Shops
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Hout Bay Voted ‘Top Wine Retailer’ by Wine Magazine, the Chapmans Peak Wine & Spirits boutique features a large selection of local and rare wines, port, liquers, imported beers and cigars. It also has one of the largest selections of malts in Cape Town. Guests can send their favourite wines home, using the Export Facility.The small deli allows you to combine food and wine, featuring a range of local and international delicacies, including cheeses. You can also buy the best home-made ciabatta bread in town! And if you looking for ‘biltong’, look no further for the tastiest beef.
Shopping Malls
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Hout Bay Salty sea dawgs, venerable captains, fishermen, locals and trendy visitors all hang out at Mariner's Wharf. En route to Cape Point from Cape Town, Mariner's claims to be the first harbour emporium in Africa and is a worthwhile stopover to have lunch, sundowners or do a bit of shopping. Overlooking the bay and Chapman’s Peak, the restaurants, shops and markets exude a maritime atmosphere and even the seagulls look like part of the decor.
Animal Parks
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Hout Bay If you are visiting Cape Town with kids then a stopover at the World of Birds is sure to be a big hit. This bird and wildlife sanctuary is home to over 3 000 birds in natural surroundings. Scrutinize some curious species in semi-tropical aviaries – it’s a very colourful and noisy experience!Visitors are able to walk through the large aviaries and come into contact with flamingos, crowned and blue cranes, guinea fowl, tiny squirrel monkeys and even meerkats, hawks, owls and eagles. You can see them feeding their youngsters, socialising, singing, nest building or incubating eggs depending on the season.The sanctuary is also a breeding centre for endangered species and cares for injured birds.
Beaches
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Hout Bay Hout Bay Beach extends from the beginning of Chapman's Peak curving around to the Hout Bay Harbour with its numerous fishing boats and yacht marina. Hout Bay beach is an awesome family beach, but it's also popular with horse riders, dog walkers and kayakers.
One of the iconic Cape Town Beaches, Hout Bay Beach is yet another beautiful beach with powdery white sand that stretches almost a kilometre in length and half a kilometre in places. There's ample space for a game of beach volleyball, touch rugby, beach cricket, jogging or flying kites. The Hout Bay River cuts through the middle of this beach after meandering from the top of Table Mountain down to the Hout Bay wetlands and beach estuary.
Horse riders have easy access to Hout Bay Beach for early morning rides from stables close by. The protected bay is almost always calm and offers safe swimming and a range of water sports from paddling to kite surfing and sailing. This tranquil playground is perfect for sun tanning, just chilling and savouring the sweetness of doing nothing whilst taking in the exhilarating beauty of the surrounding mountains, white sandy beach and sapphire bay. Dolphins, whales and seals can often be spotted in the bay.
Hout Bay beach is perfect for the whole family and after a day well spent its essential to grab an ice cream from the Italian ice cream shop on the main road. There are also lots of good family friendly restaurants in close proximity – Dunes restaurant is a great option for young kids.
Things to do near
Hout Bay
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Beaches
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Sandy Bay (3.4 km from Hout Bay) Perhaps one of the most inaccessible beaches along the Cape coast, Sandy Bay is a very secluded and quiet beach, and as such has garnered the reputation as Cape Town's unofficial nudist beach.
Visitors will need to park their cars in Llandudno's Sunset Avenue, and from there it's a 10 to 15 minute walk to the beach. You can also access the beach from the Hout Bay side, over the dunes.
If you're heading out to Sandy Bay, be sure to take necessary precautions to ensure your safety. Stay in groups and don't take any valuables with you.
Hiking Trail
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Giants Castle Nature Reserve (3.9 km from Hout Bay) The most challenging route from Monk's Cowl to Injasuti
Camp follows the Contour Path. Although considered moderate, the 9-hour trek is the least traipsed and at 21 km, it’s the longest.
Duration: 9 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
Distance: 21 km
Hiking Trail
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Giants Castle Nature Reserve (3.9 km from Hout Bay) Ascend the Steilberg to the summit of Little Berg on the moderately graded 4-hour Stable Cave Trail. The route overlooks the stunning Valley of Pools from a narrow ridge of the Little Berg Plateau.
Duration: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 9.5 km
Beaches
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Llandudno (4.1 km from Hout Bay) Llandudno Beach is one of those beautiful beaches that seem to have it all. Parking is a bit of a headache, so it never gets tooooo crowded. The white crescent shaped beach lies at the base of the steep slopes of the Twelve Apostles and is flanked by massive granite boulders.
