SOUTH AFRICA - CAPE TOWN & THE WESTERN CAPE -  TRAVEL & LODGING GUIDE
SELF-CATERING, HOLIDAY & VACATION RENTAL ACCOMMODATION

FEATURED HOUT BAY SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Hout Bay (Afrikaans: Houtbaai, from the Dutch for "Wood Bay") is the name of a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa with a mix of neighbourhoods from the very rich to the very poor. It lies in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula and is twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town. 

The name Hout Bay can refer to the town, or the bay on which it is situated, or the whole valley.

Hout Bay, also known as "Dungeons" to the surfing community, is one of the sixteen recognised big wave spots around the globe. The annual Red Bull Big Wave Africa competition is held here. Swells of up to 47 feet (14 m) have been recorded here as well as numerous deaths as a result of boating, diving and surfing-related incidents in the area. The spot itself consists of various reefs. The most popular is called "2.5 "since it is 2.5 m deep. Behind it is "3.5", which is 3.5 m deep. There is also a reef that is reputed to be able to hold a 100 ft (30 m) high wave, should one ever come. Before the use of jetskis to enter and leave the area, the surfers who braved these waters had to paddle through a dark and deep channel, through to where the waves break.

Leisure and Tourism

Hout Bay is a popular tourist attraction among both local and international visitors. There are a variety of restaurants in the village as well as two hotels (the Hout Bay Manor and the Chapman's Peak Hotel), many bed and breakfasts and self-catering accommodation where visitors can stay. The harbour is a worthwhile visit, as there are spectacular views of the bay and boat rides to Duiker Island and around the Sentinel. Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the world's most scenic mountain drives and has recently undergone renovations to ensure the safety of travellers using the route. 

The East and West forts built by the Dutch in the 18th century can also be visited, with the original cannons and barracks still standing on the slopes of Chapman's Peak. The East fort is the oldest operating gun battery in the world. The mountains surrounding Hout Bay also make for good hiking trails. In the same area is the bronze statue of a leopard looking out over the ocean.

The Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing contest is held on the other side of the Sentinel mountain, at the famous Dungeons. Some of the biggest waves in the world are found here and these attract surfers from all over the world. The competition can only be held during May to August, when the waves reach heights of 15-20 ft.

The Hout Bay Yacht Club is situated in the working harbour and provides moorings for both recreational, fishing and sailing boats.

FEATURED KOMMETJIE SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, SOUTH AFRICA

The village is situated around a small, natural and rocky inlet that resembles a basin. There is some evidence that this basin was used as a fish trap by prehistoric peoples. The area is a popular spot for surfing, since powerful waves from the Atlantic Ocean rise up over rocky reefs formed by hard sandstones of the Table Mountain Group.

Kommetjie supports a small number of small enterprises, including a Shell garage (including a Shell Select), a convenience store, a laundromat, a small mail-order computer business, a video shop, a café, and a variety of restaurants. The Kommetjie Post Shoppe, situated in the Village Place, has a SA Post office agency which also offers internet access.

Kommetjie is also part of the fynbos biome, which boasts the highest number of plant species per square kilometre. Some of the rarest and most sought after plants are found in this biome, but face threat from a variety of aliens, mostly Australian plants, imported in the 1800's. In a twist of irony, fynbos has now become an invasive alien in some parts of Australia.

FEATURED LLANDUDNO SELF-CATERING / VACATION RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Llandudno is a residential suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula. There are no shops or commercial activities, and the suburb has some of the most expensive residential property in South Africa. It is the home of billionaire Sol Kerzner and his family.

Llandudno beach is one of the Cape's most beautiful beaches, surrounded by large granite boulders and overlooked by mountains. It is a popular surfing spot, but the swimming can be treacherous, with rough seas and extremely cold water. It is also the access point for the walk to Sandy Bay, an isolated beach once popular with nudists.

Llandudno is named after the North Wales seaside resort of Llandudno, which means "Parish of Saint Tudno" in the Welsh language.

FEATURED MILNERTON SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Milnerton is a suburb of Cape Town in South Africa situated on the Atlantic Ocean 11 kilometres to the north of Cape Town city's centre.

The Milnerton area of Cape Town includes Cambridge Estate, Century City, Du Noon, Joe Slovo Park, Lagoon Beach, Milnerton Ridge, Royal Ascot, Sanddrift, Tygerhof and Woodbridge Island.

One of the most identifiable features of Milnerton is its lagoon, formed where the Diep River enters the sea, with palm trees adorning the lagoon banks.

Two bridges join Woodbridge Island to the mainland of Milnerton proper. The wooden bridge (after which the island is named) is now a national heritage site and, although was once used for general traffic, is now restricted to all forms of traffic including pedestrians. A local school has changed its name from Zonnekus Primary to Woodbridge Primary in honour of the landmark. A newer bridge allows cars to cross to the island. The Milnerton lighthouse is also a popular landmark found on the island.

