Things to do near
Witsands
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Popular Attractions
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Kommetjie (3.7 km from Witsands) Imhoff Equestrian Centre offers horse enthusiasts a wonderful ride through Noordhoek's beautiful scenery.
This is a 2-hour guided beach ride on Noordhoek Beach, which is commonly accompanied by sightings of birds, whales, dolphins, otters and seals. The Kakapo shipwreck is also an interesting sight to see. This lovely scenic ride also promises great views of the coast and surrounding mountains.
The centre caters for all ages over 12 years old and for all levels, from beginners to advanced riders. Bookings are essential.
Popular Attractions
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Kommetjie (3.7 km from Witsands) Feel the exciting and adrenalin-pumping action of paintball. Dive through bushes, cover behind trees, and take out the enemy using tactics and team coordination; a thrilling experience of real-time combat.
Markers and paintballs are rented and purchased onsite, as well as heavy army jackets if you require them. Avid regulars and social players are all welcome to enjoy themselves.
Age limit: players must be above 11 years of age to play.
Cost: R120 per player, and R50 per marker. Camouflage gear and the face mask are included.
Please note that the use of your own paintballs is not allowed.
Popular Attractions
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Imhoffs Gift (3.7 km from Witsands) Imhoff Farm is an historical Cape farmstead offering something special for the entire family to enjoy. It’s Old World, yet original; beautifully situated, fun, tranquil, and it’s on the busy tourist route to Cape Point.
Equally popular with locals and visitors from afar, this spot in the country provides a wealth of activities. Stunning views, first-rate food, organic produce; unique shops, beach rides and animal encounters are just some of the many experiences on offer.
The Farm is open seven days a week with ample, safe parking available.
Beaches
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Scarborough (3.8 km from Witsands) Just outside Cape Point Nature Reserve, on the western side, is the lovely beach village of Scarborough with its long sandy beach, great surf, interesting rock pools and lovely walks. There are minimal, but sufficient facilities, and one restaurant in the village is fairly close.
Hiking Trail
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Scarborough (3.8 km from Witsands) This beautiful hike starts at Scarborough Conservation Village. It is a very remote area with beautiful views. It takes you past Kleinplaas Dam and then to Slangkop and ends at Blue Water Estate in Imhoff's Gift. It is a moderate hike and permits are available at Mickey's Mousetrap in Scarborough. Average duration is five hours.
Hiking Trail
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Kommetjie (4.5 km from Witsands) Start at Slangkop Lighthouse and take the boardwalk up though a short section of milkwood forest. This soon becomes a well-maintained rocky path up to the Main Road from Kommetjie to Scarborough and Cape Point.
Cross this road with caution on the blind corner and take the zigzagging path up to the top. It’s worth stopping along the way to gaze at the ever-expanding views of the Kom and across the ocean to Hout Bay, Table Mountain and Chapman’s Peak.
At the top are the oddly shaped ruins of the WWII Slangkop Radar Station and Cobra Camp barracks. If you get to the viewpoint before sunset, you’ll be rewarded with the sight of the Slangkop Lighthouse beaming while the sun disappears behind the ocean.
Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 km
Bars Nightclubs
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Kommetjie (4.7 km from Witsands) The traditional spit n’ sawdust vibe at the local pub, Fisherman’s, opposite the Kommetjie Superette, belies its delicious fresh seafood at very reasonable prices. This great beer garden is under the milkwoods. Choose to eat outside or indoors, often to live music.
Shops
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Kommetjie (4.8 km from Witsands) 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 (021 783 4804) at Post Office House, Huskisson Way, Kommetjie, and take to the waves. You’ll be surprised how quickly you get the hang of it!
Beaches
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Kommetjie (4.9 km from Witsands) Kommetjie is a small village with a large tidal pool 'The Kom', and a really lovely long beach - also called Long Beach, but with far better reason than the one near Simon's Town. Long Beach is a very popular surfing and dog-walking beach. There is a great walk that passes a well preserved 1900 ship wreck, the Kakapo, and you can continue all the way to Noordhoek Beach, at the foot of scenic Chapman's Peak.
