Only three hours from Cape Town lies a special nature reserve situated in the Overberg region, near the southern tip of Africa. De Hoop Nature Reserve is approximately 34 000 ha in size and one of the largest natural areas managed by Cape Nature. A well-maintained gravel road leads to the beach, which is a wonderful place to spend the day exploring the fascinating creatures of the tidal pools or lazing back in the sand dunes, where one can watch the southern right whales in springtime.

There is a circular game drive through the interior of the reserve, where ostrich can be seen dancing through the bush, along with zebra, bontebok, and a troop baboon. There is also a lovely picnic site beside the vlei, set amongst the limestone cliffs, where thousands of bats "hang around" during the day. Visitors are also welcome to explore the reserve by foot or by mountain bike.

It is a favourite destination for hikers, cyclists, bird watchers and during the winter and early summer months, whale watchers.

The adjacent De Hoop Marine Protected Area, which extends three nautical miles (5 km) out to sea, is one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa and provides a sanctuary for a vast and fascinating array of marine life.

De Hoop Nature Reserve is situated east of Bredasdorp, approximately 260 km from Cape Town. The reserve may be approached from either Bredasdorp or Swellendam. The last 50 km of either route is along gravel roads.

The Postberg Environmental Education Centre located in the eastern section of the reserve provides self-guided environmental programmes for schools and research institutions. The Postberg mountains are home to a breeding colony of Cape vultures, which can best be viewed by taking a hike along the 8 km Postberg Trail.

The De Hoop Marine Protected Area covers nearly 50 km of pristine coastline and can be explored by the very popular whale trail. Unfortunately De Hoop has a rather uneasy relationship with it's neighbours, Denel, who use the area for missile testing several times every year, resulting in the cancellation of any hikes along the coast scheduled during those periods.

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES AT DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE: - rock pools - whale trail - mountain biking - bird watching - game viewing - rock pools

SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE & FLORA: Birdlife: De Hoop is famous for its variety of resident and migratory bird species and more than 260 species have been recorded on the reserve. The De Hoop Vlei attracts large numbers of water birds. The only remaining breeding colony of the rare Cape vulture in the Western Cape occurs at Potberg.

Mammals and Marine Life:The reserve has 86 mammal species. Most notable are the rare bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, as well as eland, grey rhebuck, baboon, yellow mongoose, caracal and the occasional leopard. Marine mammals such as dolphins and seals occur in the waters off the coast and southern right whales calve and mate in the sheltered bays of De Hoop each year between May and December. At least 250 species of fish occur in the marine protected area.

Vegetation:De Hoop Nature Reserve forms part of the world's smallest and most threatened plant kingdom - the Cape Floral Kingdom. Fynbos is the dominant vegetation group and is largely confined to nutrient-poor soils in the winter rainfall areas of the Western Cape. It is adapted to fire and drought and is defined by four growth forms:

· proteas - tall shrubs with large leaves · ericas - heath-like shrubs · restios - wiry, reed-like plants which are always present in fynbos · geophytes - bulbs that store moisture in fleshy underground organs.