Page 154 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

152  C APE T OWN

3 Hout Bay

Since the 1940s, Hout Bay has been an important fishing
centre. It is also a pretty residential area and a popular
weekend resort. Its name derives from a diary entry made
by Jan van Riebeeck in July 1653, in which he refers to
“t’houtbaaijen”, the wooded bays in the area. Hout Bay’s
fisheries centre on snoek and rock lobster, and include
canning factories, a fishmeal plant and a fresh fish market.
The 1 km-long (half mile) beach is backed by low, scrub-
covered dunes and flanked by tall mountains. To the west,
the Karbonkelberg mountain range culminates in the
towering 331-m (1,086-ft) Sentinel Peak. To the east rises
the Chapman’s Peak range, along the slopes of which
snakes a world-famous scenic drive. A colourful fishing trawler in the
Hout Bay harbour
Exploring Hout Bay underwater among giant wavy such as the popular Dunes,
Road Map B5. 20 km (12 miles) S of kelp forests. Sunset cruises are which has a verandah over-
Cape Town on M6 or M63. @ MyCiTi always popular and local game- looking the beach and harbour.
bus from Civic Centre or Adderley St. fishing companies orga nize At the start of the
The green valleys of Hout Bay expeditions to catch a scenic coastal
are threaded with oak-lined variety of gamefish drive, Chapmans
roads. Horse paddocks and such as yellowfin Peak Hotel
stables abound; many local and longfin tuna, is very well-
riding centres offer instruction broadbill sword- positioned,
and recreational horse riding. fish and marlin. with beauti ful
Residents walk their dogs on At the eastern views across the
Hout Bay beach in the early edge of the bay, bay. Its terrace
mornings. The beach is also a 1.4-m (4.5-ft) is popular in
frequented by swimmers, high bronze summer for
paddlesurfers and, at its west statue of a Bronze leopard, a reminder of the seafood lunches
end, by wind surfers and Hobie leopard is perched wildlife that once roamed the area and relaxed
Cat sailors. From the harbour, on a rock pinnacle. sundowners.
tour operators launch regu lar It was cast in 1963 by the late
cruises that take visitors out Ivan Mitford-Barberton, a Mariner’s Wharf
to watch seabirds and see the local artist. Harbour Road. Tel 021 790 1100.
Cape fur seal colony on Duiker The suburb of Hout Bay itself Open daily. 7 0 -
Island. Boat trips last for about offers a great variety of small = ∑ marinerswharf.com
45 minutes. The vessels have coffee shops, restaurants, cloth- Mariner’s Wharf was built by a
large portholes or glass bottoms ing and curio shops. Closer to local family, the Dormans, whose
so seals can be viewed frolicking the harbour there are pubs, predecessors farmed in the Hout
Bay valley during the 1900s. It
lies sand wiched between Hout
Bay’s beach and the busy little
fish ing harbour, and offers
an open-air bistro, a seafood
restau rant and a shop that sells
marine-related curios. Visitors can
also enjoy a stroll along the pier
flanked by moored fishing boats.
Bay Harbour Market
31 Harbour Road. Tel 083 275 5586.
Open 5pm–9pm Fri, 9:30am–
4pm Sat & Sun. 7 - =
∑ bayharbour.co.za
At weekends, the Bay Harbour
Market is held in one of the old
fishing factories. It features more
than 100 craft and food stalls
A hiker’s view of Hout Bay, seen from Chapman’s Peak and is popular for brunch and

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