De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of the Western Cape's best known Nature Reserves.
It lies on the southern Cape coast, and is renowned for its floral fynbos diversity, rich bird life, natural vlei and wild antelope. It also provides the backdrop to some of the world's best whale-watching possible.
It is a botanist's dream, with 50 of its 1500 fynbos plant species found nowhere else in the world. For animal lovers there are endangered bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, while baboons, ostriches, eland, grey rhebuck, duiker and steenbok are all common sights.
It draws a variety of birds during the year, especially waterfowl and waders. De Hoop's marine reserve is the breeding ground for 40% of the worldwide population of Southern Right Whales. Dolphins, seals and other sea creatures abound in the waters at Koppie Alleen.
Day visitors are welcome at De Hoop and guests may leave their vehicles at any time to walk or cycle anywhere in the reserve as long as they take care not to trample the natural vegetation. Birding, hiking, mountain biking and snorkeling are rewarding activities.