Another great walk is around Bird Island at the Kommetjie slipway where boats are launched during 'kreef' season. From here you can stroll along the catwalk until you reach the Outer Kom, one of the famous surf spots. A lovely boardwalk starts here and follows the shore to Slangkop lighthouse and then continues up to a WW II radar station on top of the mountain with sweeping views of the elegant Slangkop lighthouse against the wild ocean backdrop as well as the rugged coastline all the way to Cape Point to the south west and Hout Bay to the north east.
Hiking Trail
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Kommetjie (4.9 km from Witsands) Start at either of the Kommetjie Beach parking areas at Surf Way or at the end of Wireless Road. You’ll get the best views of Table Mountain, Hout Bay and the end point at Chapman’s Peak by walking this way.
The midsection of the route is wild and isolated with the rusty wreck of the Kakapo lying almost halfway. The end point at the foot of Chapman’s Peak is a great spot for a picnic or sundowner.
It’s best to time this walk at low tide. Leave a car at the other end unless you’re planning to walk back again.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5.5 km
Warning: Walk in groups and do not carry valuables (there have been a few mugging incidents)
Shops
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Faerie Knowe (5.4 km from Witsands) Liebermann Pottery retails a vast collection of ceramics – traditional tableware designed and developed by Sammy and Mary Liebermann, rare porcelain from the Far East, functional ware from Africa and South East Asia, garden planters of all kinds, bric-a-brac, and collectables. The shop is set on a smallholding featuring an organic veggie shop, and indigenous garden.
Open 7 days a week, Monday to Friday 10:00 – 18:00, Weekend 10:00 – 15:00.
Popular Attractions
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Masiphumelele (5.8 km from Witsands) Join Charlotte Nomthunzie on a fascinating, informative tour of Masiphumelele. This thriving township is home to 20 000 people and is just a few kilometres from Noordhoek.
Charlotte offers two-hour guided walks while sharing anecdotes about life in the townships. On the tour you will visit spaza shops, shebeens, barbershops, the school, development programs and local artists.
Hiking Trail
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Simons Town (5.8 km from Witsands) The easiest way to get to Kleinplaas Dam is to take the right-hand turnoff just after Pine Haven coming from the direction of Simon’s Town. The easy climb up to the reservoir is an old jeep track.
In spring the sandy slopes are covered with pretty proteas, pelargoniums, watsonias, Cape snow, butterfly lilies, lobelias and crassulas. The sweeping views are amazing, you can see all the way to Table Mountain. Take warm clothing, as it can get windy around the dam.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2 km
Beaches
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Noordhoek (7 km from Witsands) As you round one of the last hairpin bends of the incredibly scenic Chapman's Peak Drive in the direction of Noordhoek village, the spectacular sight of Noordhoek Beach will strike you. It's worth stopping here for a few minutes to gaze from this high vantage point at the enormous beach stretching for 8 km.
Horse riders can often be seen galloping along this vast expanse, gripped by the wildness of the ocean and sense of space and freedom. Also known as Long Beach, it's one of the stretches on the multi-day Hoerikwaggo Trail and you can walk all the way to the next village of Kommetjie.
There's more than enough space for everyone – surfers, beach walkers, dogs, horse riders, kite surfers and anyone up for a good session of sun tanning and chilling. It's not one of Cape Town's best swimming beaches as the conditions are often rough and the water temperature is chilly.
Shopping Malls
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Sunnydale (7.3 km from Witsands) Longbeach Mall houses all the large food and clothes retailers including Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Food Lover’s Market, Edgars, Truworths. Ocean Basket, Spur, and Wimpy. You will also find jewellery stores, coffee shops, craft shops, hair and beauty salons, pharmacies and music stores.