Graaff’s Pool

Sea Point to Hout Bay


This natural sea pool was named after the Graaff family, who bought a mansion on the Sea Point beachfront in the early 20th century, and often wandered down the walkway to the pool in their silks. It later became a meeting spot for gay men. The award-winning short film Behind the Wall (viewable on YouTube) reveals the pool's fascinating history.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sea Point to Hout Bay attractions

1. Sea Point Promenade

0.3 MILES

Strolling along Sea Point’s wide, paved and grassy promenade is a pleasure shared by Capetonians from all walks of life. Once a white-only area, it’s now…

2. Promenade Pets

0.41 MILES

Rest on one of these pieces of public art by Rocklands Beach; the seats of the benches are held up by pairs of blue seagulls, black sea lions and pink…

3. Rocklands Beach

0.44 MILES

You can easily wade into the sea from this rocky beach at a kink in the Sea Point Promenade near the animal-themed Promenade Pets benches.

4. White Horses

0.67 MILES

The running aground of the SS South African Seafarer in 1966 was the inspiration for Kevin Brand's White Horses. The ship's cargo included plastic white…

5. Three Anchor Bay

0.74 MILES

This small, rocky beach has easy access from the promenade. It's from here that the bohemian poet Ingrid Jonker, considered the Sylvia Plath of South…

6. Putt-Putt Golf

0.86 MILES

Get some putting practice in at this fun course on the promenade at Mouille Point. Note, it's closed if there's bad weather.

7. Blue Train Park

0.95 MILES

A fixture of the Mouille Point seafront for generations and great for toddlers, this child-sized loco and carriages chugs around a creatively landscaped…

8. Signal Hill

0.96 MILES

The early settlement’s lookout point is so named because it was from here that flags were hoisted when a ship was spotted, giving the people below time to…