.JPG "Exquisite Properties")
Hout Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Agent: Cliff Jacobs - Managing Principal Estate Agent & CEO (Nat.Dpl.Hotel Man (UJ). M.P.R.E.)
Agent Cellphone: +27 (0) 84 413 1071 / +27 (0) 61 716 6951
Agent Office Number: +27 (0) 21 554 0283
Agent Email Address: cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.com
Type: Heritage Boutique Hotel
Bedrooms: 17
Bathrooms: 17
Showers: 17
Parking: 30
Yield: Not Disclosed
TGCSA Rating:
Hout Bay
(Afrikaans: Houtbaai, meaning "Wood Bay") is a seaside suburb of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is situated in a valley on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, twenty kilometres south of the Central business district of Cape Town. The name "Hout Bay" can refer to the town, the bay on which it is situated, or the entire valley.
The area was originally made up of two farms, which were slowly subdivided to make way for urban expansion. While still maintaining its rural atmosphere, the area of Hout Bay has more than 5,960 residences inhabited by a population of at least 17,900 people (as of 2011).
History
The Khoi-Khoi and Bushmen were descendants of the late Stone Age people. They were called Khoi-Khoi because of the clicking sounds contained within their language. The Khoi-Khoi were also called Strandlopers because they gathered food from the beaches. Some people also referred to them as Kaapmans, Men from the Cape. The Khoikhoi were gatherers, hunters and herders, which meant that apart from gathering and hunting for food, they also possessed large herds of cattle and sheep. They lived in huts made of restio mats tied to a Beehive shape frame made of pliable poles. The Khoi often set up camp in Hout Bay. The names Hotnotshuisie and Oudekraal originated from the days when the Khoi camped in these places. The Khoi traded with the early voyagers from Europe who were on their way to the East and had stopped at the Cape in order to get fresh food and water. The Khoi bartered with these early sailors exchanging cattle and sheep for small pieces of copper, brass and tin.
The first written account of Hout Bay dates to 1607 when John Chapman, masters mate on the English boat, the "Consent" which was becalmed at the entrance to the Bay, was sent in the ship's pinnace at dusk on a chancy venture because Hout Bay was unknown wild country and the time was late afternoon which would make it difficult for him to find the Consent in the darkness.
Recorded in the Rutter (Logbook) by the pilot, John Davis: "Chapman’s Chaunce hath in latitude 34-10 and is a harbour which Leith within the south-west point under a little hill like charring cross (a sculptured memorial of a cross on an ornamental mounting in London) close hanging by the seaside of the S.S.W side of the land " Chapmans Chaunce was the first name given to Hout Bay and it was also the first English name to appear on the maps of Southern Africa.
In 1614 an English sailor records having taken wood from the forest of Hout Bay in order to mend his ship.
Dutch colony
When the Dutch established a colony in Table Bay in 1652, a great quantity of good timber was required for construction, shipbuilding and other purposes. There was no large forest in the immediate vicinity of the settlement, mainly because the rainfall was not high enough. It was soon apparent that the colonists would be able to fell wood they needed in the wetter valley that lay on the other side of a low pass (now called Constantia Nek) between the southern end of Table Mountain and Constantiaberg. Van Riebeeck described the forest of Hout Bay as being the finest in the world. It was Van Riebeeck who gave Hout Bay its present name. In 1652 on 22 November Van Riebeeck wrote in his journal about T’ Houtbaaitjen. Since then it has been known as Hout Bay.
In 1662, the year when Jan Van Riebeeck left the Cape, the Boscheuwel 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. In 1681 two farms were established Ruyteplatts and Kronendal.
Forts
In 1781 the French built three forts at Hout Bay. These were part of a line of forts known as the French lines that were built in order to protect the Cape from falling into the hands of the English. The west fort at the harbour dates from this time. In the latter half of the 19th century, the farms Moddergat, Nooitgedacht, Oakhurst and Uitkyk were established.
Manganese mine
In 1873, manganese was discovered in the Constantiaberg. In 1909 to 1911 manganese was mined in Hout Bay. Reminders of these activities are the ruins of the manganese ore jetty and the old mine workings up the mountain. In 1880, Crisp Arnold set up fishing sheds and started curing snoek for export to Mauritius.
St. Peter's the Fisherman church
In 1895 Walter Gurney built the first church in Hout Bay. It still stands today and is known as St Peter's the Fisherman. The first school in Hout Bay was started in this church.
Morrow - Factory Boat
Today Chapman's Peak fisheries have expanded to incorporate a fish importing business as well as retailing local catches. Mariners Wharf, South Africa's fish emporium, was opened 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 factories spread everywhere and at Hout Bay, the South African Sea Products Company was established.
