Four days of walking and exploring the beauty of the De Hoop Nature Reserve …
enjoying the wealth of marine, bird and animal life and discovering rare plants.
And at the end of each day’s hike, tucking into gourmet meals and staying over in a luxurious, comfortable villa. Ramblers dreams are made of this.
Slack-packing adventures are made for those of us who love to walk through magnificent reserves, connect with nature, but aren’t that keen on the whole camping-in-the-middle-of-nowhere thing! After a strenuous day, the last thing we want is to fiddle around with tent poles and try to rustle up something on an open fire.
So we’re mad about the newly launched The De Hoop Trail: Vlei to Whales … a fully catered and guided four-day, three-night experience where you’ll cover about 38km through the pristine De Hoop Nature and Marine Reserve. One of the largest natural areas managed by CapeNature, it’s just a wonderful four days of sea, deserted beaches, exploring the Ramsar-listed vlei, wide open spaces, coastal fynbos, and diverse animal and bird life, including the endangered Cape Vulture and the very best whale watching.
Guests stay in the De Hoop Collection’s De Mond Villa, a newly restored and refurbished villa right on the edge of the Ramsar-listed vlei. An exclusive blend of authenticity, luxury and comfort, the five en-suite bedroomed De Mond Villa offers awesome interior decor, Wi-Fi, a private outside area with barbeque and swimming pool and the most incredible views.
It is completely off the grid (thanks to a combination of solar and gas facilities) and being right on the edge of the vlei, spectacular birdlife awaits you, plus the possible sightings of wild bush pigs, otters, rock dassies, herds of eland and even leopard tracks. Should the villa already be booked, The Collection’s historic Melkkamer Homestead on the opposite side of the vlei is offered as an alternative. And you won’t go hungry … guests tuck into breakfasts or brunches, lunches and picnics, snacks and dinners. De Hoop is an easy three hour drive from Cape Town or George.
A minimum of four guests is required – and you should be reasonably fit to enjoy the experience. Not suitable for those under 12. The rate of R14200 a person (valid until Sept 2025) includes the three-night/four-day experience, with a guide, all meals and snacks, local house wines, spirits, beers and soft drinks, and road transfers to and from de Mond Villa and within De Hoop.
Details: res@dehoopcollection.co.za or 021 422 4522
