The door on the far right of this image leads to our accommodation.
It is a repurposed horse stable/ sheep barn, and it was a joy to stay in.
Originally, all the buildings on the property were whitewashed, but with over 70 buildings that needed renovation, the owners believed that painting would save on maintenance costs in the long run.
That being said, they have a team of painters that is kept busy constantly.
We didn’t tick off every outdoor adventure at De Hoop, but we did enough to realise this place isn’t your average nature reserve—it’s a full-blown sensory playground. Where else can you hike through fynbos that looks like it was painted by Monet, spot antelope on one side and whales on the other, and still be back in time for a cold one at sunset? Birders get to strut their stuff around the vlei, where waders do what waders do best, while the Potberg Mountains play host to the last remaining colony of Cape vultures—proof that even the shy types know a good view when they see one. Whether you’re walking, pedalling, or just pretending to be outdoorsy, De Hoop wraps you in its charm and makes you feel like you’ve earned every breath of that crisp Overberg air.
So you can do it all. Or you can do none of it if you wish. The choice of what relaxation means to you is left entirely up to the guests themselves.
Furniture in the lounge alongside the dining area harks back to a slower time when comfort was important and the size of the furniture was certainly NOT minimalist.
The owner tells me that there is a divide between those who enjoy this look, as opposed to modern minimalist. Therefore, when deciding on decor, they have to walk a fine line while trying to please all their guests. Not an easy task.
It was chilly when we stayed there, hence the fire being a welcome source of heat.
The Fig Tree Restaurant is located in the main Opstal area, offering a full a la carte menu and local cuisine.
And note the correct place settings! Are you, like me, not tired of being brought cutlery on a side plate wrapped in a paper serviette? Well, you will be suitably impressed with this.
The Fig Tree Restaurant serves all meals and is open to both guests and day visitors.
Food, glorious food.
Tucked just behind The Shed at the Opstal, you’ll find William’s Wine Cellar — though calling it a “cellar” hardly does it justice. Housed inside a converted grain silo, it’s a place where history and hedonism happily co-exist. With over 3,000 bottles lining its cool, curved walls, it’s the sort of spot that could turn even the most casual sipper into a self-proclaimed sommelier.
Aside from this collection, there are in excess of 15000 bottles in storage.
Whether you’re a devotee of deep reds or prefer something crisp and white, there’s plenty to uncork — and if you listen carefully, you might even hear the silo whispering, “Just one more glass…”
Top me up please…
It seems that butternut soup is a staple at almost every property I have stayed at.
Not that it is an issue for me, as a bowl of hot soup is most certainly the way to start a meal.
No matter what time of the year it is.
Home-made bread. And here I do have an issue.
There were two of us having soup, yet we got three slices of this delicious bread.
Surely either two or four slices would be a better option?
It was so tasty that I wanted a second slice, but I did not want to have for ask for more.
“Please Sir, can I have some more”? (To quote the line from Oliver.)
Perhaps an option would be to offer loaves for sale on a first-come first first-served basis?
Or order on your arrival, and you could collect on the day you depart?
Just a thought.
To me, the decoration looked like the lips from the Rocky Horror Picture Show poster.
The food was delicious and was enhanced by both taste and presentation.
I had eaten so much lamb in the Karoo during the first week on the road that this fish was a welcome change in my diet.
In 1957, the De Hoop Nature Reserve was proclaimed, an area now celebrated as a World Heritage Site and a crucial conservation area for its biodiversity and historical significance, including preserved farm buildings that are National Monuments. There is no mention of specific stone walls being central to De Hoop’s history in the provided texts; rather, the history focuses on the natural landscape, indigenous peoples, early farms, and the establishment of the nature reserve
That information might win you a million dollars in a TV quiz one day.
Looking like a picture postcard (remember those?)
This is just some of the accommodation on the property.
Currently on at the visitors’ reception area, this exhibition is a must for those who are interested in the history of the area.
The “Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour’ exhibition is currently on display at the De Hoop Collection. It has been running at this venue for almost 2 years, showcases the archaeological heritage of the Southern Cape and offers insights into the lifestyles and behaviours of early Homo sapiens through artefacts and multimedia displays
Find out more about visiting times and costs (for day visitors), as overnight guests can view the exhibition for free. You can find out more when you check in at reception.
The 36,000 hectares of De Hoop conservation area is a World Heritage Site comprising rich biodiversity and a 19 km vlei (wetland) stretches across the reserve, which is on the Ramsar list of Wetlands of International Importance.
Stretching as far as the horizon…well, almost.
My wife’s favourite spot during our stay.
To find out what the De Hoop Collection offers, click on the logo above.
They are also part of the Cape Country Routes
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