Hout Bay
A fishing village at the northern starting point of Chapman's Peak Drive. A 40-minute round-trip boat ride reaches Seal Island, home to thousands of South African fur seals, and a harbor market runs on weekends.
Hout Bay is a harbor town surrounded by mountains, where the fishing boats in the port and The Sentinel form a classic picture. Several boat companies run sightseeing trips from the wharf to Duiker Island (Seal Island). The round trip takes about 40 minutes and costs ZAR 100 to 150. Thousands of South African fur seals crowd onto the small rocky island. The smell is strong, but the sight is spectacular. Rough seas can easily make you seasick. At the harbor, Mariner's Wharf serves fish and chips, and the Bay Harbour Market, held from Friday evening to Sunday, is an indoor food and crafts market. This is also the northern starting point of Chapman's Peak Drive. It is about 25 minutes by car from the city center, and the most scenic route is the coastal road through Camps Bay.
Opening hours
All day; boat trips approx. 08:30–16:30
Nearby sights
- Duiker Island (Seal Island)
- Chapman's Peak Lookout
- Noordhoek Beach
- Groot Constantia
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
- Camps Bay
- Table Mountain
- Clifton Beaches