Set on the coast near the southern-most tip of Africa lies De Hoop Nature Reserve. It's a World Heritage Site encompassing 36 000 hectares of nature reserve and fynbos, including the protected marine reserve along 70 km of pristine coastline.
This charming homestead has a wide variety of accommodation, from comfortable self-catering cottages and houses, to fully catered luxury suites. The Cloete Suites in the Opstal area are new additions and either have views of the grasslands or of the old, majestic fig trees in the courtyard.. Beautifully decorated, each suite sleeps two people.
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.
Activities are diverse and you can choose between various day walks, mountain biking along the many gravel roads, guided tours and scenic game drives. Lazing on the beach and snorkelling in the many turquoise rock pools is simply another way to pass a rewarding day. There is also the new three day De Hoop Trail.
De Hoop is the breeding ground for 40% of the Southern Right Whale population. Dolphins, seals and other sea creatures abound. Spot 86 mammals, including Cape Mountain Zebra, bontebok, eland, grey rhebuck, ostrich and caracal. A birder’s and botanist’s paradise.
Midweek and extended stay specials | Weddings and conferences | Children welcome
Additonal information:
The stunning coastline, Koppie Alleen, is situated approximately 13km from the accommodation. Those who are fit as fiddles are likely to enjoy a strenuous cycle, alternatively, a drive in your vehicle will take you 25 minutes.
The Fig Tree Restaurant is quite the place to be and therefore packed, especially in high season. Please ensure that you book a table for dinner to secure your spot prior to arrival or on check in at Reception.
Activities are weather and tide dependent and best booked by yourself a day in advance or once you arrive. Bookings can also be made well in advance, but do bear in mind that the weather and tide will have the last say.
Cape Nature does not allow driving around on the reserve after sunset. De Hoop does have permission though for driving between cottages and the restaurant once the sun has set.
Most guests opt to walk to the restaurant at night and what a lovely walk it is! The cottages located the furthest from the restaurant are less than a 10 minute walk away. Just remember to carry a torch with you - torches are provided in the suites only and not in self-catering units.
The nearest petrol pump is a 15-20 minute drive away and is only open Monday to Friday, so it’s best to fill up before arrival in the last town you pass: Bredasdorp, Riviersonderend or Swellendam.
If you are self-catering, please ensure that you bring all your supplies. The curio shop sells wood, firelighters and meat, but is really a gift shop more than a food/supplies shop.
Each unit is serviced daily. The gate is open from 07h00 – 18h00, except on Fridays when the gate is open until 19h00.
GUEST FEEDBACK
De Hoop
"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at De Hoop. Our accommodation was a 2 bedroom Equipped Cottage at the Opstal which was an ideal size for our needs. It was less than a 5 minute walk to the reception & restaurant. The location of De Hoop is remote but stunning. Here are our thoughts & advice for passing on to fellow travellers: • Mention that whilst the approach road to De Hoop that starts virtually from the N2 turn off at Spitskop is gravel thus subject to potholes & some rutting in places is some 50 Kms takes 1 hour 15 minutes from turning off N2 until reaching Reception. Our rental car was a Toyota Corolla & coped fine on this surface but you cannot travel much above 40 Kms per hour. • We stayed for 5 nights. On reflection, we felt 4 nights would be ideal & certainly to do justice you should stay for a minimum of 3 nights. We had enough time to do the inland walks, the boat trip on the viei as well as walk over the trails down at the beach at Koppie Alleen, situated some 15 Kms from Reception &, again, on gravel road. At this beach there is a choice of beach trails or going in the other direction, the magnificent sand dunes that stretch for miles. • The Fig Tree restaurant at Opstal (beside the Reception) is excellent in both quality of the food & value for money. It should be made clearer to prospective guests that the shop at Reception is very (and I mean “VERY”) limited in its stock. For those guests thinking of doing self-catering our advice must be to stock up well before arriving at De Hoop otherwise there is a 15 Kms drive to the nearest shop of which we cannot comment on its stock/supplies. • All the staff we met were friendly & helpful. There were two incidents relating to our accommodation: faulty shower head & soaking bath matt that were rectified within minutes of mentioning them. As you probably are aware De Hoop is a joint venture between Cape Nature (Public Sector) & De Hoop Management (Private Sector). In comparison to the many places we have stayed at both in South Africa & elsewhere in the world we would say the service from the staff whether in the restaurant, the activities & the cottage was very efficient & done with a broad smile on the face. • For those not attracted to walking in remote places not on paved streets with not a shop in sight De Hoop might not be the place to visit. For those, however, who love quietness, magical evening skies with various animals walking very close to your accommodation eg 5 eland munching the grass in our back yard one morning & where knowledgeable guides can explain to “Townies” like us what nature can offer you must visit De Hoop. It is our intention to return. Many thanks to Portfolio’s Gail Oliver for recommending this first class place. "
Thanks!
"I can't thank you folks enough for all you did for us We had a great stay and I would recommend your establishment to any one. The accommodation was excellent and your kindness on up grading us very much appreciated.Thanks once again. "
Our stay at De Hoop
"Hi, Despite the bad weather we had a super stay. Friendly and helpful staff. We left some things behind and they phoned us immediately ,before we even left the Park. We stayed in Giant Kingfisher. Regards Frik "
De Hoop Collection
"Excellent, staff extremely helpful, self catering cottage very well equipped, comfortable and well kept. Lots to do if you want to hike, bike, guided tours, Eco-friendly quad bikes available or just enjoy the beauty of the landscape and animals! We chose to self cater breakfast and lunch and use restaurant for dinner - very good food and fabulous service. Overseas visitor really enjoyed the visit, as we did."
De Hoop cottages
"Beautiful place, beautiful accommodation!"
Very good service
"Staff is very friendly and guest orientated. Rooms are spacious and clean. Sleeping quality is excellent. Food is delicious. Only thing we did not like is that there is no door between bedroom and bathroom."