Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

De Hoop Nature Reserve, situated near the southern tip of Africa, covers some 34 000 ha and includes a variety of different habitats. The Reserve is dominated by lowland fynbos, but also holds the Ramsar - designated De Hoop Vlei, mountain fynbos on the Potberg mountain, a rocky and sandy coastline and numerous forested gorges. To the south of the Reserve, lies the De Hoop Marine Protected Area, which provides a sanctuary for a variety of marine organisms including relatively large numbers of southern Right Whale.

De Hoop Nature Reserve is the most southerly of the protected areas that have been selected to represent the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK) as a World Heritage Site. The reserve owes its nomination to its near pristine coastal landscape and the important role that it plays in conserving a large proportion of unique lowland habitats. It is considered to be a biodiversity “hotspot”, with a number of endemic plants occurring in small, local populations. The De Hoop Nature Reserve also protects one of 16 wetlands in South Africa that are recognised by the Ramsar Convention as being of international importance. Other noteworthy features of the reserve are a sand corridor and an intertidal zone that enjoys the protection of one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa. Within the Cape Floral Kingdom certain habitat types are more threatened than others. Lowland fynbos is particularly vulnerable, with only 3% of lowland areas protected by formal nature reserves. The 34 000 hectare De Hoop Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board (WCNCB), is the largest lowland fynbos reserve in the Cape Floral Kingdom and is therefore particularly important. Walking trails lead through the fynbos vegetation and around the Vlei. There is a lot of game in the nature park. You can encounter mountain zebras and several antelope species, among them Bontebok, Eland and Kudu.