Hout Bay, jewel of the Western Cape, is one of the world's acknowledged beauty spots,a mystical hidden valley surrounded by majestic mountain ranges, clad in a mantle of oak and pine and carpeted with lush green meadow. A picturesque river winds slowly through to meet the white silver sands and sparkling waters of the South Atlantic.

At the mouth of the river there is a small natural harbour and yacht basin, set against a backdrop of misty mountain vistas, and an exquisite circular bay of white silver sand, kissed by the warm sun and washed by the gentle surf of once mighty Atlantic rollers.

Aptly named "The Republic of Hout Bay" by its 25 000 residents due to its natural impregnability and feeling of sleepy seclusion, our beautiful valley is, nevertheless, firmly on the map as one of the top residential suburbs of Cape Town, easily accessible and only 20 minutes away from the city centre. Situated on the Western seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, Hout Bay lies directly to the South of Cape Town's world famous Table Mountain and each of its three approaches are, in themselves, spectacular and spell-binding.

The road from Cape Town's Southern Suburbs, on the other hand, weaves a different enchanting magic, wandering gently downwards from Constantia Nek to Hout Bay along the length of the valley. Dappled sunshine peeps through miasmic canopies of purest green as this country road winds unhurriedly into the valley, lined on either side by dignified old oaks planted in the time of Simon Van der Stel.

But by far the most awe-inspiring approach must be from the South, from Cape Point itself, along Chapman's Peak Drive, where convict labour of the 1920's carved a 16 kilometre stretch of roadway out of the living rock to give South Africa one of the most impressive and picturesque drives in the world. Hugging the mountainside at every turn it hangs daringly over the crashing surf 150 metres below until, with an almost audible sigh of relief, it crosses the point at Chapman's Peak and Hout Bay lies welcomingly ahead in a sunny symphony of blues and greens.

In the valley and along the river banks two acre agricultural smallholdings, horse paddocks, stables and farmhouses add to the rural atmosphere. On the steep mountain slopes surrounding the bay an eclectic mix of mansions, cottages and holiday homes create a homely feel to the magnificent views of sea and mountain. Far surpassing any other South African beauty spot with its irresistible combination of sparkling seashore and majestic mountainside, it is small wonder that Hout Bay has caught the imagination and interest of wealthy and discerning families, not only from the Cape, not only from South Africa or even the African continent as a whole, but from all over the world.

A local fishing industry, for example, helps retain the village atmosphere of the seaside, and a farmer with substantial tracts of riverside land continues to operate as a market gardener. Hout Bay can also boast it's own vineyards. And yet we are just 20 minutes by scenic drive from a large famous city, a mere half-an-hour from an international airport, and only two-and-a-half hours flight from the Kruger National Park. Here we have a choice of more than 15 restaurants, 3 modern shopping centres, schools, libraries, doctors, dentists, banks, lawyers, churches, hairdressers, buses, taxis and a whole stack of other vital facilities. Very soon we'll have our own cinema, health club and a medical centre, too.

But we also have swimming and sunbathing, beach walks and mountain rambles, horse riding, windsurfing and sailing and, most importantly, a relaxed country village atmosphere. Spoiled ? Pampered ? Too laid back ?

Call us what you will…….. just call us!

Thousands of years ago primitive man lived in Hout Bay. From the remains found in a cave in Hout Bay we know that late stoneage people lived here between 100 AD and 500 AD. They had no metal tools or weapons and used stone to make whatever implements they needed. They were gatherers of wiId plants, shellfish and the seabirds and animals that were washed ashore. They also hunted and fished using hooks fashioned from bones and nets made from fibrous plants and the skins of animals.

The Hottentots and Bushmen were descendants of these folk. The Hottentots, so called because of the strange clicking sound of their language, were also called Strandlopers because they gathered food from the beaches. Hottentot Harry was a well known character who belonged to a group that lived in and around Hout Bay at the time of van Riebeeck's arrival at the Cape. Harry could speak a little English and was a great help to van Riebeeck as an interpreter. Hottentots also possessed large herds of cattle and sheep. They lived in huts made of grass mats tied to a beehive shape frame made from pliable poles. They often set up camp in Hout Bay.