One of the most popular chilling and romantic sundown picnic spots in Cape Town, Llandudno Beach is also the haunt of photographers, surfers, surf skiers and an active lifesaving crowd.
The boulders at the northern side offer some great walking with awesome views and so does the stretch along Sunset Rocks past the wreck of the Romelia to Sandy Bay. Llundudno is regarded one of Cape Town's most desirable residential areas.
Beaches
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Table Mountain National Park (6.2 km from Hout Bay) Lying between Bakoven and Llandudno is Oudekraal, best known by scuba divers who come here to explore Justin’s Caves. The dive site is actually a group of huge boulders covered in magnificent sponges, soft corals, sea fans and ascidians. Not far off is the 1698 wreck of the Huis te Crayenstein, tempting divers with the prospect of salvaging treasure.
Part of the Table Mountain National Park, Oudekraal Beach offers a very different experience to the glamorous beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton. The tiny beach is hidden in a cove and offers braai facilities and a grassy picnic area. Huge granite boulders shelter the beach and provide a safe swimming area.
Hiking Trail
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Table Mountain National Park (6.2 km from Hout Bay) Combined with an additional loop to Elephant’s Eye Cave, this easy walk takes in three stunning viewpoints that jointly offer a 360-degree panoramic of the Peninsula.
Start at Silvermine Dam car park and follow the jeep track beyond the reservoir wall. Look out for the gorgeous King Proteas blooming in autumn. At other times there are blue Disas, Painted Ladies and numerous Erica species along the trail.
Duration: 2.5 hours return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Trail
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Table Mountain National Park (6.2 km from Hout Bay) Big views, pretty fynbos and a fairly easy walk characterize this popular route. The horseshoe-shaped hike can be done in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction around Silvermine Dam. Leave your vehicle in the parking area at the dam.
Starting in a clockwise direction, the trail climbs steadily above Silvermine Dam past Shelter Rock, and Breakfast Slab, then along Crassula Edge and the Amphitheatre Path. After Dragonback Passage, walk past Blind Man's Bend to the cairn, and turn down to the trail running on other side of the dam.
Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.5 km
Hiking Trail
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Table Mountain National Park (6.3 km from Hout Bay) The guided Orange Kloof Hoerikwaggo Trail starts at the Silvermine Dam and overnights in the Orange Kloof National Forest on the first day. Hikers are able to walk unencumbered with backpacks as belongings are portaged to the overnight camp. This section of the Hoerikwaggo Trial has a minimum of 2 and a maximum limit of 12 hikers per day.
Duration: 2 days
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 33 km
Hiking Trail
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Table Mountain National Park (6.5 km from Hout Bay) The out-and-back route from Constantia Nek to the five historic dams on the top of Table Mountain is a popular weekend hike. It’s all uphill to the top of Table Mountain but the trail is very easy and uncomplicated.
Park your vehicle at Constantia Nek and start in the southern section of Cecilia Forest. The walk ends at the Helly-Hutchinson Dam and Waterworks Museum.
Duration: 2 hours (one way)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Distance: 4 km
Bars
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Noordhoek (6.6 km from Hout Bay) On the road to Noordhoek's Long Beach and tucked away under the ancient milk wood trees you will find the Red Herring restaurant. Above it is Skebanga’s Pub - a place so laid back that shoes are not essential and baggy shorts are fine.
Skebanga’s is loud and always packed and very popular with horse riders, surfers and locals just chilling out, but there is always room for one more. In the winter a roaring fire will keep the chills at bay, but for most of the year one can enjoy the truly spectacular views of Long Beach from the outside wooden deck.
Noordhoek faces West and it is known for breathtakingly beautiful sunsets and nowhere can one enjoy them more than the deck of Skebanga’s pub. Sunny winter afternoons can be spent on the deck watching whales mating off the beach in the cool Atlantic.
Deservedly reputed to be one of Cape Town’s great pubs, Skebanga’s serves great pub fare at modest prices, but locals know that the best nosh is the wonderful thin based Pizzas cooked in a wood fired oven, and said to be the best in the Southern hemisphere.
Enjoy the multi-choice pizza menu or order one made to your own specification, but be warned - their pizzas are huge and best shared with another. A range of beers is available on tap as well as the usual pub offerings. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself hooked and keep on returning. That is what Skebanga’s does to you!
Wine Estates
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Constantia (6.7 km from Hout Bay) One of Constantia's 'Big Five' wine estates, this grand daddy of the Cape Winelands lays claim to a fascinating history.
