Hout Bay Guide
South of Camps Bay, Hout Bay keeps a genuine working-harbour feel — fishing boats, fresh seafood, and boat trips out to a resident seal colony — while sitting at the northern end of one of the world's great coastal drives.
The harbour
Hout Bay's harbour is still a working fishing port, which gives it a rougher, more authentic feel than the polished V&A Waterfront. Fresh fish stalls, harbourside restaurants, and a weekend market (see our food markets guide) make it a good lunch stop.
Seal-watching boat trips
Short boat trips run from the harbour out to Duiker Island, home to a large Cape fur seal colony — a straightforward, family-friendly activity that takes under an hour round trip.
Gateway to Chapman's Peak
Hout Bay marks the northern end of Chapman's Peak Drive, the dramatic toll road that winds along the cliffs toward Noordhoek — see our Cape Peninsula guide for how to combine it into a full day with Cape Point and Boulders Beach.