Hout Bay:
The name "Hout Bay" (Wood Bay) was given by Jan van Riebeeck, who, after his landing in Table Bay in the year 1652, found dense forests providing the timber needed for the construction of ships and of the Castle.  Hout Bay has a long history of farming and fishing and visits to the museums in Hout Bay provide interesting insight to the history of this charming town. 

The Hout Bay Museum in Andrews Road gives visitors an insight into the natural and cultural history of the area from prehistoric times to the growth of the fishing industry.

Hout Bay’s West and East end forts are historic national monuments on Chapman’s Peak and the restored canons are fired on special occasions.

Kronendal was the first farm in Hout Bay and was established in the 1670’s, however the Cape Dutch Homestead of Kronendal, was only built in 1800. Kronendal is the only surviving example of an H-plan house in the Peninsula.

The South African sea fisheries museum at the harbour has model displays and a computerized marine encyclopedia.

Chapman's Peak Drive:
Chapman’s Peak Drive between Noordhoek and Hout Bay was completed in 1922 and is one of the most spectacular marine drives in Cape Town, if not the world.  Sir Frederic de Waal (first administrator of the Cape) conceived the idea and work began on the road in 1915, blasting granite and sandstone to achieve a remarkable feat of road construction. 

“Chappies” was officially opened in 1922, and has had a long history of astounding its visitors with its beauty and technology. Chapman’s Peak Drive was closed from January 2000 until December 2003 for a major reconstruction and the upgrade has been hailed as one of the top engineering projects in South Africa.
Chapman’s Peak Drive forms a part of both the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and the Pick ‘n Pay Cape Argus Cycle tour – 2 major events on the Cape Town sporting calendar.  

Noordhoek:
Noordhoek, meaning the Northern Corner, was first named in 1743, when it described the north corner of the farm Slangkop- which grew vegetables to supply the ships calling at Simon's Town. Today Noordhoek is known as the last remaining rural area of the Cape, famed for its long white beach, Noordhoek farm village and the Kakapo Shipwreck. 
 
The Kakapo shipwreck ran aground in 1900 on Noordhoek Beach.  Captain Nicolaysen saw Chapman's Peak and thought it was Cape Point. He turned sharp east but instead of cruising into False Bay he 'parked' his boat on Noordhoek Beach.

Kommetjie:
Kommetjie was home to the Khoisan people more than 2000 years ago.  Stone implements and shells of middens were found in the town. Prehistoric middens still exist at Soetwater and today you can experience a traditional meal  there.

Kommetjie was established when Baron von Imhoff, Governor-general of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia granted land usage rights for vegetables to be grown in the area to supply the ships in Simon’s Town. The original farm called Slangkop was renamed Imhoff’s gift after the Baron.

This rustic seaside village is famous for having the tallest cast iron lighthouse on the South African coast.  Slangkoppunt Lighthouse was commissioned on 4 March 1919 and derived its name from the Slangkop hill directly behind the lighthouse. Slang Kop means Snake Head in Afrikaans.

This coastline has many reefs and headlands that stretch far out into the ocean resulting in huge waves that have wrecked many a fine vessel. 

Rubbi chapel in Kommetjie was built as a memorial to an early inhabitant of the area.

Cape Point:
It is here at Cape Point, that the historical voyagers Dias and da Gama rounded the Cape opening up the sea trade routes between East and West and revolutionizing global economics. The term “Cape of Storms” was coined in the history books due to the violent storms and dangerous rocks that left the coastline littered with shipwrecks.

The old lighthouse was built in 1860. Visitors to Cape Point can catch a Funicular ride to the original light house and see the treacherous conditions under which it was built. The historic building was often obscured by mist. This resulted in the second lighthouse being built at the tip of Cape Point.

Points of historical interest:
• The navigational Vasco Da Gama beacon is a memorial to the Portuguese seafarer.
• The Dias Cross was erected in 1988 honouring the memory of another Portuguese seafarer Bartholomeuw Dias.
• Antonie’s Gat – holy man Lalu Abdul Dea Koasa lived in a cave here.

Today Cape Point is one of Cape Town’s top three destinations offering visitors the experience of the grandeur of one of the highest sea cliffs and the freshest air in the world!

