Berg en Dal Estate is Hout Bay’s premier residential community.
It’s close to the town centre and beach, it’s on the right side of the valley for the late sun and its owners and residents enjoy a laid-back and unintrusive lifestyle. The estate was first laid out in the early 1990’s and was in fact two separate communities with a common entrance and guard house. Berg en Dal was the lower part of the site and Mountaindale was the upper portion. In 2003 the two estates amalgamated and there is now one Home Owners Association.
Berg en Dal Estate is a Secure Estate that provides various physical, technological, and human barriers as a first-line protection system for the residents of the Estate. The Estate also restricts access to the estate by Visitors, Contractors, and Domestic workers. However, no systems are foolproof and must be continually maintained and upgraded as technology advances to counter the increased sophistication of perpetrators attempting to enter the Estate.
The Board of the Homeowners Association, while using its best endeavors to ensure that the estate defenses are as good as possible, recommends that all residents also have their own alarm system installed, properly maintained, and switched on at the appropriate times.
Today Hout Bay is a popular tourist destination with safe, soft sandy beaches, walking/climbing trails, horse-riding, cycling, arts and crafts, excellent restaurants, coffee shops, as well as wonderful heritage sites. The working harbour was built in 1930 and boats land their seasonal catches of fish and lobster on the quayside where dealers and bystanders can make their choice at bargain prices.
Hout Bay lies in a verdant valley surrounded by dunes and mountains at the edge of the shore. Enjoy the many walking trails – as a casual stroller or as an adventurous hiker along the strenuous routes of the Table Mountain National Park – because there’s something for everyone. Books and maps are available for free at the local Tourism Office
The climate in winter is mild (8 – 20 degrees Celcius) with rain at times and warm dry summers (15 – 30 degrees Celcius) offer an ideal seasonal mix. The predominant south-easterly wind also known as the Cape Doctor cools in summer and clears the air of pollution and is supposed to blow-away all ills.
On the way South, from Hout Bay you drive through Chapman’s Peak, one of the most spectacular scenic roads in the world as it winds on its way to Noordhoek and Cape Point, the tip of the peninsula. This drive was opened in 1922 after taking seven years to complete using convict labour, and still today continues to be repaired and reinforced on a permanent basis.
In recent years the Southern Right whales have been seen in increasing numbers in the bay between July and December. Make use of the numerous lookout points along Chapmans’s Peak Drive. Hout Bay falls into the area known as The Cape Floral Kingdom which boasts over 1100 indigenous plant species, making it one of the richest botanical wonderlands. Proteas are among the many fynbos species and varieties of trees including the protected Milkwoods which are abundant in this region. Bird life is varied, and although no longer seen in great numbers due to urbanisation, small animals and reptiles add to the diversity the fauna.
When you have seen all that Hout Bay has to offer, why not explore the surrounding beauty spots and tourist attractions such as:
Ten minutes drive to visit the splendour of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or open air concerts in summer; Camps Bay with its many sidewalk cafes, cocktail lounges, restaurants just across the street from the beach; and the Constantia wine route.
Twenty minutes drive to Cape Town City centre; Convention Centre; Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with multiple 5-star hotels, shopping mall, music, entertainment, seafood restaurants, a viewing wheel, aquarium, harbour, quays, cinemas and african curio shops; and the breathtaking Table Mountain Cableway.
Forty five minutes drive to Cape Point; and diverse coastal and inland wine routes; and the International Airport.
