Shades of blue at Struisbaai

A picture perfect day at Struisbaai fishing harbour in the Overberg

Fish and chips at Struibaai Harbour

I always think that the guys along the coast in the Western Cape are very fortunate because of the amount of fresh fish available to them from all the fishing harbours.  Whenever we get to travel in the province we like to go and have fish and chips from a local takeaway, usually overlooking the harbour and surrounds.  During December we were camping in the Overberg and did a daytrip from Gansbaai to Agulhas.  Somewhere in between the Damselfly mentioned that she hoped we would be able to have fish and chips along the way and by the time we entered Struisbaai it was past lunch time already and the stomachs were grumbling louder than the KidZ on the back seat.  We went straight to the scenic Struisbaai Harbour which, along with the adjacent beach, was packs with holiday makers.

We headed towards the biggest gathering of people around what looked like the restaurant area on the harbour but disappointingly turned around at the door when we noticed a regular restaurant menu and prices.  We wanted proper takeaways.  As we strolled around the corner we saw what we were looking for.  A caravan doing takeaways plus a sign saying everything is done fresh and from scratch so the food may take a little time.  Now that is a language we understand. Snoek, hake and calamari enjoyed with proper slap chips from takeaway containers.  All that was missing was the food being wrapped in newspaper, but what the heck, we found what we were looking for.

Port Elizabeth Harbour sunset

Since the Jester started with cruises of Algoa Bay in 2012 it has become one of the most popular attractions (or should I say activities?) in Port Elizabeth.  Locals, visitors and corporates alike all love cruising along the beachfront doesn't matter if its a short leisure cruise, their popular braai cruise or a charter for a party or function.  I've had the pleasure to do an late afternoon cruise and the sun started to disappear over the city as we were cruising into the Port Elizabeth harbour.  The end of another awesome day in the Bay.

Kalk Bay Harbour

Compared to big city harbours the fishing harbour at Kalk Bay really has something special to it and when visiting you won't get stopped by security at the gate, except if the parking lot is full.  Kalk Bay Harbour is primarily a fishing harbour so that is what you will see.  Fishing boats leaving pre-dawn and returning in the afternoons with their catch, fishing boats off loading and fishing boats moored at quayside.  The majority of the boats in the harbour are painted in bright colours which means that they are very popular with anybody wearing a camera over the shoulder. 
.

But the harbour isn't just about the fishing boats.  Its also about people.  The locals gather on the breakwater to wet their lines or just sit and discuss things while visitors look on hoping to see somebody catch something.  Its amazing how easy strangers can start a conversation and it is no different here with most of the visitors ending up chatting to the locals asking about the (potential) catch.
.

The harbour also has a vibrant fish market where you can by your fish fresh off the boats with snoek being a favorite.  The local "tannies" will also clean your fish for a fee and I stood there in amazement watching them scrape and cut away.
.

We ended our visit to the harbour with fish and chips at Kalkies.  Who wants to sit in a fancy seafood place if there is a traditional fish and chips shop right there on the harbour with great views over the surrounding area?  Plus four of us ate for the price one would pay in the fancy restaurant.  Suddenly I feel like fish and chips tonight.

Harbour beacon

The harbour beacon light at the end of the Kalk Bay Harbour's breakwater

The blue fishing boat

Fishing boats in Kalk Bay Harbour

Harbour chains

Chains on quay side at Kalk Bay harbour on the Cape Peninsula

Hout Bay Harbour

Mention the word "waterfront" in South Africa and everybody would immediately think of the V&A Waterfront on the Cape Town harbour.  What few people know is that the first harbour front emporium in South Africa (actually in Africa) was developed in Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula.  Fourth generation Hout Bay resident, Stanley Dorman, designed and developed Mariner's Wharf in the Hout Bay Harbour after visiting similar developments all over the world.  Mariner's Wharf opened in 1984 and today is still on of the most popular attractions on the Peninsula.

Hout Bay is a busy fishing port and most of the activities taking place can be see as one strolls around the harbour.  Fishermen returning from sea and off loading their catch, seals basking in the sun, gulls overhead and tourists everywhere.  All of this taking place with the mountain and Chapmans Peak Drive in the background.

The activities around Hout Bay Harbour has expanded to more than just Mariner's Wharf these days, but its still the heart of it all.  All along the harbour you now find little shops, take aways, restaurants and a food emporium.  Not forgetting the main reason why thousands of visitors flock there, boat trips to Seal Island.

Knysna Quays

Most visitors to the town of Knysna on the Garden Route end up at the Knysna Quays Waterfront at one time or another.  The Knysna Quays consist of a small boat harbour, an area with shops and restaurants as well as very upmarket houses and apartments.  Yachts are moored all around the waterfront both inside the small boat harbour as well as outside in the lagoon.  As the Knysna Lagoon is one of the main attractions in the town, there are a number of charter boats, ferries and catamarans that depart from the waterfront on cruises of the lagoon.

From the Knysna Quays a number of canals lead towards the part where the houses and apartments are situated.  All the restaurants on the waterfront looks out over either the canals, the harbour or the lagoon with some of them right on the water as in the picture above.

One of the highlights for kids visiting the Knysna Quays is when the walkway bridge lifts up to allow a yacht through.  When the bridge lifted up on this occasion there was a guy and his kids in a canoe coming down the canal and everybody clapped hands for him because it looked like the bridge lifted up specially for him.  The next moment this big yacht came sailing though right behind them.

In addition to the restaurants, there are a number of shops that line the walkways of the waterfront.  This big artistically carved yellow wood tree stump is one of the many other features that you will find alongside the shops.

Valley sunrise

Sunrise over the Port Elizabeth Harbour as seen from a viewpoint over the Baakens River Valley in South End. Sunrise and sunsets are my favorite photos to take, but due to the whole getting up early enough in the morning to get to see sunrise, I do more sunsets. LOL!

Harbour sunrise

I spent a couple of days with a film crew shooting footage for the FIFA 2010 World Cup City Profiles which meant that I had some time to click away and take a couple of pictures of my own while with them. It also meant meeting them at their hotel 5am every morning to go and get sunrise footage.

05h43 am and we are standing on the freeway overlooking the Port Elizabeth Harbour.

05h53 am. A container ship next to the gantry cranes. In the foreground you can see the light reflecting in the windows of the cars waiting for a car ship to arrive for them to be exported

06h16 am and the sun peeks out over the harbour buildings

For more awesome pictures featuring the sky, visit Skywatch