The names Hotnotshuisie and Oudekraal originate from the days when Hottentots camped in these places. They traded with the early Europeans on their way to the East, who stopped at the Cape in order to get fresh food and water. They bartered with these sailors exchanging cattle and sheep for small pieces of copper, brass and tin.

In 1614 an English sailor records having taken wood from the forests of Hout Bay in order to mend his ship.

In 1652 Johan van Riebeeck landed at the Cape and it wasn't long before he visited Hout Bay. He describes the forests of Hout Bay as being the finest in the world. It was van Riebeeck who gave Hout Bay its present name. He wrote in his journal about 't Houtbaaitjen'. Since then it has been known as Hout Bay (meaning "wood bay ").

In 1662, the year van Riebeeck left the Cape, the first road was extended from Kirstenbosch in a rough track over Constantia Nek to Hout Bay.

In 1668 the first permit to cut and saw wood in the Hout Bay forest was granted. In 1677 the first agreement to rent land for farming purposes was signed and in 1681 two farms were established - Ruyteplaats and Kronendal .

In 1796 the English, now in command at the Cape (after the Battle of Muizenberg), built new fortifications and strengthened existing ones. At Hout Bay the Blockhouse and Barracks at the East Fort were built. The ruins of these are still standing.

In the latter half of the l9th century the farms Moddergat, Nooitgedacht, Oakhurst and Uitkyk were established.

In 1873 Manganese was discovered in the Constantiaberg and in 1909 to 1911 it was mined in Hout Bay. Reminders of these activities are the ruins of the manganese ore jetty and the old mine workings up on the mountains.

In 1880 Crisp Arnold set up fishing sheds and started curing snoek for export to Mauritius.

In 1895 Walter Gurney built the first church in Hout Bay. It still stands today and is known as St Peter the Fisherman. The first school in Hout Bay was started in this church.

In 1904 Hout Bay's first crawfish canning factory was established in the wreck of an old sailing ship, the ‘R. Morrow’, which stood where the present Sea Products factory stands today. For almost 10 years the factory operated successfully, exporting canned crawfish overseas and providing work for the local inhabitants until it accidentally exploded in 1914.

The Dorman family, who, like the Trautmans had originally bought land in the l9th century for farming purposes, become more involved in the fishing industry. Duikersklip and Chapman's Peak Fisheries were two companies owned by the Dormans. Today Chapman's Peak Fisheries has expanded to incorporate a fish importing business as well as retailing local catches. Mariners Wharf, South Africa's first fish emporium, was opened in 1984.

Harbour facilities have improved steadily over the years. In 1937 the South Breakwater was built and in 1968 the North Breakwater was added. The post-war fishing boom saw new companies and canning factories spreading everywhere, and at Hout Bay the South Africa Sea Products Company was formed.

The Hout Bay Hotel was built sometime between 1871 and 1889 by Jacob Trautman. Originally known as the Royal Hotel it was a popular honeymoon hotel at the turn of the century. It has recently been bought by a well-known local hotelier and will soon reopen as The Hout Bay Manor Hotel.

Chapman's Peak Hotel was originally called the Beach Hotel and was built in 1903 after the original hotel burnt down. It was a beautiful example of an Edwardian seaside hotel until 1981 when extensive alterations were embarked upon. Although no longer able to offer accommodation, it has the reputation of offering the best seafood in the Cape Peninsula.

Living in Hout Bay, in many ways, is like living life on permanent holiday. No matter where you look mountain, bay and valley views assault the senses. One of the acknowledged "World's Best Sensations" is ambling along the beach at midnight kicking phosphorescence in the surf under a big yellow moon. Another is doing the same thing at dawn with the dogs, watching the dolphins surf the breakers… at dawn, that is, if you haven't been living it up the night before at one of our many top class restaurants! But even so, an early morning ramble along the beach clears any aching head; so, after breakfast, what then? A hike? A horse-ride? Tennis? Squash? Sailing? Sunbathing? Or, just a gentle day in the garden? It's all here in Hout Bay.