Hotels
Holiday accommodation in the form of 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 end of the 19th century.
Chapman's Peak Hotel was originally called the Beach Hotel and was built in 1903 after the original hotel was gutted by fire. It was a noted example of an Edwardian seaside hotel until 1981 when extensive alterations were embarked upon.
Flora Bay
The Hangberg settlement is situated on the mountain slopes between Hout Bay Harbour and The Sentinel peak, and many of the residents are employed in fishing and other industries related to the harbour. Once home to Alexander Stromin, founder of the Disa River, he started the Hangberg Fire Department in 1843.
Imizamo Yethu
The main informal settlement in the Hout Bay area, Imizamo Yethu, is situated within a community consisting of both affluent and middle-income citizens. Relations between the residents of Hout Bay and those of Imizamo Yethu have been strained for several years following the national elections in 1994 and 1999. The initial response to Imizamo Yethu was not favourable, and residents of Hout Bay, represented by the Hout Bay Ratepayers' Association and the Hout Bay Residents' Association, strongly objected to the location and management of the informal settlement and also the suggestion of an increase in the land used for the settlement in 2001.
Both associations feared that the land invasions at the time were racially motivated, whereas the African National Congress feared that the Residents Association of Hout Bay was creating a racially charged environment and refusing to develop land for housing. Current issues between residents of Hout Bay and Imizamo Yethu are focused on service delivery for the informal settlement. The 18 hectares (44 acres) area supports 20,000 people, with many of these living in cramped and squalid conditions with no plumbing, roads or any discernible infrastructure for sustainable living. This is in sharp contrast to the affluence of residences in much of Hout Bay. In addition to much middle-income housing for local South Africans, there are also a number of multi-million rand mansions, luxurious holiday homes and some small wine estates. As of 2007, political differences between the Democratic Alliance and African National Congress have hampered the building of houses for the residents of Imizamo Yethu.
Because of its location and the overcrowding, Imizamo Yethu is vulnerable to hazards like floods and fires. A particularly devastating fire broke out on March 11, 2017, fanned by dry weather and high winds. Hundreds of families were left homeless and there was an outpouring of support from across Greater Cape Town to help the victims.
Geography
Hout Bay is surrounded by mountains to the north, east and west and the southern Atlantic Ocean to the south. In the north, it is bordered by Table Mountain National Park comprising the Orangekloof Nature reserve and the bottom slopes of Table Mountain beyond that. To the north-west, it is bordered by the backside of the Twelve Apostles, known as the Oranjekloof. To the west, it is bordered by Little Lion's Head, Karbonkelberg, Kaptein's Peak and The Sentinel. To the east it is bordered by the Vlakkenberg, Skoorsteenskopberg and Constantiaberg. Chapman's Peak Drive is carved out of the mountainside and leads towards Noordhoek and onwards to Cape Point.
The sheltered bay of Hout Bay has a white sand beach, an attraction for tourists and locals alike. Hout Bay has one of the busiest fishing harbours in the Western Cape with an established tuna, snoek and crayfish industry. The harbour is home to the Hout Bay Yacht Club and several restaurants.
There are three roads leading to and from Hout Bay, all over mountain passes. One goes to Llandudno and Camps Bay through the pass between Judas Peak (part of the Twelve Apostles) and Little Lion's Head. This pass is known as "Suikerbossie" (known as the toughest hill on the Cape Argus Cycle Race). Between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, there is Chapman's Peak Drive, which was closed for many years and finally reopened in early 2004 with a controversial toll booth. Lastly, a road leads to Constantia over the Constantia Nek pass between Vlakkenberg and the back slopes of Table Mountain.
As a historic and still-working fishing village, Hout Bay's local colour and scenery make it a 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), a number of bed and breakfasts and self-catering accommodation options. The harbour has restaurants, fresh fish outlets and craft stores, with views of the bay and boat rides to Duiker Island and around The Sentinel. Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic mountain drive and underwent 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 have hiking trails. In the same area is a bronze statue of a leopard on a rock at the water's edge, looking out over the ocean.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Hout Bay promoted itself as The Republic of Hout Bay, as a tourism gimmick, which included printing fake "passports".
The Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing contest was held at the infamous surf spot known locally as Dungeons, about 1 kilometre offshore off Duiker Island. This contest no longer takes place.Some of the biggest waves in the world are found here and these attract surfers from all over the world during the winter months (June - August). Local boat operators provide the opportunity to watch and take photographs of the surfers.
The Hout Bay Yacht Club is situated in the working harbour and provides moorings for both recreational, fishing and sailing boats.
