Hout Bay Hotels

Introducing Hout Bay

Hout Bay is a beautiful and unique coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.  Hout Bay lies in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula and is twenty kilometres south of the Cape Town city centre.

It derives its name from the Afrikaans word Houtbaai meaning Wood Bay and was first made famous for its ample supply of good timber desperately required by the Dutch colony established in Table Bay in 1652.  Very little of the original forests still exist today and Hout Bay has been transformed into a bustling little village with an estimated population of over 42000 people.

Hout Bay's beauty is magnificent being surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains that seem to majestically guard over its bay. Hout Bay beach consists of a large stretch of powder white sand with a gentle river running through the middle.  This seaside town is enjoyed not just for its breath-taking scenery but also for the relaxed family orientated lifestyle it offers. Hout Bay offers an unforgettable holiday experience with an emphasis on nature, sun, see and sand.

Amongst the activities which can be enjoyed in Hout Bay are horse riding, fishing, Seal Island Boat Trips, walks and hikes, whale watching, scuba diving, sailing, and visiting the Hout Bay Museum and the World of Birds park. 

Hout Bay is divided into several neighbourhoods. Suburbs include Scott Estate, Hanging Meadows, Baviaanskloof, Hillcrest, Bergendal, Penzance, Imizamo Yethu, Meadows, Oakwood, Bokkemanskloof, Overkloof, Silvermist, Longkloof, Valley, Victorskloof, Nooitgedacht, Beach Estate, Northshore, Mount Rhodes, Klein Leeukoppie Estate, Ruyteplaats, Tierboskloof, Kronenzicht, Hangberg, Hout Bay Heights and Hughenden Estate. Llandudno is a separate oceanfront village nestling over the "Suikerbossie" pass from Hout Bay.

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 bottom slopes of Table Mountain beyond that. To the North-West it is bordered by the backside of the Twelve Apostles, known as the Oranjekloof. To the West it is bordered by Little Lion's Head (Klein Leeukop), Karbonkelberg, Kaptein's Peak and the Sentinel. To the East it is bordered by the Vlakkenberg, Skoorsteenskopberg and Constantiaberg.

The world famous Chapman's Peak Drive is carved out of the mountainside and leads towards Noordhoek and onwards to Cape Point.  Hout Bay has one of the busiest harbours in the Western Cape with an established tuna, snoek and crayfish industry. The harbour is home to the Hout Bay Yacht Club and several restaurants.

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 two hotels (the Hout Bay Manor and the Chapman's Peak Hotel), 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. 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 Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing contest is held on the other side of the Sentinel mountain, at the famous Dungeons. Some of the biggest waves in the world are found here and these attract surfers from all over the world. The competition can only be held during May to August, when the waves reach heights of 15-20 ft.

Historical Weather Conditions

Cape Town, South Africa
Elevation: 42 meters      Latitude: 33 59S   Longitude: 018 36E 

 Average Temperature Years on Record: 21   
 YEAR  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May  Jun.  Jul.  Aug.  Sep.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec. 
°C 17    21     21     20    17    15      13    12     13     14      16    18    20 
 

Average High Temperature Years on Record: 21   
   YEAR  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May  Jun.  Jul.  Aug.  Sep.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec. 
°C 21      25    25      24     22    19      17    16    17    18      20     22    23 

  Average Low Temperature Years on Record: 21   
   YEAR  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May  Jun.  Jul.  Aug.  Sep.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec. 
°C12       17    17      15    13     11       8      8       8       10    12     14    16

  Average Number of Days With Precipitation Years on Record: 19   
          YEAR  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May  Jun.  Jul.  Aug.  Sep.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec. 
Days 112        6      5       6       9     12     13    14    13       11        9     7      7

  Average Number of Days Above 70F/21C Years on Record: 21   
     YEAR     Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May  Jun.  Jul.  Aug.  Sep.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec. 
Days 189    29     27     27    19       9        5     4       4         6      12     20    27