Hout Bay (South Africa)

Hout Bay means "wood bay" in Afrikaans (a language derived from Dutch which is spoken by a large part of the population). It is a very large bay with a port and a pretty beach with white sand. A little removed from Cape Town, it is a sheltered place in a really nice setting for a day of relaxation with your family or a picnic on the road to the Cape of Good Hope, especially if you go to admire the view from nearby Chapman's Peak.

In the harbour, you can see some seals that bask in the sun. Some locals have even "trained" some of them to come get food from their hand. You can take a photo of them in exchange for a few coins. However, if you want to admire them a bit more, you can take the boat (60 rand), which will take you on a little tour (30 to 45 minutes altogether) to bring you closer to Duiker Island where an entire colony spreads out over a large rock. On the other hand, don't expect to put your feet on land and get up close enough to tickle these charming animals; the boat just stops around twenty metres away from the island to allow you to admire the ease with which the seals move through the water and to try to take a photo of them in the position of your choice (they are fast and mischievous creatures!).

In short, it is a nice port of call close to Cape Town.