Follow the spectacular nature trails along the scenic footpaths, secluded beaches, secret coves and rugged fynbos-covered coastline of the De Hoop Nature Reserve. Your 5 days of walking will include Lekkerwater Beach Lodge and the De Hoop Collection with a coastal walk between the two properties. Uncover this unspoilt, untouched reserve filled with a treasure trove of fauna, flora, fynbos, pristine beaches and abundant sea life. The indulgence of wide-open spaces, peacefulness and gorgeous sea views will take you on an exciting journey. This is a walk for those seeking solace in nature … all to be enjoyed at your own pace.
This magnificent coastal reserve is famous for offering some of the world’s best land-based whale watching. During winter & spring (July and November) Southern Right Whales migrate here from Antarctica to calve and breed in the warm seas offshore. Since 1985 these waters have been designed as a Marine Protected Area and sea life has flourished. While whales are the stars of the show, guests may also look forward to sighting dolphins, seals and myriad sea birds from the comfort of Lekkerwater Beach Lodge.
Few other reserves offer as complete an outdoor experience as De Hoop – sea, sand dunes, the vlei, a floral sensation of rare fynbos plants, diverse antelope and the Potberg Mountains. Birders observe wading birds on the shores of the vlei while the Potberg Mountains are home to a colony of endangered Cape vultures. Hikers and cyclists have close-up encounters with bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, eland, baboons and ostrich. Activities are diverse and guests choose between various day walks through the rich fynbos plains or along the deserted coastline, or mountain biking along the many gravel roads or scenic game drives. Lazing on the beach and snorkelling in the many turquoise rock pools is simply another way to pass a rewarding day.
The 34 000 hectare De Hoop Nature Reserve is situated just over three hours’ drive from Cape Town, the capital of the Western Cape province of South Africa.
In addition to conserving 34 000 hectares of indigenous fynbos and coastal ecosystems, the reserve includes the De Hoop Marine Protected Area (MPA). Proclaimed in 1985, the MPA – essentially a nature reserve in the sea – stretches for 46 kilometres along the coastline and five kilometres out to sea, creating a marine conservancy of 289-square-kilometres.
Fishing and harvesting of any marine life are prohibited within the MPA, and in the decades since it was proclaimed the De Hoop MPA has become a vital breeding ground for regional fish stocks, while also creating an oceanic haven for Southern Right whales.
Each year these majestic cetaceans – once hunted almost to extinction – migrate north from Antarctica, taking advantage of the warm Western Cape waters to calve and mate, before migrating south in the early-summer. In the peak whale season (July-November), expect to see Southern Right whales as well as less-common Bryde’s and Humpback whales. Large pods of dolphins are also often seen surfing the breakers close in-shore.
Inland the biodiversity is no less impressive, with more than 1500 species of indigenous fynbos plants identified. De Hoop forms part of the Cape Floral Region, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, and the reserve conserves the largest area of lowland fynbos in the Western Cape.
Wildlife
Amongst the fynbos, you’ll find more than 86 species of mammal, including the endangered bontebok, Cape mountain zebra and eland, the largest of the antelopes. Though Cape mountain leopard and caracal call De Hoop home, these shy cats are rarely seen.
The reserve is also a paradise for bird-watchers. In excess of 260 species of birds have been identified on De Hoop, which is also home to the last remaining breeding colony of the Cape vulture in the province.
The meeting & collection times at the Lekkerwater Car Park are:
