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When I was growing up in Cape Town weekends meant lazy beach days, braais and hiking in the sleepy seaside town of Hermanus. It was idyllic to say the least but to be honest these days Hermanus is a little too commercialised for my liking, and I hate to sound like a hipster but my family and I were there before it was the ‘cool’ holiday spot it has morphed into today. Tiny mom-and-pop shops are being driven out by the likes of big business and as a result the town has lost a lot of its original charm. And don’t even get me started on the whale festival! For those who have grown up visiting Hermanus whale season is quite possibly the worst time to go, as the place is overrun with tourists wanting to catch a glimpse of the majestic creatures. Which is where today’s travel spot comes in – De Hoop Nature Reserve still offers visitors small town charm and a chance to really escape from it all ... and sssssh! Don’t tell anyone but they have way more whales than Hermanus ever will.
De Hoop Nature Reserve is situated just three hours from Cape Town and is pretty much the most underrated spot in the Overberg area. The 36 000 hectare reserve is a conservation area (which means it remains largely untouched) and has been declared a World Heritage Site because of its huge amounts of Fynbos, game, and birdlife as well as its over 70 kilometres of pristine coastline. It is this pristine coastline where the whales like to frolic in their hundreds during whale season (in fact they’ve counted as many as 700 whales in the bay at one time!) and those in the know like to visit to sit back, relax and soak up the serenity of it all. But even when the whales aren’t showing face De Hoop is the ideal holiday destination for friends, families, couples and even corporates looking for the very best team building exercise for their well deserved staff. De Hoop is also the ideal destination for adventure lovers as it offers a wide range of activities such as walking trails, mountain biking, game drives, quad biking, beach walks and more.
The reserve is open to both day visitors and holiday makers and is a great place for a day visit on your way up the Garden Route (entrance is R30 per person for day visitors). I got the chance to spend a magical weekend in the reserve recently and can honestly say that in order to get a sense of how special this place really is you have to spend a few nights or a weekend there. It truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to and I can’t believe it took me 28 years to find it. And the great news? De Hoop offers a range of accommodation options in the De Hoop Collection to suit any budget, which means you don’t have to have deep pockets just to experience its magic. Guests can choose from camping and self catering chalets to cottages and five-star fully catered cottages – all of which are beautifully decorated and lovingly cared for by the staff. We were given a tour of all the accommodation options and I have already earmarked the beautiful vintage Opstal Manor House Suites (from R950 for 2 people sharing including breakfast and dinner) for my next visit with the boyfriend, and the super cool Campsite Rondawels overlooking the De Hoop vlei for my next, next trip with a group of friends (from R420 per person per night self catering).
This time around I was lucky enough to stay at the incredibly beautiful Melkkamer Manor House and experience the truly unique Melkkamer Trail. The Melkkamer Manor House stands on the opposite side of the De Hoop vlei and can be accessed only by boat (or a really long car trip around the bay); on this side of the vlei you will find only three accommodation options, all with an old English country feel. The houses were built around 1907 and can only be described as the stuff dreams are made of. Furnished with beautiful antique pieces and boasting a laid-back farm-style atmosphere, this is the place you want to be if you want to escape city life for a while.
The house can be booked on its own as a self-catering unit or with a chef and staff who will cater to your every whim. For the Melkkamer trail you are treated to the luxury and magic of the Melkkamer Manor House as well as the experience of walking the reserve over two days with the house as your base. We spent the first morning down at the beach at De Hoop’s Koppie Alleen learning all about the wonders of the coastline from our incredibly knowledgeable guide, Dalfrenzo and the afternoon whizzing through the reserve on-board quad bikes (what a thrill!) The second day was spent exploring the reserve on foot which was a wonderful way to experience all the sights and sounds De Hoop has to offer. Of course all our adventures were coupled with incredible meals and snacks from Melkkamer’s super talented chef – we enjoyed picnics by the lake, long and indulgent dinners by the fire in the farm-style kitchen and beach side feasts which all felt like five-star dining experiences. If you are an adventurer at heart then the Melkkamer Trail is a definite must-try! The rate for the weekend is R4900 per person sharing and includes your accommodation, meals, staff and guides for the entire trip.
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By Crystal Espin
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