I recently got the chance to experience De Hoop Nature Reserve, a beautiful, remote 36,000-hectare World Heritage site located about three hours from Cape Town. Nature is the star attraction at De Hoop, which boasts 1500 plant species, 260 bird species, and 86 types of mammals. It is part of the unique but threatened Cape Floral kingdom.

You can do a day visit, but it’s far better to stay a while. Accommodation ranges from simple two-person rondavels with shared kitchens and bathrooms, to multi-room suites, to camping and caravan sites. The variety of accommodation choices means that the reserve caters to all types of visitors, from multi-generational family groups, to couples seeking a weekend escape, to entire wedding parties.

Here is a short photo tour of the reserve, encompassing both the natural bounty of De Hoop and photos of some of the accommodation options.

To read a more in-depth feature article about De Hoop, click here.