Simon's Town:
Simon’s Town was named after the Dutch Governor of the Cape, Simon can der Stel (1677 – 1699). He recommended that the Dutch East India Company use the natural protected harbour as a winter anchorage, but it wasn’t until 1741 that the recommendation was adopted!  There was poor overland access to Cape Town, so Simon’s Town only developed after the British occupation when the Royal Navy established their base there in 1814. The Railway line was extended to Simon’s Town in 1890 resulting in greater development and easier access to Cape Town.

Visitors can discover more about South Africa’s third oldest town and its’ history at one of its’ 4 museums.

Simon’s Town Museum:  Built in 1777, archives the town’s history and is housed in the Residency – former home of the Dutch East India Company governors. 
Heritage Museum:  Depicts the local Malay heritage and the influence of their forced removal during the apartheid era.
Warrior Toy Museum: This museum showcases a unique collection of toy cars and trains, dolls and lead soldiers. Great for kids young and old.
The South African Naval Museum: Archives both British and local naval history and houses a submarine diorama. The museum is the custodian of the Martello Tower (one of the worlds oldest Corsican towers).

Other historical points of interest:
Church of St Francis: This is the oldest Anglican church in South Africa
Roman Rock Lighthouse: South Africa’s third oldest lighthouse and the only one built on a rock! A true Simon’s Town landmark.

Simon’s Town boasts gracious architectural buildings; hidden corners, cobbled streets and tiny lanes and it is the major base of the SA Navy and home to the African penguins  that arrived in the town with 2 breeding pairs in 1982. The colony is now Simon’s Town’s major attraction and the colony numbers around 4000 penguins.

Fish Hoek: 
Fish Hoek gained its place in World history with the discovery of a fossilised skeleton in 1926 that had been used as a shelter by prehistoric man. A father and son named Peers were excavating the cave site and discovered many stone tools and the remains of nine people, one of whom became the famous Fish Hoek Man and made scientific history. His skull is estimated to be about 12 000 years old and had the largest brain area of any skull its age found up until that time. Peers cave is a short climb up the dunes and offers a view of stone- age history and scenic views across the valley.

Fish Hoek was granted to Andries Bains in 1818 as a farm by Lord Charles Somerset. Fish Hoek farm changed hands several times until it was eventually sold off as plots in the early 1900’s, which initiated the development of the town known today as Fish Hoek. 

In the early days of European settlement fish were plentiful in False Bay and fishing was one of the major activities along with open boat whaling which took place until 1868! Fortunately today we can watch the whales that narrowly avoided extinction and the historical tradition of trek fishing continues today. Trek is the Dutch word for pull and refers to the pulling in of the fishing nets.

Kalk Bay:
Simon van der Stel (1677 – 1699) stopped in Kalk Bay en route to Simon’s Town and discovered an ideal fishing spot to supply his men at the winter port of Simons Town. Lime (kalk) was found in the area and was used, along with fish, to supply the slaves with food. The fishing flourished, and as an offshoot of this, the families established lime kilns. It was from these lime kilns that Kalk Bay obtained its name.

A whaling boom in the 1820’s brought an economic boost to Kalk Bay as whaling was the third biggest income earner for the Cape Colony after agriculture and wine making, and Kalk Bay housed three of the main whaling stations at the Cape, until the near extinction of the Southern Right whales in the mid 1830’s.

Kalk Bay continued as a fishing community and prospered further when the railway line was extended from Cape Town in 1883. Kalk Bay Harbour was built in 1918 and still operates as a fishing harbour and fish market. The harbour is a constant buzz of activity and one of the attractions of the town.

Buildings of historical interest include the Holy Trinity Church which was founded in 1873 and is recognized by the thatched-roofed lynch gate which is the oldest in South Africa. The mosque is also over 100 years old. 

St James:
St James, which stretches only 1.5 km, is a suburb which is steeped in history. Local historian Michael Walker, has published a pamphlet with the history of the historic homes between Muizenberg in St James, many of which still exist today and have belonged to the same families for generations.

Some of the houses were already in existence in 1883, and most had thatched rooves and were built of stone, plaster and limestone. One of these is St James Cottage, built circa 1853. In the Anglo-Boer war, Abraham Auret, the owner of the cottage, hid prisoners of war in the loft of his barn and later helped them to escape across the bay.

