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HOUT BAY
Hout Bay is one of the most beautiful and popular places on the
Cape Peninsula and a highlight of any visit to Cape
Town. The
access road that runs from Camps Bay, offers a beautiful drive all along
the sea. The town lies picturesquely in a wind-protected bay, surrounded
in the west by the Karbonkel Mountain, the famous Mount Sentinel as the
outpost in the sea and in the east, by the Constantia
Mountains and Chapman's
Peak.
The name "Hout Bay" (Wood Bay) was given by Jan van Riebeeck,
who, after his landing in Table Bay in the year 1652, found dense forests
providing the timber needed for the construction of ships and of the
Castle. In 1681 the first farms - Ruyteplaas and Kronendal - were established
in Hout Bay. The fishery on a commercial scale only developed a hundred
years later. In 1904 a canning factory was opened, which in the following
years gave Hout Bay's economy its boost.
Hout Bay is the centre of the crayfish and snoek fishing industry, and
its fishing harbour gives the little coastal town a lively atmosphere.
But today, its main economic contributor is tourism. After all, the attractions
of this beautifully situated place are numerous. Other than hiking, sailing,
surfing, kayaking, fishing, cycling, having a picnic or suntanning at
the beach, there is not much one can't do in Hout Bay. And the scenic
Chapman's Peak Drive, the harbour, the bird park and Seal Island are
all part of it. That is why over the last years many new settlements,
apartments and mansions have been built, many of them as holiday homes
for people who initially came as tourists from Europe.
HOUT BAY ATTRACTIONS
During the week, one can closely watch the unloading of fishing trawlers
and crayfish boats in the Hout Bay harbor. The catch is usually
snoek, a kind of seahake with firm flesh and thick bones. Snoekies
is an excellent fish shop. Large murals depict the locally caught
fish and blackboard has all the specials written out. You choose
the whole fish and can watch it being filletted and washed. It
is, by far the cheapest and freshest fish bought directly from
one of the fishing boats that usually come into the harbour in
the afternoons.
A little museum displays the history of the fisheries on these shores.
The Kraal Craft sells African arts & crafts and authentic cult objects.
It is worth seeing. The prices are high, but lower than those of the
Waterfront. In the same building, at the iKhaya, you get refreshments,
snacks, coffee and cake.
There are boat trips to Seal Island, a tiny island behind the Sentinel,
which is densely populated by some 6000 seals. Bookings unnecessary because
the boats of the 3 operators leave every half an hour. When the wind
is blowing strongly, one would prefer the catamaran Nauticat.
In the harbour one can also charter boats for deep sea fishing. A lasting
experience is an exclusive cruise on the Tigger Too. It goes from Hout
Bay to Kommetjie, where the party catches crayfish and has it skilfully
prepared afterwards. Four hours lasts this adventurous and culinary experience.
For enquiries and bookings contact Philippe and Michelle. Tel 021-7905256.
Hiking, walking
Hout Bay offers some good hiking and
walking trails. e.g. the Chapman's Peak Walk. It takes you about two
hours to the peak, from where the view of the Peninsula, of the Atlantic
and the Indian Ocean is fantastic. Less strenuous is the serpentine path
to the Blackburn Ravine, bumpy, but not steep. You get there from the
little parking bay at the East Fort. The East Fort was erected at the
beginning of the British presence at he Cape in 1795 and still stands
as a ruin on a grass patch in the Fynbos - inviting for a picnic.
World of Birds
A big attraction in Hout Bay is the World
of Birds. According to its brochure, it is the biggest bird park in Africa
with more than 400 different bird species, amongst them numerous birds
of prey and owls. The environment is tropical vegetation. They also have
reptiles and many mammals. A favourite is the big walk-in cage of the
squirrel monkeys. They are friendly, tame and love jumping all over the
visitors in the cage. Tel 021-7902730.
Hout Bay Museum
You can become aquainted with Hout Bay's
history in the little Hout Bay Museum at the bottom of Andrews Road,
which documents the period of time from the Khoi San Strandlopers to
the present.
Read additional information about...
Camps Bay, Hout
Bay, Sea Point
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