Whale Coast Walk offers you a relaxing 4 day, self-guided walking holiday with an abundance of activities, in a protected environment.
Overview
Whale Coast Walk is an outdoor experience with river, sea, sand dunes, the vlei, a floral sensation of rare fynbos plants, diverse antelope and whale watching. Eco boat trip, interpretive marine walk and nature drive included.
Highlights
- De Hoop Nature Reserve- 40 square kilometres park with a large diversity in marine and land animals, birdlife and vegetation
- Whale watching June to December
- “Fynbos” plants and wildlife
- De Hoop vlei- 17 km long with a highly productive ecosystem
- Activities such as a scenic nature drive, an eco boat tour an interpretative marine walk, a vulture experience and a guided bird walk or mountain biking
- Range of accommodation options and restaurant
Itinerary
Pricing approach
Pricing factors and what is included
- The published rate is an indicative price. It will be confirmed on request. The following pricing factors will be considered: standard or superior accommodation, room sharing or single, group size, extra nights, transfers, guiding and other services.. A minimum of 2 people per group. Twenty percent deposit and the balance 6 weeks before trip.
- The following items are included:
- 3 nights accommodation in selected lodges/cottages/suites.
- Dinner and breakfast. (For some accommodation options it will be breakfast only)
- Eco boat trip, incl snacks and drinks
- Nature drive, incl snacks and drinks
- Interpretive guided marine walk, incl picnic lunch
- Detailed Route directions.
- Information about the area
Excluded
- Items not listed above, eg
- Transport to and from De Hoop Nature Reserve
- Other lunches, snacks, drinks with meals (restaurant at De Hoop)
FAQ's
Reserve early to obtain the best rooms. Bookings can be for any time of the year. “High season” is Oct- April. The whale season is from July to November. During winter accommodation is normally more freely available and special rates are available from time to time.
De Hoop Nature Reserve’s climate is Mediterranean, with warm summers and mild winters. The reserve gets 380 mm of rain annually. August is the wettest month. In summer, winds blow in from the east, west and southeast, whereas winter has westerly and southwesterly winds.
Comfortable, well aerated clothes in keeping with the season. Always bring a pullover, windbreaker, good walking boots (already worn-in) and several pairs of cotton or woollen socks. For your daily needs you are advised to have a day-bag, a plastic bag to line your day-pack (to protect the contents from rain), rainwear, a sun-hat, sunglasses, sun block, a water bottle, plastic picnic boxes (for transporting your lunches), first-aid kit , camera and film, torch/flashlight and an extra plastic bag for litter.
You will stay 3 nights in De Hoop Nature Reserve. De Hoop offers a wide range from equipped cottages to luxurious suites.
Overall rating is Easy/Moderate. You do not need to be ultra-fit, but certainly able to hike between 13 and 20 km per day and be able to cope with undulating countryside and some hills. The route takes you along sandy and stony paths, along field tracks and dirt roads. There are various routes and you can choose sections which are more challenging if you feel you need an extra challenge. Refer to Walking grades
Day 1 – Easy: Day 2 – Moderate: Day 3 – Moderate: Day 4 – Depart
For international visitors
Fly to Cape Town International airport and drive (or transfer) from Cape Town.
From Cape Town to De Hoop
Take N2 to Caledon. From Caledon drive on the R316 through Napier to Bredasdorp. From Bredasdorp continue on the R316 down Long Street and turn left at the Caltex Toyota Garage onto All Saints Road and take the R319 to Swellendam out of town for about 6 km and then turn right – sign posted De Hoop / Malgas / Infanta. Travel on the gravel road for 33 km until you see a sign to the right – BUCHU BUSHCAMP / DE HOOP. It is 7 km from this turn off to the Main Gate of the Park and a further 8km to the office.
We recommend that you arrange appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
Our detailed route notes and description allow you to walk self-guided and at your own pace amid splendid scenery while we transport your luggage.
As soon as we have finalized your booking we will forward details by email. This will specify your accommodation and provide directions. The second component of your route description is your Route guide. This specially prepared guide includes route notes, maps and GPS references. Self-guided walking is simple and convenient with our Route guide. Hikers can set out when they like, stop where they want and visit sites en route that are of interest to them. The Route guide will be given to you on arrival. We can provide a file which can be imported to a gps or computer for navigation on a cellphone or gps device.
Comments by guests who have experienced a self-guided walking/hiking holiday offered by Trails and Travel in South Africa- “Overall, the holiday was invigorating- You certainly went out of your way to make the whole time memorable- We are recommending it to our walking community in the States- Fantastic walks, wines and accommodation” For details, go to Reviews
Whale Coast Walk offers you a relaxing self-guided walking holiday with an abundance of activities in a protected and safe environment. It is an outdoor experience with river, sea, sand dunes, the vlei, a floral sensation of rare fynbos plants, diverse antelope and whale watching .
