A winding, tree-lined road takes you to “The Heart of the Cape” where rural farms and trendy restaurants combine to form an eclectic mix of culture. Horse riders trot along the roads, while Maseratis zoom past on their way to the beautiful Hout Bay beach. Harley Davidson’s rumble along Chapman’s Peak Drive on Sunday afternoon drives, while pub-goers watch from their sunny decks.

The white, sandy beach and sparkling blue ocean invites tourists to spend a lazy day sunning themselves and eating soft serve ice-creams bought from the nearby ice-cream truck.

Some prefer to wander down the road to the many quaint boutiques, galleries and coffee shops. Then as the sun begins to set it is time to walk through the small town to find food to tantalise your taste buds. You are spoiled for choice with restaurants offering anything from pizza and pasta, to Mediterranean delicacies, seafood and even traditional Asian cuisine.

If you are visiting on the weekend, then The Hout Bay Market at the harbour is the place to be. Arts and crafts, food stalls and live bands fill the market with a vibrant energy that is unique and refreshing. Please visit their website for more info. The harbour also offers boat trips to seal island where you will be entertained for hours by the antics of these amusing mammals.

A wonderful activity for the whole family is a walk through The World of Birds, home to over 3000 birds (the largest bird park in Africa!), as well as mammals such as guineapigs, meerkats, mongoose, monkeys, foxes, marmosets, tamarins, raccoons and much more. One is able to walk right through the cages, allowing you to see the animals up close and watch them as they spend their time foraging for food, playing, or napping in the heat of the day.

Hout Bay is a great place to be, and visitors often find themselves staying over at one of the many Bed and Breakfasts, allowing themselves time to take in all there is to do and see.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons