Words: Kit Heathcock | Images: Natasha Lassen & Supplied
With its sheltered bay and harbour, backed by a wide green valley encircled by mountain peaks, Hout Bay is less a suburb of Cape Town than a town and territory in its own right, hence its affectionate nickname, The Republic of Hout Bay. Once a quiet seaside fishing village insulated from the bustle of the city, it has grown considerably over the last two decades, adding suburban developments, luxury gated estates and the township Imizamo Yethu, but it retains its strong sense of community and identity.
“What I love about Hout Bay is that any time you go shopping, you’ll meet at least three people you know, it’s like a village,” says one long-term resident. “It’s got a very real feel,” adds another, “it’s part of Africa, from the street stalls at the traffic circle, to the big soccer field where kids from all different parts of the community play together.”
While some residents miss the days of it being a secluded seaside village, Hout Bay is gaining a new generation of residents, attracted by the relative affordability, proximity to the beach, and the space of the valley. “Hout Bay is not a bolt hole, it’s a community that is engaging and working hard to build a better area for all,” says Mark Peddle, who moved here three years ago.
Property
Hout Bay spans a wide variety of property – from family homes with gardens, to almost rural smallholdings and forest retreats spreading up the valley. There are retirement villages, apartments, gated country estates and almost everywhere you look, superb mountain views provide a scenic backdrop. The valley feels separate from Cape Town, but it’s only a short hop over Constantia Nek to the Southern Suburbs, or along the coastline to Llandudno, Camps Bay and the rest of the Atlantic Seaboard.
“We moved away from the city bowl as we wanted more space and a garden area for our children,” says Mark. “Although there was input from friends regarding safety issues in Hout Bay, we felt the positives outweighed the negatives. And we knew we wanted to be close to a beach, so it was the most affordable option.”
Schooling
“Schools span the width of the education spectrum – from Waldorf through to government and international schools. It really depends on budget, schooling direction, and philosophy,” says Mark.
There is a good selection of creches and day care too. “There are many young families,” he adds, “all with a great attitude about inclusivity and positivity.”
The Hout Bay primary schools feed directly into the Southern Suburb schools in Wynberg, Claremont and Newlands. And the MyCiti bus connects older kids easily with Camps Bay High School.
Explore
“Friday night at the Bay Harbour Market has a great vibe with live music and loads of good food stalls,” says one resident who regularly gets together with friends there. On Sundays the long-established Lions Club craft market on the common is another regular social gathering point, raising funds for community upliftment. Other kid-friendly venues are dotted all over, including Valley Farm, Clay Cafe, and World of Birds, the largest bird park in Africa, currently fund-raising to stay open and continue its work as a wildlife sanctuary. Then there are riding schools, sports facilities, beach activities, SUP, surfing and mountain walks for a busy open-air lifestyle.
You can go zip-lining through the canopy with SA Forest Adventures, or explore the forest in an aerial obstacle course with Acrobranch Constantia. The wine farms spilling over Constantia Nek add a layer of sophistication to the food offering, including iconic restaurant La Colombe at Silvermist, and within the town itself you have a wide-ranging selection of eateries – from fish and chips at Mariners Wharf or Fish on the Rocks, through Italian, Portuguese, and Thai, to Asian fusion at Cheynes. Hout Bay really does have everything on its doorstep.
“Hout Bay is as diverse as you could wish for – almost a microcosm of all South African issues rolled into one. Sure, there’s crime, as with any suburb in Cape Town, but we have an amazingly active community and security framework that helps not just on fighting crime, but working on community building as well.”
Mark Peddle resident
Eat:
- Spiros: Greek food
- Cheyne’s: Asian fusion
- Massimo’s: pizza
- Dunes: kid-friendly beach fare
- Dario’s: coffee
Do:
- Clay Cafe: paint your own ceramics and play
- Valley Farm: farm animals, farmstall, cafe and nursery
- World of Birds: the largest bird park in Africa, wildlife sanctuary and monkey park
- Bay Harbour Market: live music, food and shopping from Friday to Sunday
- Lions’ Club Craft market on Sundays
- Boat trips to Seal Island
- Chapman’s Peak Drive for a scenic road trip
Shop:
- Mainstream Mall: Woolworths, Pick n Pay, boutiques, decor and services
- Melkhout Centre for its Checkers
- Quirky independent gift shops such as Rockchic Crystals, And Banana, and This Shop Rox
- Visions Gallery: artworks and Simon Shone’s jewellery art