At the gate of Klein Constantia Estate is the Kramat (shrine) of Sheik Abdurachman Matebe Shah, linked in oral traditional to the last Sultanate of Malacca. Banished to the Cape after capture by the Dutch in Sumatra in 1661, he and his companion Sheikh Mahmoud, were confined to the forests of Constantia.
Situated on the eastern slopes and foothills of Constantiaberg, Klein Constantia Estate has idyllic conditions for producing grapes with ample fruit flavours. Klein Constantia produces an array of varietally labelled premium wines – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and small quantities of Semillon, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Blends include flagship red Marlbrook and flagship white Mme Marlbrook.
Try their most famous and admired wine – the Vin de Constance, a re-creation of the legendary sweet Constantia.
Village Marketplaces
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Noordhoek (6.7 km from Hout Bay) Local is “lekker” they say. Well, it can’t get much better than Noordhoek farm village; a thatched Cape Dutch yesteryear complex with farm stall, excellent restaurants, a pub, artist studios, antiques and African collectibles and curios. This charming village complex of shops, galleries and handicraft shops is situated at the start of famous Chapmans peak scenic drive - clustered under ancient oak trees. This favorite relaxing spot for the locals always has a busy vibe, but is generously shared with visitors to this enchanted valley. The restaurants begin their busy days serving wonderful country breakfasts which you can enjoy our fresco or under the thatched patio of the food barn. The Food Barn is presided over by famous chef Franck Dangereux, who offers cooking demonstrations with his always popular Bistro menu. The Food Barn also offers a wide range of organic vegetables, baked goods, preserves and cheeses for you to take home and enjoy the best of the Cape.Amongst the shops you will find a wine shop – open seven days a week – which will give you an excellent the opportunity to try a range of Cape wines including the prestigious output of our local Cape Point winery. Spend a couple of hours browsing in the art galleries sharing the inspiration that the many artists who live in the valley have gained from the beauty that surrounds Noordhoek, or shop for truly African clothes and crafts.There is no reason to be worried about the children being bored while you shop or just browse because there is a large playground area equipped with swings, slides and jungle gyms to keep them occupied. Perhaps you might join the locals at the end of your outing in the local pub “The Frog” for a cool couple of points or even an enjoyable pub meal.
Farms
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Noordhoek (6.7 km from Hout Bay) Heaven on horseback is cantering through the surf on a fine thoroughbred horse with whales and dolphins leaping in the bay.
That's what the brochure says but this dream can easily become a reality at The Dunes in Noordhoek. The stables are built right on the sand of Noordhoek Beach – the longest, whitest and most spectacular beach in Cape Town.
Stroll or canter along the shoreline of this five-mile long beach, then explore the ancient shipwreck. Splash through the seasonal lagoon and trot through the grassy sand dunes. Advanced riders can gallop on the race horse training track parallel to the beach, while beginners admire the exquisite views of Chapman's Peak and the Atlantic Ocean.
Apart from offering beach horse rides, The Dunes stables about forty thoroughbred horses who are in training and compete at Cape Town's two race courses every week. You could be taking a beach ride on a retired winner who now has a more leisurely life as a trail riding horse. Your ex-race horse will go as fast as you like, but they are quite happy to plod along at a walk, trot or canter. The horses are regularly featured in the photo shoots and films – not only could you be riding a winning race horse, but your mount could be a movie star too!
Contact Mike Stewart +27 (0)21 789 1723 +27 (0)82 784 8699 www.horserides.co.za
Wine Estates
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Noordhoek (7 km from Hout Bay) Tucked just below the entrance to Chapman's Peak, Cape Point Vineyards is worth a visit. The enormous tasting room is sumptuously furnished with comfy couches, polished tables, a giant a 300-year old tapestry and crystal chandelier.
Knowledgeable staff carry out the various wine sampling menus with great poise – try their award-winning flagship or premium tastings with a cheese platter of handcrafted Camembert, Huguenot, Gorgonzola, Mont Vere and Emmentaler.
Popular Attractions
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Noordhoek (7.1 km from Hout Bay) Sleepy Hollow Horse Riding is located in the heart of the beautiful Noordhoek Valley. Come and experience breathtaking views of Chapmans Peak and Noordhoek Beach from horseback.
Sleepy Hollow offers a variety of horse riding activities, catering for all ages and all levels of experience. Explore the wetlands, Noordhoek Beach, and take in the natural wildlife and splendour. Knowledgeable guides and well-behaved horses will ensure you'll have a memorable ride.