De Hoop Nature Reserve
Offering deluxe accommodation in a beautiful setting, De Hoop Nature Reserve is a superb stop along the Garden Route – or a dream destination in its own right!
When to go to De Hoop Nature Reserve
Best Time to Go
For avid whale watchers, the best months to visit De Hoop are June through to October.
A wildlife haven along the Garden Route
Scenic, seasonal activities
Famous for whales and prolific wildlife
Two ultra-luxurious properties
Whales, Walks & Wonderful Stays
De Hoop Nature Reserve is an excellent option for travellers seeking a thrilling range of experiences amidst the pure white sands and colourful fynbo fields east of Cape Agulhas. Enjoy nature walks, hikes, bike rides, drives, and plenty of beach activities at De Hoop! The reserve is situated on the Garden Route, in the Overberg region between Cape Town and Knysna. Covering 34,000 hectares, De Hoop has a lot of ground to explore – and its coastline stretches for 70 kilometres.
Activities
Many of the activities available in De Hoop focus on the wildlife, and there are plenty of things to do both on the beach and on nature trails.
Wildlife Viewing
Enjoy Beach Activities
Discover Flora & Fauna
Helicopter Adventures
-
It may not be a Big Five reserve, but De Hoop still offers many wonderful wildlife surprises. Massive southern right whales swim all the way from Antarctica to De Hoop to mate and to calve between the winter months of June to October, and other aquatic mammals there at this time include Bryde’s whale, humpback whale, and dolphin. Inland, you can enjoy sightings of 86 mammal species, including the Cape leopard, caracal, Cape mountain zebra, eland, bontebok, gray rhebok, yellow mongoose, and chacma baboon. There are also 260 types of birds, among them waterbirds such as the endangered black oystercatcher. De Hoop is also home to South Africa’s only colony of Cape vultures – known as Cape griffon.
There are plenty of things to do on the beach, including swimming, volleyball, cricket, and croquet. Sports fans can have a go at dune boarding, and in between activities, you can simply relax on the sands or amidst the fynbos and tuck into a delicious picnic.
Keen botanists will love taking a close look at the fynbos and other plant life on nature walks. De Hoop is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and boasts the world’s highest number of plant species!
If you pay a little extra, you can board a helicopter and get a bird’s-eye view of all the gorgeous scenery and aquatic action!
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.Good to Know
01.What are the best accommodation options?
We recommend two properties within the reserve, both owned and operated by Morukuru Family De Hoop. The company’s Beach Lodge offers deluxe accommodation suitable for solos, couples, honeymooners, and small families. Ocean House is ideal for bigger groups as it can be booked on an exclusive basis. This luxurious home can sleep up to eight adults and four children.
02.Top months to visit?
June through to October for whale watchers, sometimes the big guys turn up as early as May! Staying here in August and September guarantees great sightings, and this is also the top time for hiking, biking, and dune boarding. November marks the beginning of summer – from then until March, the weather is warm and sea swimming is particularly pleasant.
Speak to an Expert
Let one of our Yellow Zebra specialists design
your tailor‑made African adventureAs Seen In
