Whale Trail Reservation

Whale Trail Walk

Whale Trail Reservations.

Whale Trail Reservations – When you book any trail with us, this is the guiding experience you are getting.     2 FGASA ( Field Guide Association Of SA) qualified marine, field and Cape Tourism and S.A National Guide to enhance your trail experience, providing a wealth of knowledge to make the hike so much more interesting and enjoyable. On our Whale Trail, you get 3 meals, breakfast at each hut, a daily lunch-pack for the trail, tea and coffee breaks at choice locations along the trail. The coffee breaks are a time to rest and enjoy a ‘cuppa’ while listening to fascinating stories about the De Hoop area, the history, characters and legends from before the second world war.  A cold beverage at the end of each days hike,  and a great supper with a glass of wine. The catering and trail logistics are taken care of for you to enjoy a fantastic holiday.

Cape Nature whale trail bookings

A Whale Trail Reservation with African Sun Road offers; A Hike in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, which is a 6 day 5 night coastal wilderness hiking trail in one of the planets most beautiful & ecologically diverse floral kingdoms. And its the only floral kingdom contained in one country and located in Western Cape, South Africa.

So because the Whale Trail Hike is so popular and difficult to book for, bookings must be made 1 year in advance. So if you want to do the trail this September 2020, unfortunately it will be full because the bookings were actually made last September 2019. Therefore we can try to make a booking on your behalf. So if you give us two or three preferred dates we will do our best to secure a booking for you.     

 Your Guides

Cape Nature Reserves

 

 

Whale Trail Reservation

Tour start

This is where your adventure begins. We all meet  at Potberg Hut in the De Hoop Nature Reserve at 14h 00 on the booked date. Your transfer to De Hoop can be arranged for you if required.

After checking in, you will have some time to orientate yourself and soak up the setting of the Potberg Hut. Sitting under the Southern Cross, and enjoy the night sky you will treated to a traditional SA braai (barbecue) paired with regional wines. Thereafter a thorough briefing of the hike and what can be expected on the trail will be given by your guide.

Whale Trail nature reserve

DAY 1    
Potberg to Cupidoskraal    15 km

On day one of Whale Trail we rise early for a hearty breakfast, fuelling for our Potberg ascent is important, this is the longest day of the trail a distance of 15 km. The climb to the highest point of the trail is fragranced with fynbos of the Erica and Protea species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Looking up, keep your eyes peeled for the gliding Cape Vultures that are often seen soaring effortlessly in the Potberg thermals. At the top, from the view point we take time out to marvel at the view of the Brede River over some well deserved refreshments.

HIKE DAY 2   
Cupidoskraal to Noetsie    15 km

Day 2 of the Whale Trail Hike. The trail follows the crest of the Potberg mountain through mountain fynbos with unequaled views of the Indian Ocean and the Breede River. Then the route finally exits Potberg and leads onto limestone hills with strikingly different fynbos. Thereafter it descends to the enchanting bay of Noetsie as we arrive at the coast. The amazing Noetsie hut, this is our first coastal night stop on the remaining 3 nights of the hike.

The third DAY  
Noetsie to Hamerkop    7.8 km

Day 3 of the Whale Hike starts at Noetsie huts, which are 100 meters from the sea. Therefore we are likely to experience the breathtaking viewing of whales & dolphins from the cliffs as the trails follows the coastline all the way to Koppie Aleen. Ancient shell middens and caves, make this stretch of coastline an adventurers’ paradise. Calcrete formations look like a sculpture park on the white beach. We lunch at Stilgat and take time out to cool off in the rock pools & explore the caves. The views from the cliffs are breathtakingly beautiful.

Whale Trail Reservation

HIKE DAY 4  
Hamerkop to Vaalkrans    10.5 km

On day four of the Whale Trail Reservations. A large part of the day is spent walking on the white beach sand. Spot the shy Oyster-catchers and white-breasted cormorants as they bask in the sun and observe the remarkable inter tidal pools, calcrete formations and blow holes. On this section there are plenty of swimming opportunities, therefore you need to have a swimming costume at hand. The last stretch to Vaalkrans ambles through diverse coastal vegetation before we reach our accommodation situated on top a cave.

