East Fort - Hout Bay, Cape Town
The East Fort ruins overlooking the azure bay and framed by the majestic Karbonkelberg Peak in Hout Bay. (Image adapted). © Chapman's Peak Drive
East Fort Upper Precincts c.1796 Built at the command of General James Craig Acting Governor General following the 1st British Occupation of the Cape of Good Hope. © Eastfort1, License
Cannon at East Fort, Hout Bay. © 
The fort originally consisted of a strong stone battery with several mounted 18-pounder cannons, barracks for soldiers, and storage rooms for ammunition and supplies. (Image adapted). © Sothebys Reality Cape TownEast Fort - Hout Bay, Cape Town
Set high above the shimmering waters of Hout Bay, the old East Fort is one of the Cape’s most evocative reminders of its colonial past. Built in 1782 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), the fort - known in Dutch as Oost Fort, was part of a wider network of coastal defences intended to protect Table Bay and its surrounding settlements from British naval attack during the late 18th century. At the time, Hout Bay was of strategic importance due to its sheltered anchorage and the abundance of timber in its surrounding forests, which were vital for shipbuilding and repair.
The fort originally consisted of a strong stone battery with several mounted 18-pounder cannons, barracks for soldiers, and storage rooms for ammunition and supplies. Its position along what is now Chapman’s Peak Drive was no accident. This elevated site commanded a sweeping view over the bay and its narrow entrance, making it an ideal lookout point. Together with the smaller West Fort on the opposite side of the bay, East Fort was designed to form a deadly crossfire should enemy vessels attempt to enter the harbour.
Though East Fort never saw active combat, its presence was an enduring symbol of the Cape’s military preparedness during a volatile era of maritime rivalry. In later years, the British took over the fort after seizing the Cape Colony in 1795, and it continued to serve as a coastal lookout post well into the 19th century. Over time, however, as naval warfare advanced and Hout Bay’s strategic importance waned, the site fell into disuse and eventual ruin.
Today, East Fort is a national monument and a popular stop for those travelling along the world-renowned Chapman’s Peak Drive. The surviving gun emplacements and weathered stone walls have been partially restored, offering a tangible link to the past. Visitors can explore the remains on foot, and interpretive signs provide insight into the fort’s history and the soldiers who once manned it.
The surrounding views are nothing short of spectacular, looking out over the turquoise sweep of Hout Bay, the fishing harbour below, and the majestic Sentinel rising guard on the opposite shore. The site also marks the start of the hiking trail to Blackburn Ravine, a popular route that winds up the mountainside through indigenous fynbos. For photographers and history lovers, East Fort combines dramatic scenery with the quiet allure of the Cape’s forgotten fortifications, making it a rewarding and atmospheric stop on one of South Africa’s most scenic drives.
Parking available close by.
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