Hout Bay
Hout Bay ("Wood" Bay) was christened by Jan van Riebeeck himself who discovered these dense forests providing the timber required for the construction of ships and the Castle of Good Hope. Not much of the original forests still exist today but Hout Bay has transformed itself into a bustling and delightful little community, affectionately known as the "Republic of Hout Bay".
Formerly a fishing village, Hout Bay offers a long, sandy beach framed by majestic mountains. Capetonians often congregate here over warm summer weekends to enjoy local fish & chips or to view the resident Cape fur seals near the harbour.
Visitors enjoy earning the right to own one of Hout Bay’s very own passports by visiting the local sites and activities – a trip to seal island on a glass-bottomed boat, the World of Birds, sunset boat cruises to V&A Waterfront plus a range of land and water sports.
