TRAVEL


DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE, OVERBERG


Many visitors come to this amazing 34 000ha World Heritage Site in the Overberg, just three hours’ drive


from Cape Town, because from July to November, it’s one of the best land-based whale-watching areas in the world. It’s also part of the world’s smallest and most threatened plant domains, the Cape Floral Kingdom.


But it’s an excellent bird-spotting destination too, with 260 species of resident and migratory birds. Its


neighbouring marine reserve extends 5km out to sea and is one of Africa’s biggest protected marine areas.


Check out the sea birds here, including the rare African black oystercatcher.


The 19km Ramsar-designated De Hoop Vlei that stretches across the reserve is home to 97 species of water birds, including greater and lesser flamingoes, bank, crowned and Cape cormorants, coots, Cape shovellers and many more. In the fynbos and grasslands, look out for the African


marsh harrier, lanner falcon, black stork, striped flufftail and Agulhas long-billed lark.


All the tourism activities and accommodation are


managed by the De Hoop Collection and you can choose to stay in a whitewashed cottage, a campsite, a rondavel, family accommodation or the isolated, super-tranquil 1872 Melkkamer Cottage across the vlei.


De Hoop Nature Reserve birding special: Great white pelican (above).


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