Long Beach - Cape Town / Western Cape / South Africa

If it's freezing water, crazy crowds, man-eating sharks, and tiny waves you're looking for, then look no further - Long Beach has it all. Just kidding ... well kind of .... I'm not kidding about the crowds or the freezing water, and the sharks are definitely no joke, but you can find waves and come away unscathed usually.

Long Beach is nestled in the sleepy west coast town of Kommetjie and has a pristine white beach, beautiful mountain views and the kind of low key pulse which only Africa can serve up.

You'll find surfers of all levels at Long Beach, but there are more good surfers in this small stretch than you can shake a stick at, not to mention an emerging crew of red hot groms.

The beach itself is a favourite with locals and holiday makers alike and during the summer months you'll often find a bevy of bronzed beauties sunning themselves on the snow white sand.

During the winter months, which is also the rainy season and is remarkably similar to the UK (except with higher temperatures), only the seasoned locals will be around - everyone else will be sensibly at home with a hot cup of coffee and a wood fire going.

Long Beach is predominantly a left-hander, which runs along a boulder shelf. When this left gets good, watch out, the crowd swells and there is the very noticeable scent of testosterone in the lineup.

There is also a right which has a sand bottom and is out in front of the changerooms. Actually Long Beach, as its name suggests, is (wait for it ...) quite a long beach dotted with a few breaks. Further to the right of the changerooms you'll find Krans, which closes out most of the time and has a habit of breaking boards (and the odd body or two).

If you walk further along the beach quite a way, you'll come across Dunes, where surfers regularly get slotted out of their minds.

The wind you're looking for is a light SE (offshore on the west coast / onshore on the east coast), with a fair amount of swell. Cape Town is known to be very windy though, and the locals have resigned themselves to the fact that, when there are waves, there is normally wind too.

Long Beach has quite jacked up facilities - toilets, changerooms, showers and also a parking lot. During the summer months on really nice days the parking lot is often chokka block full though, and you may need to find parking on the road.

The sea is pretty safe as far as rips go, but obviously on bigger swells there can be a bit of a wash. If you're surfing the left along the boulders, watch out for the rocks if you fall. Thankfully it's easy going because the rocks aren't jagged, but you can still smash your board (or yourself) if you're not careful.

Cape Town is known to be home to the Great White shark - they don't play. Although I haven't heard of an attack here, you'll want to keep an eye open.

There are locals here who have been locals for a long time and who don't take too kindly to obnoxious out-of-towners coming and spoiling things. Generally, the vibe is friendly - just be courteous and observe the pecking order.

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  edita_kay   28 April 2011

  Man, you sure know how to promote a place :D Why don't you try out for a job with a local tour operator?