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De Hoop Nature Reserve

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De Hoop Nature Reserve NATURE RESERVE AND MARINE PROTECTED AREA This is a World Heritage site DE HOOP DE HOOP nly three hours from Cape Town, De Hoop Nature Reserve bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, were bred for restocking is situated in the Overberg region near the southern tip of reserves and sale to private landowners. Since the early 1970s, Africa. The reserve is approximately 36 000ha in size and however, the primary objective of De Hoop has been to con- one of the largest natural areas managed by CapeNature. It is serve natural ecosystems typical of the Western Cape coastal m O o .c a favourite destination for hikers, cyclists, bird watchers and, region. The Marine Protected Area was proclaimed in March s e g a m i k during the winter and early summer months, whale watchers. 1986, contributing significantly to the conservation of this r .a w w w The Marine Protected Area, which extends three nautical miles region’s coastal marine resources. : o t o h (5km) out to sea, is one of the largest marine protected areas P in Africa, providing a sanctuary for a vast and fascinating array of marine life. MARINE PROTECTED AREA Climate RESERVE AND NATURE A typical Mediterranean climate prevails in the region - summers History are warm and winters mild. Annual rainfall is about 380mm and August is usually the wettest month. Sea mists also occur. The It is believed that many thousands of years ago, Stone Age most frequent summer winds are east, west and southeast, people hunted game in the De Hoop area, followed by Late while westerly and southwesterly winds prevail in winter. Stone Age hunter-gatherers who lived off the veld and coastal resources. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the nomadic Khoi or Khoekhoen inhabited most of the southern Cape and their middens can be found along the De Hoop coast. Vegetation The Overberg region was colonised in the early eighteenth De Hoop Nature Reserve forms part of the world’s smallest century and over the next 100 years it become well known and most threatened plant kingdom - the Cape Floral Kingdom. for merino sheep farming, horse and cattle breeding, and grain Fynbos is the dominant vegetation within this kingdom - largely farming. The earliest registered owner in the De Hoop area confined to nutrient-poor soils in the winter rainfall areas of the was Pieter Lourens Cloete who established a successful Spanish Western Cape. Fynbos is adapted to fire and drought, and char- horse stud operation on what was known as Hope Farm. acterized by four growth forms: The Cape Provincial Administration bought the farms De Hoop • proteas - tall shrubs with large leaves in 1956 and Windhoek in 1957. De Hoop Nature Reserve was ericas - heath-like shrubs • proclaimed in 1957 and subsequently enlarged by further acqui- • restios - wiry, reed-like plants which are always present in sition of land. The reserve was initially utilized as an experimen- fynbos tal wildlife farm where rare and endangered species, such as • geophytes - bulbs that store moisture in fleshy underground organs De Hoop is important for the conservation of lowland fynbos as it contains the largest conserved area for this rare type. The Bredasdorp/Agulhas and Infanta area, which De Hoop is a part of, has an estimated 1500 plant species of the approximately 9000 species found in the Cape Floristic Region. Of these 1500 species: • 108 species are rare or threatened • 34 species occur only on De Hoop Nature Reserve and nowhere else • 14 species were recently discovered and are still undescribed. www.capenature.co.za Animals Facilities De Hoop’s many terrestrial habitats support a diversity of Tourism facilities (excluding the Whale Trail) are managed by De animal groups. The reserve has 86 mammal species, most Hoop Collections, a Public Private Partner. De Hoop Collections notably the rare bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, as well has something for everyone at De Hoop, from families travel- as eland, grey rhebuck, baboon, yellow mongoose, caracal and ling on a tight budget to couples seeking a comfortable and the occasional leopard. affordable breakaway. There is a wide range of accommodation, ranging from camping and caravanning sites, to more affordable The marine environment is likewise home to a variety of life self-catering chalets to luxurious self-catering and five-star fully forms. Marine mammals such as dolphins and seals occur in catered lodges. the waters off the coast, and