Who would’ve thought that after a brief three-hour drive from Cape Town, I would find myself lounging in a camping chair sipping sundowners and munching scrumptious canapés beneath a Milkwood tree in De Hoop Nature and Marine Reserve? Sitting at Melkkamer Manor house beside the vlei, our host Justin wet our appetites for things to come on the new De Hoop catered, luxury trail.
Only moments ago, I was transported across the 19km vlei to my Edwardian home for the duration of the trail. Before my fellow trailists and I took a stroll , Kenneth the caretaker fueled our intrigue with stories of visit from the manor’s ghost. As the sun settled lightly on the limestone rock, I eyed an eland through binoculars and caught a glimpse of a cape mountain zebra through the fynbos.Glowing lanterns hanging from the tree and fire blazing, we dined under the stars savouring every bit of the beef fillet in red wine and mushroom sauce and garlic snoek.
The light fruity breakfast was all I needed to get going before the 4 hour walk. Armed with a sunhat, sunblock and backpack I followed our tour guide Pierre through the veld and amongst rare species of lowland Cape Floral Kingdom fynbos.
He stopped regularly to point out deserted mammal bones, lizards on rocks and clever ants that bury fynbos seeds. Of all the 86 mammal species roaming the reserve, bontebok and eland popped up the most. They stared at us unconcerned but galloped away quickly if we got too close. Cloudy shadows fell on the dunes behind me as I rested on a cliff overlooking the vlei and re-energized with bananas and nuts. Tales of khoi san using plant sap to make fish faint, sightings of an eland carcass and the call of birds in my ears coloured the trail until chicken and beef wraps were served beneath an umbrella and midday siesta time came around.
While some opted for another walk before sunset, three of us hopped into the boat back across the vlei and cycled along a rocky path. The uphill climbs were never as thrilling as the downhill freewheeling and the aggressive female ostrich protecting her chicks would’ve had us reaching speeds of 50km had we not slowed down severely and looked less threatening.
What was meant to be a day of wading in rock pools, basking on secluded beaches and trailing along dunes morphed into something totally different once the rain came down. Donning my rain mac and clothes I didn’t mind wetting, the Toyota quantum ferried us to Koppie Alleen over 30 minutes away. Sprinting through the downpour I found shelter at a lookout point and took in infinite amounts of knowledge surrounding De Hoop sealife from our marine guide Lindie.
Bracing myself against the strong wind on the rocks, I noticed diving researchers in wetsuits surveying seaweed samples. Not too long ago a courageous octopus drowned a kelp gull in these rock pools and abalone poachers were seen just off the coast returning to destroy more of the dwindling supply.
No one ever wants to leave a superb chef, views of wildlife from your porch and remote relaxation behind. But as I said my goodbyes to the ostrich beside the quadbike and home by the vlei, I wondered when I would ever feel this relaxed again.
Price
De Hoop’s three night luxury, catered trail is prices at R4900 per person and includes accomodation, meals, all guided walks, internal reserve transfers and coffee/tea and juices.
Need to know
Whilst a reasonable level of fitness is required, a leisurely walking pace is maintained with many stops. Only children over twelve may participate in the trail. Don’t forget sunblock, sunhat, insect repellent, binoculars, camera and rain jacket. There is hardly any cellphone reception, so enjoy the sounds of the bush instead.
Contact
For more information on the, visit De Hoop Trail
Tel: 0861 33 4667
Email: [email protected]
