Hout Bay Travel Guide

Hout Bay, twenty minutes drive from Cape Town, was named by explorer Jan van Riebeeck, for its then lush forests surrounding the peaceful bay.

Rich in history, Hout Bay remains one of the few rural areas near the city centre. The Bay has one of the busiest working harbours in Cape Town. Fisherman jostle with tourists catching one of the several charter boats or visiting one of the many local restuarants.

Often called a microcosm of the rest of South Africa there is a broad variety of people living in vastly different homes from humble shacks to millionaires mansions.

Apart from a beautiful white sandy beach there are several mountain walks for nature lovers. The world famous Chapmans Peak Drive is one of only three roads into Hout Bay- fondly refered to by its residents as the Republic of Hout Bay.