Hout Bay is located about 20 kilometers south of Cape Town, hidden in the safety and natural beauty of the bay between Chapman’s Peak and Mount Sentinel. It is a lively town with a beautiful kilometer-long beach, where you can swim. The water temperature is a bit cooler here than in False Bay, but on a hot summer day that should not spoil the fun.
You will find the best Fish & Chips in the world in the picturesque harbor of Hout Bay. Hout Bay is known for its fishermen and is the center of crayfish fishing. In June there is the Pike Festival, during the winter months it is very busy in the harbor when large pike catches are made.
The name Hout Bay was given by Jan van Riebeeck. When landing, he found a dense forest in 1652. At that time, this forest gave its environment its characteristic appearance. In his journal he mentions: “The forests here are the best in the world, with wood as long, thick and straight as one could wish for”. Learn more about the history of Hout Bay, then visit the museum.
A beautiful route to drive is the 10-kilometer-long Chapmans Peak road, a winding coastal road against the mountains with a beautiful view of the ocean that is around 600 meters lower! There are lots of places where you can stop for a moment en route to enjoy the view and feel the wind blow through your hair!
On Sundays, there is a cozy market in Hout Bay where local products, ceramics, baskets, African curiosities and more are sold.
An outing for the children, but also adults enjoy the more than 3000 birds in the World of Birds park. Here you will find birds and other small animals and you can do a Monkey jungle walk. It might be nice to visit the Mariner’s Wharf afterwards. Here you will find a spacious restaurant, a seafood bistro, a fish market, sushi bar, a bakery, seafarers’ gifts and an antique shop.
You will find a wonderful example of Cape Dutch architecture on the Mainroad where Kronendal has been standing since 1800 and where a restaurant is now located.
From the Hout Bay harbor you can take a boat cruise to Duiker Island, where a huge seal colony is located. This is not the seal island in False Bay where the Great White Shark can be spotted.
If you like walking and hiking, this is a wonderful place for beach walks, but Mount Sentinel is also a popular climb. The adventurous tourist will probably go kayaking, jet skiing, mountain biking or sea fishing here.
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