Tourist sites
Hout Bay has several attractions, and receives a high number of visitors, especially on weekends and during peak season in the Christmas school holidays. Traffic builds up quickly and the small village can be congested by midday. Apart from the many view points and geographical sites, Hout Bay also has many restaurants like Mariner's Wharf and Fish on the Rocks near the harbour as well as the fine dining restaurant La Colombe. The World of Birds is a bird sanctuary and zoo found along Valley road which is commonly visited by families with young children. Hout Bay Museum has a small information centre located on its premises. The Hout Bay Harbour market and the Lions Club Sunday market are two of the places which are frequently visited during this busy time. Lichtenstein Castle is a castle in Harbour Road that was modelled after the Schloss Lichtenstein in Germany. The markets are used by both tourists and locals alike and offers handmade arts and crafts as well as a variety of foods.
Surfing
Hout Bay is the base port to several sports fishing charter boats and offers yellowfin tuna (Thunnus Albacares), longfin tuna (Thunnus Alalunga), and yellowtail (Seriola Lalandi) fishing. A variety of pelagic sea bird species may be sighted at different times of the year.
Recreational diving
The harbour slipway is used for boat access to the recreational dive sites of much of the west coast of the Cape Peninsula. These include a number of reef and wreck scuba diving sites, and the snorkeling site at Duiker Island for watching Cape fur seals. Wreck sites include the SS Maori, the Bos400, MFV Aster, and MFV Katsu Maru. Reef dives include Tafelberg Reef, Vulcan Rock and Star Wall.
About us
With its Colonial architecture, the exterior facade and courtyard gives you the feeling of stepping into a romantic bygone era– and then as you walk through the front door you are transported into a delightful fusion of African, European and Asian cultures. The beautifully put together, and sometimes quirky, Afro-European interior decor makes you feel like you are in a contemporary art gallery, and features lots of extra-personal treats like help-yourself liquorice allsorts and marshmallows found in big glass jars in all the hallways.
The hotel offers seventeen en-suite rooms – either mountain or courtyard facing – all of which exude luxurious comfort and calm. Every room is beautifully decorated in a style that can be described as African-chic, featuring quality fabrics and furnishings, with many thoughtful touches included. Even pool accessories are provided.
Our guests have the option of dining indoors or in the relaxed outdoors, under shady trees or beside the pool when the weather is good. Beyond providing a breakfast array that gets high praise from our patrons, EAT – the hotel's restaurant – offers a wide-ranging, beautifully prepared à la carte menu that includes tapas, light lunches, dinners and an Asian menu – all expertly overseen by our Executive Chef.
Our Rooms and Suites
Our Xhosa rooms feature spacious en-suite bathrooms
In contrast to the standardised rooms found in many generic Hotels in Cape Town, each of Hout Bay Manor hotel’s seventeen bespoke rooms is distinct, featuring wooden floors scattered with beautiful Nguni hide rugs in rich earthy colours, where no two patterns will ever be the same. Each room has been individually laid out and decorated with original works of art.
Each luxurious king or queen 4-poster bed is made up with the finest linen – twin beds are available on request.
All rooms feature spacious en-suite bathrooms stocked with the softest towels and an extensive range of local designer bathroom products. Everything you will need to indulge yourself has been provided - and what fun would bath time be without our classic yellow rubber duck – resplendent in its own beaded necklace?
Guests have the use of our colourful kikoi, perfect for slinging around their waists as they head down to the pool or to the beach, and each room is equipped with a colourful cooler bag, made from recycled material, so guests can stock up with provisions and head out for the day.
In keeping with being one of the leading boutique Hotels in Cape Town, and for the sake of our guests’ comfort, we’ve added modern conveniences to our rooms, which include a plasma screen television, selected Dstv channels and a free wireless internet connection.
We invite guests to sleep in and head down to EAT for breakfast right up until 16h00 – or to feel free to order room service between 07h00 and 21h00.
Our Zulu rooms are courtyard and garden facing
In contrast to the uniform rooms found in many large-scale corporate hotels – and as a leading Boutique hotel in Cape Town – each one of Hout Bay Manor hotel’s seventeen bespoke rooms is distinct, featuring an eclectic mix of African-inspired modern and colonial-style furniture brought together with unerring style and good taste. Each room has been individually laid out and decorated with original works of art.
Each luxurious king or queen-sized 4-poster bed is made up with the finest linen – twin beds are available on request.
All rooms feature spacious en-suite bathrooms stocked with the softest towels and an extensive range of local designer bathroom products. Everything you will need to indulge yourself has been provided, and no revitalising bath time would be complete without having a fluffy bathrobe to wrap yourself in afterwards.
