Beautiful views of Hout Bay and surrounds

Hout Bay is a beautiful bustling town, framed by spectacular mountains – which include The Sentinel and Chapman's Peak at the mouth of the bay. 

The name Hout Bay is a shortening of the original Dutch "Houtbayken". The name is taken from an entry in Jan van Riebeeck’s  journal after his visit in 1653: "The forests are the finest in the World and contain timber as long, thick and straight as one would wish".

Hout Bay is primarily a fishing village and has a large crayfishing and snoek industry.  The harbour is the focal point of the village and has become a major tourism attraction with the development of the Yacht Club and Mariner's Wharf.  The Snoek Festival in June brings visitors to the harbour where snoek are caught offshore in large numbers and sold on the quayside.

The Hout Bay Museum gives visitors an insight into the natural and cultural history of the area from prehistoric times to the growth of the fishing industry.

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 - bird and wildlife lovers will be enchanted by the beautifully landscaped aviaries styled to simulate natural habitats.

Hout Bay Beach is a beautiful, natural site – ideal for tanning, sundowners and general paradise living.