Hout Bay Accommodation
Hout Bay Accommodation
The harbour is the focal point of the village and has become a major attraction with the development of the Yacht Club and Mariner's Wharf. Hout Bay is the headquarters of the Peninsula's crayfishing fleet. The Snoek Festival in June brings visitors to the harbour where snoek are caught offshore in large numbers and sold on the quayside. Boat trips are available.One of the most interesting attractions in Hout Bay is the World of Birds in Valley Road. It is one of the country's largest bird parks and is privately funded. Bird and wildlife lovers will be enchanted by the beautifully landscaped aviaries styled to simulate natural habitats. Visitors walk through these aviaries while the birds and small animals often come to greet them.
Hout Bay Beach is an ideal place for a sundowner, and if the South-Easterly wind is blowing, one may take shelter at one of the many fine restaurants and coffee shops in the area.
For great views of the bay enjoy a cruise to Seal Island – a large seal colony – with Circe Launches (+21 790 1040, www.circelaunches.co.za), Drumbeat Charters (+27 21 790 5859, www.drumbeatcharters.co.za) or Nauticat Charters (+27 21 790 7278, www.nauticatcharters.co.za).
Enjoy some of the freshest seafood around at the Mariner’s Wharf waterfront. There are a few restaurants overlooking the harbour that offer up excellent fish dishes and there is always an abundance of prawns and calamari on the menu. Buy your fish or calamari and chips wrapped in paper and enjoy it while looking out over the harbour and bay. This might well be the best fish (or calamari) and chips you ever eat! At the nearby Seafood Emporium you can also buy fresh fish to take away with you,
The 10 km long Chapman's Peak Drive (partly closed for renovation) is an extremely picturesque road that follows the division of strata between the Peninsula's granite base and its sandstone superstructure. This is a narrow road along a cliff face which plunges 600 metres to the sea. There are wonderful picnic spots and look-out points and the view across to the Sentinel, guarding the entrance to Hout Bay, is powerful. Walking tours along Chapman's Peak may be arranged via the Tobi Information office in Main Road.
There are lots of restaurants, shops and pubs in this vibrant little town, and although Hout Bay is something of a sleepy fishing village – the nightlife is hot and happening, especially during peak seaso Although the water off Hout Bay beach is a little colder than Muizenberg or Simon’s Town, the beach is wide, flat and child-friendly, and the water is not too cold for swimming, especially on a hot summer’s day.
If you’re a keen walker the beaches around Hout Bay are wonderful for long walks, and The Sentinel is a popular climb. Adventure lovers might also enjoy kayaking, mountain biking, fishing charters and jet-skiing, all available in Hout Bay.
