You can sit here outside the lounge/dining room at the De Hoop Collection, and look at the Vlei. Alternatively, you can hop on the De Hoop boat and take a circuit of the vlei with professional guides who are knowledgeable about the area and its inhabitants.
Did you know?
The vlei at De Hoop is a remarkable and unique feature of the reserve: a shallow, land-locked body of brackish water that stretches along the coast and supports exceptional biodiversity. Originally, the vlei was part of the mouth of the Sout River (also called Salt River), but over time, mobile coastal dunes blocked its connection to the sea, turning it into what it is today: a vast coastal lake.
Officially, it is called De Hoop Vlei, although you might see it referred to as the De Hoop Vlei Ramsar Site, in recognition of its international conservation status under the Ramsar Convention (one of the first wetlands in South Africa to receive that designation, back in 1975).
So you see the choice is yours.
The vlei is not man-made, as it was shaped by natural coastal processes.
Although it was once connected, it does not currently empty directly into the ocean.
Haul in the anchor, me hearties…
This is a Rock Hyrax, locally known as a Dassie.
Anatomy: They both lack a gallbladder and have a similar arrangement of bones in their skulls and limbs.
Brain and memory: Both have a larger-than-average hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with memory, and demonstrate complex vocal communication
Now, do you believe that they are related?
A Giant Kingfisher watched us drift past.
Not all Kingfisher species eat fish, but of the 10 species in South Africa, the Giant does primarily eat fish…along with various other protein sources like crab and lizards.
Trawling through the algae on the side of the vlei searching for food.
This Sacred Ibis is one of 11 species found in South Africa.
Were you aware?
Thoth, whose head is that of an ibis, is the Ancient Egyptian god of wisdom and reason, truth, knowledge, learning and study, writing and mathematics. The Sacred Ibis was considered the living incarnation of Thoth on earth.
Now you know.
This rather regal-looking bird is a Grey Heron.
Heron symbolism varies by culture, but generally represents patience, stillness, wisdom and tranquillity.
They can also symbolise good fortune, self-reliance, elegance, and a connection to the spiritual world or other realms. Across many traditions, herons are seen as messengers, particularly of the gods in some ancient cultures
This was one of several that we spotted during our cruise.
A study tracking wild honey bee nesting sites in the Western Cape notes that one of the locations surveyed is De Hoop. The research identified wild honeybee colonies in cliff or rock-face cavities in the region, indicating that wild hives are exploiting natural shelters.
Many years ago, my child told me that there are only two things you need to know about bees…
They have a sharp end and a blunt end, and you must not touch the sharp end!
That is why we gave this colony a wide berth.
The De Hoop Vlei is a natural coastal lake, not man-made.
Origin: Formed when coastal dunes blocked the mouth of the Sout River
Size: Roughly 15 km long and up to 0.5 km wide (around 780 ha)
Depth: Shallow — fluctuates seasonally, occasionally drying out in drought years
Feeds: Sout River, Potteberg River, and underground springs
Status: Ramsar Wetland of International Importance (Site No. 34)
Birdlife: Home to over 8 000 waterbirds on average, including pelicans, flamingos, and the endangered Cape shoveler
Fun Fact: When full, the vlei sparkles like a misplaced ocean — but instead of waves, it ripples with wings.
Seeing owls are meant to be wise birds, I wonder if it had all this information at its wingtips?
This one kept hiding in the shadows so that getting a proper shot was almost impossible.
White-breasted Comorants line the banks and will perch on anything that will allow them space for both feet.
Seeing that this is a Little Grebe, I was certain that it would not be mistaken for the Loch Ness Monster, which an African Darter or Cormorant, with their long, almost snake-like necks, could be confused with.
Legend has it that De Hoop Vlei was named for the promise — or “the hope” — it offered early settlers who found its calm, reflective waters nestled between dunes and fynbos. Far from being man-made, this natural lagoon stretches for almost 15 kilometres, fed by seasonal rivers and surrounded by a spectacular variety of birdlife and plant species. Over the centuries, the vlei became the lifeblood of the area — a shimmering oasis in a rugged landscape. Today, it’s protected as part of the De Hoop Vlei Ramsar Site, one of South Africa’s first wetlands to earn that honour. And while it never quite reaches the sea, its still waters seem to mirror the rhythm of the nearby Indian Ocean — serene, timeless, and full of quiet promise.
And now you know all that there is to know about this part of De Hoop.
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