southern right whales calve and mate in the sheltered bays of De Hoop each year between May De Hoop Collection Enquiries & Bookings 028 542 1253 and December. At least 250 species of fish occur in the Marine www.dehoopcollection.com/accommodation Protected Area. Potberg Environmental Education Centre encourages the devel- De Hoop is famous for its variety of resident and migratory opment of learners to value the environment and provides bird species and more than 260 species have been recorded on opportunities and facilities for nature-orientated outdoor rec- the reserve. The De Hoop vlei attracts large numbers of water reation and interpretation. Guided or self-guided environmental birds and the only remaining Western Cape breeding colony of programmes for schools and research institutions are available. DISCLAIMER the rare Cape vulture occurs at Potberg. OF LIABILITY De Hoop is open for day visitors between 07:00 and 18:00 All persons entering this (Fridays 19:00). conservation area and using its facilities, The nearest shop and fuel supply is at Ouplaas (Wydgeleë), do so entirely at their own risk. The Western Activities 15km from the reserve. Firewood may be purchased at the Activities are diverse. Visitors may choose between mountain Cape Nature Conservation Board and/or its office during office hours. No pets, firearms or fishing gear are bike rides, scenic game drives and various day walks along the allowed on the reserve. employees and/or agents and/or its successors pristine coastline. Relax on the beach, or take a leisurely walk in title shall not be liable for any damage, loss, along the Vlei which is a birder’s delight. The Klipspringer theft, injury, accident or death suffered by any Trail will lead you to the lookout point of the only remaining person, howsoever caused. breeding colony of the rare Cape Vulture. At night stargazers Access can experience the magnificent stars and constellations of the De Hoop Nature Reserve is situated east of Bredasdorp, Right of Admission Reserved. clear De Hoop night sky. There is also the wold-renowned 5 approximately 260km from Cape Town. The reserve may be day Whale Trail that requires advance booking. approached from either Bredasdorp or Swellen dam. The last The entire length of the De Hoop coast is a Marine Protected 57km of either route is along gravel roads. Area where fishing is not permitted and visitors may not disturb or remove marine organisms. Hence, you are likely to see the finest examples of inter-tidal ecosystems in the Western Cape when snorkeling in De Hoop’s large, clear ENQUIRIES rock pools. Tel: 028 542 1114/7 The Marine Protected Area encompasses the breeding grounds RESERVATIONS of the southern right whale. It is estimated that about 120 indi- vidual whales return to the waters of De Hoop every year to Tel: 021 483 0190 calve and mate. The sight of these massive mammals leaping out of the sea or simply wallowing in azure waters is definitely one www.capenature.co.za of the highlights of a visit to De Hoop. The high dunes at Koppie Alleen offer an excellent vantage point for whale watching. CapeNature 7/2016 Robertson R60 HEIDELBERG SWELLENDAM Stormsvlei SWELLENDAM N 2 Heidelberg 53km Caledon 22 Beaufort HEIDELBERG West 31 R319 Laingsburg R317 Malgas MALGAS 14 WESTERN CAPE 59 Wydgeleë secretary bird CAPE TOWN Swellendam 10 Potberg Plettenberg Not to scale Mossel Bay Bay 50 DE HOOP Day Trails Hermanus Potberg 10km Bredasdorp De Hoop Koppie Alleen 1 DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE BREDASDORP 2 Klipspringer 6km INDIAN OCEAN 14km 1 LEGEND WYDGELEË ENTRANCE 10km 2 Breede River Walking trails POTBERG POTBERG Whale trail Environmental Education Centre WITSAND (bookings only) 10km Roads Windhoek Cupidoskraal INFANTA Picnic site DE HOOP Cottages DE HOOP VLEI Tierhoek NATURE RESERVE Stilgat Vaalkrans Noetsie Camping BREDASDORP Dronkvlei Lekkerwater Hamerkop 50km DE Cape HOOP Information Soutrivier OFFICE 5km Infanta RESTAURANT Radio mast DIE 8km KOPPIE ALLEEN MOND bontebok 2 Mountain Bike Routes To Tierhoek 5km 1.3km ENTRANCE To Main Gate Windhoek 2 8km DeDe HoopHoop 620m 4 MEETING 1.2km 1.2km TREE 1km 1km 4 NATURE RESERVE AND Circular drive 8.7km 200m Tierhoek 560m 2.5km MARINE PROTECTED AREA 3.2km 14km Reception 3 4.4km and Restaurant DE 5.6km HOOP 3 Dronkvlei 3.6km 1 5.1km 1 KOPPIE ALLEEN 3.8km 2 3 Day Trails 4 500m 7.7km 1 6.5km 3.5km 3 KOPPIE 1 Coot 5km 1.8km WAENHUISKRANS ALLEEN 2 Heron 8km 820m Link to (ARNISTON) Coastal trail 1 3 Grebe 15km DIE MOND Not to scale EMERGENCY TEL: 028 542 1253 INDIAN OCEAN 0 20 km SCALE.
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