De Hoop Collection

Simply one of the ‘must do’ places to visit in South Africa. Far off the beaten track in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. We stayed in the quant Dassie Suite at De Hoop Collection, very comfortable and warm. A place for birders, walkers, cyclists, river cruises and scenic drives. We were treated to game (bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, eland, baboons and ostrich) and whales!!!. There is a variety of accommodation options including self-catering, camping or enjoying being spoilt in one of the cottages. The Tig Tree restaurant is a great place for good food and sharing experiences with fellow guests … The history of the farm and region is very interesting.. This is another ‘must do again’ venue in beautiful SA but next time with the entire family…

The rock pools are the best we have seen and the guided Marine walk is absolutely worthwhile. Very special beaches and coastal nature and pristine tidal pools with lots of marine life. The cottages were comfortable and functional and service impeccable. I would only warn of a couple things: 1) the drive to the reserve requires approx 30km on a gravel road, an unpleasant experience because very bumpy if you don't have a 4 by 4. 2) the ocean is approx 15kms away from the village, so you will need to drive from the cottages to see the beach for about 15/20 minutes (it is not walkable or bikeable with the family, really), 3) the beautiful infinity pool in the pictures does not accept children. Children have to go to a bit of a sad pool in the back, in need of renovations.

We enjoyed our time - the nature preserve is outstanding. However, the roads in the preserve could use some repair and maintenance. We stayed in a Rondavel and found it odd there was not even a microwave (it had a fridge, sink, crockery, kettle, toaster...). The beds were so very hard. For the money paid, it could be more comfy. The shared toilet and rondavel were spotless, and the outdoor shower was a highlight!

Eighteen years have transpired since my last memorable visit to De Hoop and I was eager to see how it has been transformed in this time. In short, simply everything, but the abundance and beauty of nature, have changed. And for the better by far. There is something here now for everyone, an Eco Boat Cruise, observing a breeding colony of Cape Vultures, walks (guided and self-guided), a birders paradise, land-based whale watching off an unspoilt beach, mountain biking, a restaurant and a pool, to name just a few. It's a place where you can return to as often as you like without once feeling bored. Truly exceptional.

As a family of 4 with 2 kids in the age of 6 and 7 we spent 2 nights. Facilities were very nice as was the cleanliness. Where we were let down is the friendliness of the reception staff and the poor service in the restaurant. My wife had pre-booked MTBs for us all to collect at 8am. The supervisor simply denied the bikes for our kids existed, whereas we saw those bikes the day before. He turned unfriendly to my wife when she challenged him. 2 hours later the bikes were ‘located’. Maintenance of all bikes was poor. In short: bring your own. The pool is dirty, too chloride, you cannot see the bottom even with goggles. At the restaurant the waiter just ‘dumped’ the plates on the ‘bread-plates’. When asking a colleague she said she would instruct her different. The next 2 plates landed in the exact same spot. The asparagus were not properly cleaned. In short….a dissapointment. No gesture was offered. In all, the house was lovely, the nature reserve is beautiful, the beach bar great. But the team has some work to do.

We went for 3 nights in November. In my opinion, 2 nights would be enough. We enjoyed our stay, but improvements could be made; increase the choice at the restaurant in the evenings, provide wifi in the rooms/cottages, offer kayaking and reduce the price of most of the guided activities, which were expensive and hence under subscribed when we were there. If you want to see whales go in Sept/Oct, they start to get much scarcer from mid Nov. ||But despite improvements that can be made, this is a beautiful place to visit for nature lovers.

Another fantastic visit to De Hoop Collection for a wedding with friends and family - loved our stay in one of the Village Cottages. Great food and scenery over the long weekend, keen to get back again soon!

While the cottages are showing their age they are adequate. However, being in such a peaceful location and close to lots of wildlife and stunning scenery more than makes up for it. The boat trip is a must.