Mediterranean Fishing Village
Much more village than dorp, that is Kalk Bay for you.
This scenic seaside destination, with its eclectic blend of island-style restaurants, gypsy bazaar-like shops and colonial era architecture, could just as easily have been a Mediterranean fishing village.
To get to Kalk Bay can be a bit of a traffic dodge, so best you avoid the later part of the day on weekends.
Boyes Drive is generally a quicker option than the Muizenberg coastal road, with fantastic views to boot of False Bay glistening at the foot of the rugged Table Mountain ranges.
Taking it easy is the only way … stroll along the Main Road in search of quirky antiques and retro fashion, grab an Italian ice cream, wander over to the harbour to check the catch of the day or wait for the vibrant nightlife to kick in once the sun sets.
The climate is mild Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Fishing Harbour
Kalk Bay owes its name to the 17th-century lime kilns in which crushed sea shells were burned to make lime.
The picturesque fishing harbour was built in 1913 to protect boats against the gales that often lash False Bay.
The natural working harbour is abuzz with colourful fishing boats, and with fresh catches of glistening snoek, kob and yellow-tail delivered daily by the equally colourful fishing folk.
At first glance, Kalk Bay in Cape Town would appear to have very little in its flavour. There's no long white beach to attract the sunbathers, no smart shopping mall where buyers can stroll among glittering wares.
The view of the sea is mostly blocked by old railway houses, and where you can actually see the sea, the view is sullied by a tangle of overhead electric cables. There's no cinema, no hotel, no casino.
Kalk Bay should, by all expected standards, have become a drab slum. Instead, it is alive and vibrant.
Tourists flock in their thousands every weekend to stare at the quaint little antique and junk shops, enjoy lunch in an unusual restaurant or stroll among the fisher folk on the harbour wall.
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Kalk Bay is one of Cape Town’s most popular villages. Its name indicated that this was originally the location of a lime kiln, which produ...