Kommetjie
Established	1903
Area
• Total	2.56 km2 (0.99 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	2,435
• Density	950/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	2.7%
• Coloured	3.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.4%
• White	92.0%
• Other	1.3%
First languages (2011)
• English	86.5%
• Afrikaans	10.3%
• Other	3.2%
Postal code (street)	7976
PO box	7976

Kommetjie (Afrikaans for "small basin," approximately pronounced cawma-key) is a small town near Cape Town, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It lies about halfway down the west coast of the Cape Peninsula, at the southern end of the long wide beach that runs northwards towards Chapman's Peak and Noordhoek.

The area is a popular spot for surfing, since 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.

Kommetjie is famous for its excellent crayfishing despite recent changes in fishing quotas which have seen a drastic reduction in the daily catch allowed.

It is the hometown of the South African singer-songwriter Jeremy Loops.

Kommetjie supports a small number of small enterprises, including a Shell garage (including a Shell Select), a convenience store, a laundromat, a small mail-order computer business, a video shop, a café, and a variety of restaurants.

Kommetjie, Afrikaans for “small basin”, being situated below mountains, which supports part of the Cape Peninsula. The town boasts the Slangkop Lighthouse, situated on the beach, which stands about 33 meters tall. The lighthouse can be seen from the mountain pass "Ou Kaapse Weg" and has been around since 1919. The famous Pick 'n Pay Argus Cycle Tour passes each year through this small town which is also popular for local and international surfing. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean with cold currents in this region and attractive waves for surfing, as well as crayfish and fishing. It is a quiet and relaxing town ideal for camping and getaways. Not far from Kommetjie, along Long Beach near Noordhoek, lies The Kakapo Shipwreck, which ran aground in 1900.