A wild coastal reserve at the far end of the Whale Coast, with one of the best land-based whale nurseries in the world. White dunes, fynbos and a marine protected area, eland and bontebok on the plains, and the famous five-day Whale Trail.
De Hoop is the wild, quiet far end of the Whale Coast, a vast nature reserve where the Overberg fynbos runs down to a coast of white dunes and a protected sea. It’s about two and a half hours east of Hermanus, the last stretch on gravel, and it rewards the effort: this is one of the best places on earth to watch whales without ever leaving dry land.
The whales gather from June to November, and the dune viewpoint at Koppie Alleen looks straight down on the nursery, where southern right mothers calve in the shallows close inshore. The reserve’s marine protected area is rich with life, the beaches run for empty kilometres, and the tidal pools are worth an afternoon. Inland, the fynbos plains hold big herds of eland and bontebok, Cape mountain zebra and ostrich, the De Hoop vlei pulls in clouds of birds, and a colony of Cape vultures breeds on the cliffs at Potberg.
This is a place to slow down and stay. The famous Whale Trail walks the coast over five days and is booked a year ahead through CapeNature, but even a night or two in the reserve’s cottages lets you catch the wildlife at dawn and the whales at your own pace. Bring your own supplies, mind the gravel road in, and book your accommodation well before you come, because De Hoop is far from anywhere and all the better for it.
Whales from the dunes, fynbos and wildlife, and a famous coastal hike. Stay over if you can.
From the white dunes at Koppie Alleen, southern right whales gather to calve close inshore from June to November, one of the best places anywhere to watch them from land. The same coast has tidal pools, a marine protected area teeming with life, and long, empty beaches to walk.
Inland, the reserve's fynbos plains hold big herds of eland and bontebok, Cape mountain zebra and ostrich, and the De Hoop vlei draws crowds of birds. A Cape vulture colony breeds at Potberg, and the five-day Whale Trail walks the coast end to end for those who plan ahead.
De Hoop is remote, and a rushed day trip doesn't do it justice. A night or two in the reserve lets you catch the wildlife at dawn and dusk and the whales at leisure.
The dune viewpoint at Koppie Alleen is the spot for the whale nursery in season. Bring binoculars and give it time; the calves come in close.
The five-day Whale Trail is one of the country's great hikes and sells out a year in advance. Reserve through CapeNature well before you travel.
The last stretch into the reserve is dirt. Drive carefully, allow extra time, and check your hire-car terms for gravel roads.
Shops are limited and far off. Bring food, water and anything you'll need, especially if you're staying over or hiking.
A CapeNature conservation fee applies at the gate. Book your accommodation in advance, as the in-reserve cottages fill up.
Plan a stay or pair it with the coast through our trusted partners, at the same price as booking direct.
Cottages and lodges in the reserve and guesthouses along the Whale Coast, the way to do De Hoop properly with an overnight.
Find a stay →If you're based on the coast, a boat trip from Hermanus gets you out among the whales in season.
Book on GetYourGuide →A boat safari off the Whale Coast for whales, seals, penguins, dolphins and sharks, an add-on from the coast.
See sea safaris →Pair the reserve with a run to Cape Agulhas, the southern tip of Africa, on the same corner of the Overberg.
See day tours →We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links — at no extra cost to you.
De Hoop is the wild, quiet end of the Whale Coast. See the rest of what the coast holds.
