Kalk Bay
The Bohemian fishing village of Kalk Bay is one of Cape Town’s finest seaside enclaves and harks back to a simpler, less demanding time. Indeed, browsing through the quaint little shops or walking across the cobbled streets of Kalk Bay is a sharp and welcome change from the other busier areas of Cape Town. Kalk Bay is located along the False Bay coastline in the deep reaches of the southern suburbs and counts the likes of Fish Hoek and Simons Town as its closest neighbours. Furthermore, the Simons Town railway line runs through Kalk Bay making it easy to reach as well as other places along the route.
Kalk Bay was originally inhabited by shipwrecked deserters and seamen and adopted its name from lime-burners who used to extract lime from sea shell deposits to construct buildings. Today, visitors exploring Kalk Bay will be able to watch fishermen return from their day on the seas as the harbour here is one of the last remaining working harbours, while the unique collection of antique stores, art galleries, and second-hand book shops really give this coastal hamlet a community spirit. One of Kalk Bay’s most treasured venues is the Kalk Bay Theatre; this thriving theatre, which doubles as a restaurant, is housed in the old Kalk Bay Dutch Reformed Church. Built in 1876 and situated on the Main Road, the Kalk Bay Theatre today is a national heritage and a protected building.
Additionally, Kalk Bay has access to all the scintillating False Bay beaches. During the summer months, this coastal hamlet is fairly popular as it is a terrific spot for swimming and surfing. There are also four tidal pools in the area that makes for safe swimming while those that want to enjoy whale watching will do well to head up to Boyes Drive.