Guests have the use of our colourful kikoi, perfect for slinging around their waists as they head down to the pool or to the beach, and each room is equipped with a colourful cooler bag, made from recycled material, so guests can stock up with provisions and head out for the day.
In keeping with being one of the leading Boutique hotels in Cape Town, and for the sake of our guests’ comfort, we’ve added modern conveniences to our rooms, which include a plasma screen television, selected Dstv channels and a free wireless internet connection.
We invite guests to sleep in and head down to EAT for breakfast right up until 16h00 – or to feel free to order room service between 07h00 and 21h00.
Our Sangoma rooms are courtyard and garden-facing with their own balconies, and can be booked as separately or as the two-room Sangoma Suite
As one of the leading hotels in Hout Bay, each one of the hotel’s seventeen bespoke rooms is distinct. The Sangoma Rooms are unique in the hotel and have been artfully laid out to incorporate an elegant slipper bath into the room with romantic evenings in mind. The room opens onto a balcony, which while facing onto the garden still affords guests privacy. The Sangoma Room is beautifully decorated with original works of art.
The room’s luxurious king-sized 4-poster bed is made up with the finest linen – twin beds are available on request.
The Sangoma Room is offered - on a complementary basis, on their wedding night - to couples who hold their wedding at The Hout Bay Manor hotel
The Sangoma Room features a free-standing slipper bath, big enough for two and perfect for a long reviving soak – especially when supplemented with an extensive range of local designer bathroom products and a fluffy bathrobe to wrap up in afterwards. There is everything a couple will need to indulge themselves on hand. We recommend guests ring room service for a bottle of bubbly and all will be complete.
Guests have the use of our colourful kikoi, perfect for slinging around their waists as they head down to the pool or to the beach, and each room is equipped with a colourful cooler bag, made from recycled material, so guests can stock up with provisions and head out for the day.
In keeping with being one of the leading Hotels in Hout Bay, and for the sake of our guests’ comfort, we’ve added modern conveniences to our rooms, which include a plasma screen television, selected Dstv channels and a free wireless internet connection.
We invite guests, especially our wedding couples, to sleep in and head down to EAT for breakfast right up until 16h00 – or to feel free to order room service between 07h00 and 21h00.
Our Sangoma Suite features two bedrooms with their own private entrance both which are courtyard and garden-facing. Each bedroom has its own private balcony
No Luxury Hotel in Cape Town would be complete without a family-sized suite. The Sangoma Suite is ideal for families of four – and an extra single bed can be brought into one of the rooms on request. Each room has been artfully laid out to incorporate a large slipper bath into the room, which on one hand we think your children will love and will turn bath time into fun, and on the other hand is perfect for romantic date nights for mums and dads. In our hotel-style, the rooms are charmingly decorated incorporating original works of art. Each of the rooms opens onto its own balcony, which while facing onto the garden affords our guests privacy.
The rooms’ two luxurious king-sized 4-poster beds are made up with the finest linen – single beds are available on request.
Both rooms in the Sangoma Suite feature a free-standing slipper bath, perfect for a long reviving soak – especially when supplemented with an extensive range of local designer bathroom products and a fluffy bathrobe to wrap oneself in afterwards. There is everything on hand your family will need to indulge themselves - and what fun would bath time be without our classic yellow rubber ducks each in their own beaded necklace?
Guests have the use of our colourful kikoi, perfect for slinging around their waists as they head down to the pool or to the beach, and each room is equipped with a colourful cooler bag, made from recycled material, so families can stock up with provisions and head out for the day.
In keeping with being a Luxury Hotel in Cape Town, and for the sake of our guests’ comfort, we’ve added modern conveniences to our rooms, which include a plasma screen television, selected Dstv channels and a free wireless internet connection.
We invite guests and their families to sleep in – if the kids will let you - and head down to EAT for breakfast right up until 16h00 – or to feel free to order room service between 07h00 and 21h00.
Amenities
Services
Weddings
When it comes to choosing a romantic Cape Town wedding venue: whether you are planning an intimate wedding reception with family and close friends or a larger wedding celebration – or even a destination wedding in Cape Town’s beautiful surrounds, EAT at Hout Bay Manor is one of the most stylish and versatile venues, by far.
Our Head Chef at EAT will assist you to design a wedding menu to suit your budget and your culinary requirements, in keeping with EAT’s fresh and wholesome food – always lovingly prepared. Our experienced team will assist you in ensuring you have the wedding reception of your dreams – working behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs smoothly on the day.
