How Hout Bay got its name
The name Hout Bay is not really the anglicised version of the Afrikaans Houtbaai (Wood Bay) but a shortening of the original Dutch "Houtbayken". It comes from what Jan van Riebeeck recorded in his 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."
The mountainous terrain and hazards of road building delayed the wagon road from Kirstenbosch. It only reached Hout Bay in 1693, some 40 years after van Riebeeck's first visit. The patches of forest survived a little longer because they were hard to reach, but the woodcutters were soon at work in the moist valley below. From the anchorage, the wood was shipped around the mountain to Table Bay. The forests, never extensive, lasted barely a generation. Trees cover large areas of the slopes again today, but they are mostly exotic species.
Did you know? Because Table Bay was unsafe during gale-force north-westerly winds, the anchorage in Hout Bay offered ships an alternative safe shelter.
The harbour and the fishing fleet
The enchanting fishing village of Hout Bay, once a grazing area for the Dutch East India Company's cattle, is now a patchwork of smallholdings, farms and homes. The harbour is the focal point of the village and a major attraction, with the yacht club and waterfront shops and restaurants.
Hout Bay is home to the Peninsula's crayfishing fleet, which supports a rich export trade. Large catches of snoek in June and July cause much activity in the bay, and the fish are sold straight off the boats on the quayside. Boat trips run from the harbour throughout the year.
On the eastern side of the bay, mounted on a rock, is the famous bronze leopard by sculptor Ivan Mitford-Barberton, whose studio used to be in the village.
Heritage
The Hout Bay Museum in Andrews Road tells the story of the area's natural and cultural history, from prehistoric times to the growth of the fishing industry. Please check opening times before you visit.
The Cape Dutch homestead of Kronendal on Main Road dates from around 1800. The land was granted to Matthys Bergstedt in 1715, and later that century the farm passed to Guilliam van Helsdingen, who built the house. Kronendal is the only surviving example of an H-plan house on the Peninsula, and has a painted false loft window in the gable facing Constantia.
The beach and Chapman's Peak
Hout Bay beach is an ideal place for a sundowner. If the south-easterly wind is blowing, you can take shelter in one of the many restaurants and coffee shops nearby.
Chapman's Peak Drive is an extremely picturesque road that follows the line between the Peninsula's granite base and its sandstone upper layers. It is a narrow road along a cliff face that plunges to the sea, with picnic spots and lookout points along the way. The view across to the Sentinel, which guards the entrance to Hout Bay, is breathtaking. Walking tours along Chapman's Peak can be arranged through Hout Bay Tourism.