Hout Bay
Afrikaans name: Houtbaai
Hout Bay harbour
Western Cape
Hout Bay is a picturesque town on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Cape Peninsula. It is also the name of the bay itself. The town is situated around 20km south of the Cape Town CBD.
The name originates from the Afrikaans word for wood (hout). In the 17th century the Dutch had settled in the area of modern day Cape Town and needed large amounts of timber for building. Apparently Jan van Riebeeck said that the most beautiful forests that he had ever seen were to be found at Hout Bay.
The harbour is one of the main attractions in the area and a boat trip to nearby Seal Island is a must. The harbour itself is the 9th most popular tourist destination in the Cape Town region.
References and further reading
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