Your guests can relax and enjoy your special day, al fresco, under magnificent old plane trees in the tranquil setting of Hout Bay Manor’s private garden. Or you can choose our glamorous and more formal indoor setting. EAT offers seating for 40 – 100 guests, or can cater for up to 150 guests at a cocktail-styled celebration.
More than just an ordinary Cape Town wedding venue, Hout Bay Manor offers seventeen en-suite rooms each beautifully furnished and decorated, with many thoughtful added touches – ideal to accommodate your out of town wedding guests or even an entire wedding party from abroad.
Conference Facilities
Possibly one of the most intimate Cape Town conference venues, this intimate function room holds up to just 8 delegates and is perfect for board meetings, presentations or even a cosy candlelit celebration.
Its own private garden with fountain is the perfect backdrop to any meeting, while computer and internet connections are also on hand as well as a screen, projector and conference call phone facilities.
Events
The Hout Bay valley is one of the most picturesque regions in Cape Town and offers a great many pastimes for visitors and local Capetonians to enjoy. Locals from the ‘Republic of Hout Bay’, as it is fondly called, also love to get out and about in their own neck of the woods, and there are a wide range of Events in Hout Bay offering something for everyone to enjoy.
Whether you are a local or from abroad, the team at Hout Bay Manor invites you and your family to join us in the peaceful environment of Hout Bay Manor to relax and enjoy the variety of events we have on offer throughout the week.
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is a beautiful place to take a relaxing holiday – from which you can easily venture forth to experience everything Cape Town has to offer.
Surrounded by mountains and located over Constantia Nek, the perception about Hout Bay may be that it is quite isolated and out of the way. In fact, Hout Bay is only 25 minutes from the centre of Cape Town and 40 minutes from Cape Town International Airport. Hout Bay itself it located in an incredibly beautiful part of Cape Town – sandwiched between mountains and the sea – and is a must see destination for many tourists. There is much to do in and around Hout Bay and it is also in striking distance from most of greater Cape Town’s iconic tourist attractions.
Beach
Situated between the start of Chapman’s Peak and Hout Bay harbour, Hout Bay beach is almost a kilometre in length making it a great beach for walking. With its magnificent mountain backdrop and long stretch of soft, white sand, the beach is a family favourite, popular with sun bathers, dog walkers and sea kayakers. Dolphins and seals are regularly spotted in the bay – and at the right time of year visiting Southern Right Whales can be seen off the coast. Hout Bay beach is a spot from which the most spectacular sunsets can be witnessed.
Harbour
Presided over by The Sentinel mountain peak and offering wonderful photo opportunities, Hout Bay harbour is a picturesque working harbour, home to the local tuna and crayfishing industries – and a good number of seals and seagulls. It also hosts many fun activities including boat trips, diving and fishing excursions and features the Bay Harbour Market.
Outdoor Markets
The Bay Harbour Market provides a distinctly South Africa outdoor shopping and eating experience at Hout Bay harbour. Vibrant and colourful, The Bay Harbour Market is open every Friday from 17h00 to 21h00, opening on Saturday and Sunday at 09h00/09h30 – closing at 16h00 on a Sunday.
World of Birds
World of Birds is the largest bird park in Africa and one of the few large bird parks in the world, being home to over 3 000 birds from 400 different species. Unique walk-through aviaries are spaced over 4ha of land, in a tropical garden setting, and allow visitors to get up close to the birds along with a range of small animals.
Wineries
An area rich in heritage and beauty, there are more than ten superb wine farms, all within a seven kilometre range from our hotel making this, the oldest Cape wine region, a wine lover’s delight. Some of these wine farms are of great historical significance in the Cape, with the oldest dating back to 1685, while others are more are modern additions to the region.
Gateway to Chapman's Peak Drive
Dating back to the Second World War, Chapman’s Peak Drive, situated on the Atlantic Coast between Hout Bay and Noordhoek in the Cape Peninsula, is one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world. This nine-kilometre drive, hugging the mountain side, is a must for anyone who is keen to experience the majestic scenery of Cape Town.
Cliff Jacobs (Nat Dpl Hotel Man (UJ). MPRE. GA Level 5 TEFL) Managing Principal / CEO Exquisite Hotel Consultants (Pty) Ltd Mobile: +27 (0) 84 413 1071 / +27 (0) 61 716 6951 Email: cliff@exquisitehotelconsultants.com Skype: cliff.jacobs Web: https://www.exquisitehotelconsultants.com © All rights reserved Terms and Conditions apply Scroll down to view our Hospitality Properties and Businesses for sale or lease or lease-to-buy or partnership arrangement or management agreement arrangement
