What you need to know about De hoop

Wildlife

The vlei is home to many species of birdlife, including pelicans that breed on its waters each year. De Hoop is famous for its variety of resident and migratory birds and more than 260 bird species have been recorded. It is most famous for harbouring one of the few breeding colonies of the rare Cape vulture.
De Hoop’s many terrestrial habitats support a diversity of animal groups. The reserve has 86 mammal species, most notably the rare bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, as well as eland, grey rhebuck, baboon, yellow mongoose, caracal and the occasional leopard.

Flora

De Hoop Nature Reserve forms part of the world’s smallest and most threatened plant kingdom – the Cape Floral Kingdom. Fynbos is the dominant vegetation and has four growth forms: Proteas, Ericas, Restios and Geophytes. De Hoop is important for the conservation of lowland fynbos and has an estimated 1500 plant species of which 108 are threatened, 34 occur only in De Hoop and 14 were recently discovered and still unclassified.

Marine Life

The three nautical miles of De Hoop Marine Reserve beyond the shoreline offer some of the best whale viewing in the world, with some 40% of the global southern right whale population coming to the bay each year to breed. Dolphins and seals are often seen off shore and at least 250 species of fish occur in the protected area. The rock pools offer some of the finest examples of inter-tidal ecosystems and snorkelling in the clear water is a treat.

Climate and general tips

Summers are warm and winters are mild to cold. Annual rainfall is 380mm and August is generally the wettest month. Sea mists also occur. The most frequent summer winds are southeasterly to southwesterly while southwesterly winds prevail in winter.
 
The Fig Tree Restaurant: open all day, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, teas and coffees and cakes and is licensed. Picnic baskets can be ordered.
There is a newly surfaced tennis court at the Opstal area – bring your rackets. The Opstal has a swimming pool and there is also a boules courtyard – there is a boules set on the property but if you have one, do bring it.

Sorry - No pets allowed.