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Hout Bay Travel Information:
Hout Bay is surrounded by mountain to the North, East
and West and the Southern Atlantic Ocean to the South.
In the North it is bordered by Table Mountain National
Park comprising of the Orangekloof Nature reserve and
the Back Table beyond that. To the North-West it is bordered
by the backside of the Twelve Apostles. To the West it
is bordered by Little Lions Heads, Karbonkel Berg, Kapteins
Peak and the Sentinel. To the East it is bordered by Vlaakenberg,
Skoorsteenberg and Constantia Berg.
There are three roads leading out Hout Bay, all over
mountain passes. One goes to Llandudno and Camps Bay through
the pass between Judas Peak (part of the Twelve Apostles)
and Little Lions Head, it is known as Suikerbossie (known
as the toughest hill on the Cape Argus Cycle Race). Between
Hout Bay and Noordhoek there is Chapman's Peak Drive which
was closed for many years and finally reopened in early
2004 with a controversial toll booth. Lastly a road leads
to Constantia over the Constantia Nek pass between Vlaakenberg
and the back slopes of Table Mountain.
Hout Bay leisure and tourism:
Hout Bay is a popular tourist attraction among both
local and international visitors. There are a variety
of restaurants in the village as well as many bed and
breakfasts and self-catering accommodation where visitors
can stay. The harbour is a worthwhile visit, as there
are spectacular views of the bay and boat rides to Duiker
Island and around the Sentinel. The famous Mariner's Wharf
restaurant is widely visited. Chapman's Peak Drive is
one of the world's most scenic mountain drives and has
recently undergone renovations to ensure the safety of
travellers using the route. The East and West forts built
by the Dutch in the 18th century can also be visited,
with the original cannons and barracks still standing
on the slopes of Chapman's Peak. The mountains surrounding
Hout Bay also make for good hiking trails. |
