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Lead image: Sea Snorkeling Cape Town
Whether you love curling along Chapman’s Peak Drive, dining on fresh fish and chips near the sea or simply exploring Cape Town’s coastline with your friends and family, Hout Bay is one of the Mother City’s most vibrant, activity-centric suburbs.
Blessed with a tight-knit community, stunning ocean- and mountain-scenery and a host of local attractions found in and around Hout Bay, there is no shortage of travel excitement and beauty to be savoured in this scenic seaside suburb.
In this post, we share some fun, water-based activities to enjoy at the tranquil Hout Bay Harbour:
Snorkel with the Seals
While Hout Bay is well-known for its boat trips from the harbour out to Duiker Island (more fondly known as Seal Island), where you can watch the seals playfully swim around their very own island in the Atlantic Ocean or even just cuddle onshore together — did you know that, in Hout Bay, you can also hit the water and snorkel with the seals?
There are a number of different tour providers and operators who take clients out on this thrilling sea excursion but a great one to use is Sea Snorkeling Cape Town.
Generally, how it works is as follows: you book your snorkeling experience and, on the day, you are furnished with all necessary snorkeling gear and equipment. You are also given some basic training to ensure optimal safety and comfort in the water.
You then have the incredible opportunity to dive into the clear blue waters and snorkel with these cute, inquisitive seals before enjoying some snacks and a hot drink back on the boat.
And, if your friends and family prefer to stay on the boat but still want to tag along on the day, you can book a spot for them to watch your sea adventure with the seals.
Keep in mind that trips are weather-dependent and booking is advised.
Before booking this experience, please also review the necessary terms and conditions.
Embark on an Exciting Sea Kayak Adventure
Another exciting, water-based activity to enjoy in Hout Bay is sea kayaking. Once again, several local tour operators offer this experience, including the likes of well-known Cape Town Kayak Adventures.
Join them for a unique experience, as you get to explore the beautiful coastline. During your sea kayak outing, expect to see a diverse range of marine life. You may also get to say hi to the seals at the seal sanctuary and of course, as an added bonus, you have the chance to admire charming Chappies from the water.
Some of the marine life you may encounter includes: seals, dolphins, whales, sunfish and even penguins.
This experience runs daily (Monday to Sunday) - but it is weather-dependent and booking is advised.
Before booking and embarking on this sea kayak adventure, please remember to review all the terms and conditions.
Fly Above the Water with Foil Surfing
If you want to try something a bit more daring, then foil surfing is perfect for you.
With local tour operator, Efoil Cape Town, you can enjoy some fun around Hout Bay. Efoil’s foil surfing is like a cross between surfing and kiteboarding. Yet, better still, it is secure, fun and less taxing on your body.
Explore the coastline and fly above the water with this exciting experience.
Tours are weather dependent and booking is advised. Before booking, please review all the terms and conditions.
Book a Scenic Hout Bay Stay
DK Villas’ own beautiful, three-bedroom apartment offers stunning Hout Bay views. This newly renovated, spacious apartment, which lies situated in a safe security complex, is fully furnished and serviced once weekly.
It offers glorious ocean views, while also allowing its guests to absorb the true essence of this charming seaside suburb. It enjoys relatively close proximity to the host of shops, restaurants and coffee bars that Hout Bay offers. So when you’re done exploring the harbour, you can grab something tasty to eat or drink.
Our apartment comes with a modern, fully equipped kitchen (complete with SMEG appliances, including a tumble dryer, dishwasher and washing machine); a gorgeous, open-plan lounge and dining room (which ensure you have the finest mountain- and ocean-views), as well as three lovely bedrooms.
The main bedroom has a queen-sized bed, while the other two bedrooms each offer a spacious double bed for your sleep and relaxation.
The main bedroom also has an en-suite bathroom (with a toilet, bath and basin), while the rest of the apartment is serviced by a full bathroom (with a toilet, basin and shower).
Additionally, our apartment unit also has two dedicated, undercover parkings, a DStv and WiFi package and 24-hour security, with electric fencing.
Best of all, when you are home in our tastefully decked out apartment, you get to enjoy some of the finest views of Sentinel and Karbonkelberg (two famous local mountain peaks), as well as idyllic views across the harbour and the entirety of Hout Bay itself.
For more information or to book our Hout Bay apartment, please see here on our website.
These are just some fun, water-based activities to enjoy near Hout Bay’s beautiful harbour. Which are you keen to try first?
