Description
De Hoop has one of the best hiking trails in South Africa: the Whale Trail. This route offers coastal and mountain walking with spectacular views and of course plenty opportunities for whale watching. The route is a five-day trail featuring well equipped and recently upgraded accommodation on each of the five nights.
Nature Reserve details
Please contact the Call Centre on 087 087 8250 for more information or to make advanced bookings for the Whale Trail.
De Hoop is one of the largest natural areas managed by CapeNature. This beautiful reserve is a favourite for hikers, cyclists, bird and whale watchers. The reserve, which is 34 000 hectares, is just three hours from Cape Town, in the Overberg
The neighbouring marine reserve, which extends 5km out to sea, is one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa. It conserves a vast and fascinating variety of marine life. The reserve is a World Heritage Site.
Potberg Eco Venue
De Hoop Nature Reserve’s diversity of landscapes, ranging from mountains, fresh water streams and a large vlei, to a long stretch of coastline. The reserve is ideally suited for environmental education. De Hoop is 36 000 ha in extent, with over 1 500 plant species, 86 mammal species (including the rare bontebok and Cape mountain zebra), approximately 260 bird species (including the Cape vulture) and nearly 50 reptile species. The adjacent De Hoop Marine Protected Area is one of the best land-based whale watching sites in the world. The Potberg area is steeped in history. Early indigenous people were attracted by the supply of fresh water and the plentiful game. The first recorded European inhabitant of the area was Christoffel Groenewald who was granted a grazing license in 1730. Anders Ohlsson, of Ohlsson’s Breweries fame, built the original Cape Dutch thatched homestead in the late 1800s. Potberg has many interesting features, one being the San (Bushman) painting in the cave above the homestead. Scattered throughout the reserve are other signs of their existence, including shell middens on the sand dunes and in the caves, along the limestone cliffs on the coast. Cape vultures are often seen soaring overhead the Klipspringer Trail, either on their way out to forage, or returning to the kloof.
- Capacity is 65 people
- 9 x people in Group Leads dorm – Dorm is divided into 2 sections
- 48 x people in Large Dorm
- 23 x capacity in Small Dorm
RESERVATIONS CAN ONLY BE DONE THROUGH THE CONTACT CENTRE: 087 087 8250
NATURE RESERVE contact numbers:
087 087 4004/6 OFFICE HOURS
082 496 3443 AFTER HOURS
OFFICE HOURS 07h30 – 16h00
Overnight booking times: Check-in: 14h00 – 16h00 Check-out: 10h00
Day Booking times: Check-in: 08h00 Check-out: 16h00
Gate Times: 07h30 – 16h00
FOR SCHOOL GROUPS – a copy of the programme, list of learners and indemnity forms to be given to the officer on duty.
For more information please see the Survival Guide below
Photos
