Working holiday in Kommetjie, Cape Town, South Africa

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH ARFICA
ⓒ Lize Helsen

Rewilding family life through remote work, rhythm and the ocean

We didn’t come to Kommetjie to escape life.
We came to integrate it.

After weeks of moving through South Africa; landscapes, wildlife, long drives and constant input we chose Kommetje as a place to land. A place where work, family life, learning and nature could exist side by side.

Beyond travel: choosing a working holiday

A working holiday is often misunderstood as “working while travelling”. For us, it means creating a temporary home, where life can unfold in a more natural rhythm, one that includes work, but isn’t ruled by it.

Kommetjie allowed that effortlessly. It is small, grounded and unpretentious. No city noise. No pressure to consume experiences. Everything is close: the ocean, cafés, surf spots, daily errands. You don’t lose energy moving from one thing to the next. You conserve it.

As a pedagogical professional, I know how deeply context shapes behaviour, regulation and learning. When the environment makes sense, children don’t need constant correction. Adults don’t need constant recovery. The nervous system softens. Presence becomes possible.

That alone changes how you show up… as a parent, as a partner, as a professional.

KOMMETJIE, SOUTH AFRICA
ⓒ Lize Helsen

Remote work as part of life, not separate from it

Both of us work remotely. That reality doesn’t disappear when we travel. Instead of separating “work time” from “real life”, we focus daily on weaving work into daily living and visa versa.

This integration, for us, reduces friction. Less guilt. Less rushing. More presence.

Rewilding as a practice: worldschooling & nature-based learning

Rewilding, for us, is not a concept. It’s a daily practice.

It means letting life return to simpler cues: daylight, weather, tides, hunger, movement. Kommetjie supported that effortlessly. The ocean sets the rhythm. The wind dictates the pace. You go outside because it makes sense, not because it’s scheduled.

From a pedagogical perspective, this is where learning becomes meaningful.

Children don’t need entertainment.
They need space.

They learn through movement, observation and repetition. Not through instruction alone, but through living. This is where worldschooling and nature-based learning stop being ideas and start becoming embodied experiences.

Learning happens everywhere:

• understanding weather through surfing conditions

• geography through walking the coastline

• social awareness through community rhythm

• responsibility through shared daily life

• …

Learning never stops. It deepens every day… as long as life has meaning. So it’s never replacing school with travel. It’s recognising that learning is not confined to classrooms… and that children thrive when life itself is coherent.

Also, this is never about perfection. A working holiday like this is not aesthetic. It’s not always calm. Children still have big emotions. Work still asks for focus. Life still happens.

But the context changes everything.

When nature holds the background of your days, when movement is natural, when learning is lived instead of imposed, something settles. You don’t need to constantly regulate against noise.

You start living in a way that feels sustainable… not just productive.

Why Kommetjie works for (surfing) families

Kommetjie lies on the Cape Peninsula, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Known for its lighthouse, rugged coastline and relaxed lifestyle, it feels removed from the city, yet close enough to Cape Town to keep everything within reach.

The area is ideal for:

• surfing (Long Beach is a local favourite)

• beach walks

• small hikes

• local markets and cafés

• nature outings towards Cape Point and Scarborough

This is not a place for constant stimulation. It is a place for space, rhythm and outdoor living.

Kommetjie is not specifically designed for tourists. And that’s exactly why it works.

There is a strong surf culture, but without competitiveness or localism. Children are welcome everywhere. Sand on the floor is normal. Wet wetsuits are part of the scenery. No one rushes you. No one expects performance.

Safety requires awareness, like anywhere in South Africa, but the village itself feels contained and watchful.

For families who want to slow down without disconnecting from the world, Kommetjie offers something rare: simplicity without isolation.

Home away from home: where we stayed

We stayed at “Old Kom Spotter – Spacious house near surf”. A light, spacious home, perfectly located, with room to work and to live. It didn’t feel like a holiday rental, but like a real house… with toys, books, a children’s room filled with stories. That made all the difference.

Especially when you are working remotely with children, the quality of your base matters.