Hout Bay

The early Dutch settlers sent a party to explore the bay behind Table Mountain and found a beautiful heavily wooded valley surrounded by protective mountains and good fishing. The trees became the main source of timber for ship building and repairs and it became known as Houtbaai (Wood Bay).

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Current residents call it the ‘Republic of Hout Bay’ because they feel aloof from the rest of Cape Town. It is a sociable village with people chatting in cafes and a main street of interesting shops and an excellent craft market on the green every Sunday.

The busy harbour is the centre for the tuna and Cray fishing fleets with fish and chip restaurants a stone’s throw from the water’s edge. The beach is long and sandy and safe for swimming and water sports like sea kayaking or dinghy sailing.

Only 20 minutes drive from the centre of Cape Town this is a lovely place to base your holiday.