Hout Bay
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is perfect for visitors who are looking for peace and tranquility, breathtaking landscape and a huge selection of beautiful lodges near Cape Town.
This quaint town is idyllicly situated on a bay and surrounded by Table Mountain, the Constantiaberg and the Sentinel. In the North, you can find the Karbonkelberg (653 m). On the opposite side of the bay, the famous coastal road “Chapman´s Peak Drive” winds along the Atlantic Ocean. It has been built into the mountain side. Hout Bay ist he ideal starting point for a tour to Cape of Good Hope and the whole Cape Peninsula.
Location of Hout Bay: 20 minutes from the southern city centre of Cape Town
If you leave the Cape Town bowl and drive a southerly direction, you will first pass the suburb of Camps Bay. Then you will follow the coastal road for 15 minutes that will take you directly to Hout Bay. On the way, you may be lucky enough to spot some dolphins playing in the ocean. Before you reach Hout Bay, you can see the beautiful village of Llandudno on your right side. The first impression of Hout Bay: It has a breathtaking location – mountains, a bay, a long sandy beach…
The vegetation in this region is typical for the Western Cape – it is a mix of fynbos, heathers, grasses and scrubby sclerophyllous plants. The word “Hout” means “wood” in Afrikaans. Jan van Riebeeck chose this as the name for this little town after he discovered it. In former times, this region was covered with woods but these have disappeared, a long time ago.
Sights in Hout Bay
There is a small Waterfront in Hout Bay where you can book boat tours in the bay or to Duiker Island, also known as “Seal Island”. This trips take place several times per day and lasts around 1 hour.
On the pier, you can see various fishing vessels bringing in their catch of the day. A stroll along the pier is a great experience. You can watch the fishermen unload their catch (tuna, crayfish, hake) or watch them prepare the next trip.
Recommended for seafood-lovers is a visit to the seafood restaurant on / at the marina. Here, you can enjoy the freshly caught fish with a glass of good wine. In the basement there is a fish snack shop, if you are not that hungry and just want to grab a quick bite.
Directly on the beach in Hout Bay you can find the popular “Dunes Beach Restaurant & Bar”.
Bay Harbour Market
Bay Harbour Market is taking place each weekend in the Hout Bay harbour (Friday 5 pm to 9 pm, Saturday/Sunday 9:30 am to 4pm). Besides local delicacies, there is good wine, craft beer and live music on offer. Many different stalls offer handmade products, jewellery, art, clothing and souvenirs. Highly recommended!
Staying overnight in a lodge in Hout Bay
We recommend CUBE Guest House, which was built in Bauhaus style. This 5-star guest house is located on a hill in an exclusive residential area of Hout Bay. It offers breathtaking views of the mountains and the ocean.
