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De Hoop Village

Our rating

7/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Comfortable cottages
- Pristine wilderness
- Diverse wildlife
- Great Value

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Overview

De Hoop Village is a collection of well-appointed traditional farm cottages set in the wild De Hoop reserve, boasting superb wildlife and wild coastal scenery.

The De Hoop Reserve is a large low-lying nature reserve situated on a stretch of wild coast with extensive dune systems, numerous beaches and a large vlei (estuary). The reserve is home to large populations of mountain zebra, bontebok, eland and rich birdlife.

In our opinion, De Hoop offers the best opportunity to experience the wildlife and raw rugged beauty of South Africa whilst leaving your budget relatively intact. It is the perfect place to spend 3-4 days days walking, beach combing, enjoying the wildlife and of course finishing off with a nice evening braai.

During the whale season (June – October) De Hoop is one of the best land based whale watching sites in the world. The large dunes offer the perfect promontory to watch the whales in the bay below. Large herds of Eland and zebra are often seen around the Village area and the bird life in the Vlei (estuary) is astounding.

Guided beach and fynbos walks are highly recommended (extra cost), or you can just explore the reserve by your-self, exploring the any miles of walking trails. Bikes can be hired and there is a tennis court and swimming pool. Organised children's programmes are available during South African school holidays only.

Accommodation is self-catering at De Hoop. There is a good restaurant on site (a short stroll from the cottages), which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you can pick up basic items from the shop at the reception (e.g. they offer everything for your own braai. If you intend to cater for yourself in any seriousness, then you will want to stock up on groceries before arriving at De Hoop.

There are several accommodation options at De Hoop, but we recommend the De Hoop Village and Vlei Cottages. Cottages in the village are 2-3 bedrooms, with cosy lounge (with fireplace), kitchen and private garden – perfect for families. Vlei Cottages have good views and are recommended for couples.

Access to De Hoop is via a long gravel road (around 40 minutes. drive from the main road); we usually recommend staying for 3 nights to make the most of the reserve and change of pace it offers.

For Families: The De Hoop Village is a wonderful destination for families who love the outdoors. It is a fantastic opportunity to get a dose of African wildlife at a fraction of the coast of a safari, and whilst there aren’t the big mammals, we find children are usually just as excited to see zebras and antelope as they are lions. Families will love exploring the vast dunes and wild beaches. The sea itself is usually fairly wild, but there are lovely low tide pools for warmer and safer bathing. For families of four or more, we usually recommend the three bedroom village cottages. The smaller two bedroom village cottage is just suitable for a family of four with two smaller children.

Suggested Itineraries for De Hoop Village

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • It was certainly a holiday of a lifetime for us and we loved every minute!! The standard and location of each accommodation was excellent, as was the variety of each different accommodation type. Our schedule was perfect and we managed to achieve everything on our to-do task list. Your documents were also really helpful, as were the driving directions. We all thank you for making this such a wonderful holiday. Happy to leave a review publicly if you point me the right way. Best Steve

    MissingStephen H reviewing Classic Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari on 01 September 2023

  • Hi Lisa, We had a fabulous time thank you. The accommodation and other ideation were all terrific - that’s so much for your help. The apartment in Cape Town was particularly good - we would never have found that: Boschendal was great as well and game lodge was superb. Thanks again, Alistair

    MissingAlistair A reviewing Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger on 28 April 2023

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