Whale Trail Reservation

DAY 5 the final day
Vaalkrans to Koppie Alleen    7 km

Our final day of the Whale Trail Hike. The short hike on the final day of the trail, through coastal thickets with ample time to admire the scenery and swim in Hippo Pools. In whale season anything up to 50 whales can be seen in this vicinity. Great place to swim and snorkel. From Koppie Alleen we are taken by shuttle back to Potberg where we collect our baggage and say goodbye to the jewel of Cape Nature’s Floral Kingdom– The De Hoop Nature Reserve.

Breede River

Southern Right Whale Facts

Japan to resume commercial whaling

 

It's a Steal

Due to its immense popularity, a booking on the De Hoop Whale Trail is very difficult to secure. Bookings are made 1 year in advance through Cape Nature. The trail is professionally guided by FGASA qualified marine, field and Cape tourism guides. Ralph has been guiding since 1992, together the guiding team has experience of 24 Whale Trails

Whale Trail Price until the end of 2023. Cape Nature may be increasing the price from 2024

R 13 000.00 per person includes 3 meals, 1 X  cold beverage at the end of each day and one glass of wine. Professionally guided by FGASA qualified guides with the experience of 24 Whale Trails. At R 2166.00 per person per day - including accommodation, fully catered and guided, its a steal.
Because of the remoteness of the De Hoop Nature Reserve and the potential cell phone communication difficulty, we also carry a satellite phone, to enable helicopter evacuation in the case of a life threatening emergency.

 

Whale Trail Price until the end of 2023. Cape Nature may be increasing the price from 2024

R 13 000.00 per person includes 3 meals, 1 X  cold beverage at the end of each day and one glass of wine. Professionally guided by FGASA qualified guides with the experience of 24 Whale Trails. At R 2166.00 per person per day - including accommodation, fully catered and guided, its a steal.
Because of the remoteness of the De Hoop Nature Reserve and the potential cell phone communication difficulty, we also carry a satellite phone, to enable helicopter evacuation in the case of a life threatening emergency.

General information regarding the trail

  • De Hoop Nature Reserve is 230 km from Cape Town International airport.(Transfer to & from Potberg for your own cost, can be arranged) Please ensure that your flight arrives in the morning and get to Potberg at around 14h00.
  • The route stretches over 58km from Potberg to Koppie Alleen and includes 5 overnight stops.
  • Trail limit is 12 people per trip (10 guests) and is termed “slack-packing”, a term used when one has the convenience of a portage facility. Hikers need only to carry a small day-pack with water, camera, rain jacket, sun screen etc.
  • The trail is exclusive in that you will not meet other hikers on the trail.
  • The trail will be fully catered for and special dietary requirements met as far as possible.
  • Requirements: sleeping bag, day pack, hiking boots & clothing.

(Hiring of equipment can be arranged)

  • Accommodation on the trail is in a series of cottages with mostly 3 bedrooms with 4 bunk beds each.
  • A 70 liter container is issued to each person for personal belongings and this is transported to the next overnight stop.

Requirements and assumptions:

  • It is a requirement that all hikers have adequate medical cover to facilitate any potential medical emergency, and relevant evacuation that may arise or be required while on a Whale Trail guided and provided for by Africansunroad. This assumption also applies to individual family members of family groups. All Whale Trail hikers are required to be fit enough to complete 2Km/h in mountainous terrain, this equates to 5Km/h on level terrain to enable the completion of the daily hikes.

Includes the following:

  • Professionally Guided (FGASA Field Guides and Marine, Cape Tour & Wine Guide)
  • First Aid & back-up assistance

Excludes:

  • Any medical costs relating to a medical emergency, and relevant evacuation that may arise while on a Whale Trail.
  • Any additional accommodation either before or after the trail, or as advertised by Africansunroad.
  • Accommodation and meals should a hikers leave, or be removed from the trail for any reason including medical.
  • Drinks at restaurants.
  • Unscheduled taxi transfers and other transportation to or from the De Hoop Reserve.
  • Loss or damage to Africansunroad client vehicles parked at Potberg, before, during or after the hike.
  • Cost of removal or evacuation of persons on the Whale Trail Hike guided by Africansunroad.
  • Loss or damage to equipment used on the trail.

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