De Hoop Marine Protected Area
Whale nursery area
Western Cape, South Africa
Malaria-free
About De Hoop Marine Protected Area
The De Hoop Marine Protected Area runs along the Overberg coast east of Cape Agulhas and is one of the most important southern right whale nurseries in the world. From about June to November the cows calve and rest in the shallow bays, often within a few hundred metres of the dunes, and Koppie Alleen is one of the best land-based whale-watching points in the country. The no-take zone has let reef fish recover to sizes rarely seen elsewhere. Access is through De Hoop Nature Reserve, which has cottages and a campsite, and the whale trail along this coast is a five-day slackpacking walk.
Read the guide: Sleeping in the Fynbos: The CapeNature Guide
Things to do: Diving · Snorkeling · Whale watching · Fishing
Where you can stay: Coastal hotels · Diving lodges
Wildlife near De Hoop Marine Protected Area
What people record most across Western Cape. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Western Cape, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