Muizenberg:
Muizenberg was first used by the Dutch East India Company, for the establishment of a cattle farm in 1670.  The area then became a military outpost in 1743 under Sergeant Wynand Muis and was known as Fort Muys and later Muizenberg.  The British defeated the Dutch in 1795 in the Battle of Muizenberg and the Cape became a British Colony. 

The large colonial homes are a reflection of the wealth of the Cape Colony and many have been turned into historical museums.

Het Posthuys: This is the oldest existing building on the False Bay Coastline. It was built possibly in the 1690’s and houses a diorama of the 1795 Battle of Muizenberg. Contains a small cottage museum, and is generally open to visitors.

The Battle of Muizenberg: This was the moment that the British took control of the Cape, a significant historical event, and the reason we today speak English in South Africa and not French. Today a 200 year-old British stone fort occupies the site. Inexpensive guided tours of the Battle of Muizenberg are offered on request, which explain the fascinating story of the event. Contact Chris Taylor on info@desertart.co.za or 082 908 3456".

Rhodes Cottage: Cecil John Rhodes bought the cottage in 1899. He died there on 26 March 1902. After Rhodes's death it was administered by the Rhodes Trustees. In 1932 it was handed over to the Northern Rhodesian government. The Cape Town City Council took it over in 1937. The museum is run by the Muizenberg Historical Conservation Society.  Here you will find memorabilia of the diamond and gold industry of South African.  The museum also boasts a art and craft gallery where you can enjoy tea and coffee in the beautiful ambience of the seaside garden.  Open Tues to Sat 10h00 - 14h00. 

Natale Labia Building: The Labia Building in Main Road Muizenberg has recently been refurbished and now houses a small art gallery and a fine dining restaurant. Very popular. Booking essential.

Imizama Yethu Township:
Imizama Yethu is Xhosa for “through our own struggle”, but many of the locals affectionately call the settlement Mandela Park after Nelson Mandela visited the informal settlement during his presidency. Imizama Yethu developed in 1991 after a fire displaced another informal settlement and formal residents motivated for all informal settlements to be placed in one area of Hout Bay.

Imizama Yethu is situated on Hout Bay Main Road and has become one of Cape Town’s successful township stories.  For many it represents a place of unity and reconciliation and hope of a new life and a new South Africa. You will see the shacks that teem with living and fires glowing at night, you will hear the sing song click of the Xhosa language and smell of food cooking over open fires as you experience Africa by visiting shebeens, spazas, arts and crafts or sample the food and the music that give vitality to Walking Township Tours.

Masiphumelele:
Situated on Old Kommetjie Road, Masiphumelele township was initially established in the early 1980’s by migrant workers from the Eastern Cape, most of whom had found work in the Fish Hoek Valley. Masiphumelele boomed with development in the early 1990’s and now is home to over 20 000 residents.

Masiphumelele means “we will succeed” in Xhosa and visitors can experience many of the success stories and development programmes that have been established in the informal settlement by taking a township tour, with local registered tour guide, Charlotte Swartbooi. 

The vibrancy of township life is reflected in the spaza shops, shebeens, barber shops, schools, music, cultural centre and by supporting the local artists. Stay overnight  to get a deeper sense of daily life in this peaceful settlement.

Ocean View:
The community of Ocean View, between Fish Hoek and Kommetjie was largely a creation of apartheid policy in the 1960-70's. It was created from farmland and fynbos terrain as a community where people designated as "coloured" could be rehoused after many were forcibly removed from the prescribed "white" communities of Fish Hoek, Simon's Town and Noordhoek. 

Almost a decade after liberation Ocean View remains a largely mixed-race community of some 25 000 people, heavily dependant on local industry, seasonal fishing and labour. There is much unemployment and poverty in the area and social problems inherited from the recent history predominate. Nevertheless Ocean View can be a pleasant place to live with outstanding scenery and open space free from the urban decay and pollution that characterise similar communities on the Cape Flats. The people have retained their culture that reverberates with echoes of the Koi San and early European settler forefathers. The inhabitants are both Christian and Muslim, many having originated in the East Indian islands. This pot pourri of cultural influences has created a vibrant and positive people where humour and resilience predominate.

Join local fisherman, Melshaw Wyngaard, on an insightful walking tour of Ocean View.