Milnerton's beach is well known for its views of Table Mountain and is a popular spot for walkers and surfers. The wave size varies from small to large and tends to barrel, with the best waves occurring when there is a south-easter blowing. The water is generally cold, the result of the Benguela current that flows along Africa's western shore. The beach is a favourite for watersports - including the very popular weekly Wednesday evening Downwind Dash surf ski race during Summer from Milnerton to Blouberg beach.

FEATURED MOUILLE POINT SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Mouille Point is an affluent suburb of Cape Town, situated between the V&A Waterfront to the North, Sea Point to the South and Green Point to the east. The suburb hugs the coastline, and consists primarily of high-end apartment blocks.

It is a very small suburb, having only two major roads (Beach Road and Bay Road). It is also home to the Mouille Point promenade; a paved promenade on the coast that is used daily by thousands of Capetonians. Behind it lies the Green Point Common, where numerous playing fields and a golf course are situated.

The name comes from the French word for anchoring ground. In the early 1700s, wrecks were common in Table Bay and the then governor decided that a breakwater (mouille in French) was needed to protect vessels. Work began in 1743. 

Photo: Mouille Point and the Green Point Statium by Hilton1949/Wikimedia Commons

All farmers who delivered their goods to the city were required to load up their wagons with stones, drive out to Mouille Point and offload. Slaves and convicts were also used to build the breakwater, but after three years of labour and high seas, just 100m had been built and the project was abandoned. In 1781 the French arrived and built a battery near the unfinished mouille, naming it Mouille Point Battery.

The Mouille Point lighthouse is prominently located here, but despite this, on 01st July 1966, during a fierce winter storm, a cargo ship, the S. A. Seafarer ran aground between Mouille Point and Three Anchor Bay. Everybody on board was rescued by helicopters of 17 squadron from AFB_Ysterplaat.

For many years, opposite the lighthouse was a drive-in roadhouse,'The Doll's House', where many people used to go for a snack and coffee during the day, or after a movie at night.

Today, Mouille Point is lined with modern apartment buildings, many of which are available for holiday rentals.

FEATURED MUIZENBERG SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Muizenberg is a beach-side suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated where the shore of the Cape Peninsula curves round to the east on the False Bay coast. It is considered to be the birthplace of surfing in South Africa and it is home to the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences.

Historically, the village has several special features, including Het Posthuys (the Post House), Rhodes' Cottage and the site of the Battle of Muizenberg.

Het Posthuys is one of the oldest buildings in South Africa, dating to circa 1742. It was built by the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Ost-Indische Compagne or VOC) as a toll-house to levy a tax on farmers passing by to sell their produce to ships lying in Simon's Bay. One of the early postholders was Sergeant Muys (meaning "mouse"), from whom Muizenberg (formerly Muysenbergh and Muys Zijn Bergh (Muys' mountain) before that) gets its name. After a varied career as a police station, stables, brothel, hotel and private house the building was identified for what it was in the 1980s and restored with funds from Anglo American Corporation. The house is cared for by the Muizenberg Historical Conservation Society and contains a small collection of photos and items of interest relating to early days in Muizenberg. It is open to the public.

Muizenberg has a fine, long beach that in effect stretches all the way round the top of False Bay to the Strand, a distance of over 20 km. False Bay, known for its population of White Sharks, also has a shark watch service that operates from Muizenberg, signalling alerts when sharks come in proximity of bathers and surfers. Above Muizenberg there is a line of steep cliffs that is very popular as a venue for rock climbing. However, certain parts of the cliff are off-limits to climbers when birds nest on the ledges.

The Zandvlei estuary is entering the ocean in Muizenberg. The estuary is one of the most important estuaries for fish spawning on the coastline and is home to the Imperial Yacht Club and Peninsula Canoe Club.

FEATURED NEWLANDS SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Newlands is an upmarket suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is located at the foot of Table Mountain in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, and is the wettest suburb in South Africa due to its high winter rainfall. It is home to a number of schools, notably the South African College Schools (SACS) Junior and High Schools, as well as the Newlands Forest.

It is best known for Newlands Cricket Ground and Newlands Stadium, a famous rugby union and football venue. It is also the original home of Ohlsson's Cape Breweries, which is still located next to the rugby grounds. The original Ohlsson's Anneberg Brewery site now being the location of the SACS schoolgrounds. 

FEATURED NOORDHOEK SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

FEATURED PINELANDS SELF-CATERING / HOLIDAY RENTALS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

The "garden city" suburb of Pinelands is located on the edge of the southern suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa and is known for its large thatched houses. The suburb is primarily residential and is often praised for its peacefulness and abundance of trees. Pinelands is one of the few areas in Cape Town in which sale of alcohol is prohibited and is a popular place for senior citizens to retire to. While there are several retirement homes in the suburb, younger people are increasingly moving in.

The main road is called Forest Drive and the suburb contains two small shopping centres, namely Howard Centre (named after Ebenezer Howard who led the garden city movement) and Central Square. Dutch Reformed, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches are located near to Central Square, while Baptist and Catholic churches are located elsewhere in the suburb.