Portfolio ambassadors, Gia (10) and her younger sister Indi (9), hit the road for a two week trip that proved to be a whole host of family fun. Their first stop was Grootbos in the Overberg and today they''re telling us all about their experience at De Hoop Private Collection just down the coast.
Read on below to find out all about the experience through their eyes…
As we drove into De Hoop we saw a huge open plain with hundreds of eland, bontebok, zebra, ostriches, baboons and all sorts of birds. It was so unexpected and so exciting.
In the werf were enormous wild fig trees – the trunks were huge, like vines all stuck together. The one tree is called The Meeting Tree – and it’s from here that all the fun activities start.
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Our cottage was called the Giant Kingfisher and it was so spacious and beautifully decorated with farmhouse-style furniture. It was really comfortable and had everything we needed. You have the option to bring your own food or you can enjoy delicious meals in the restaurant. The first night we braaied – or should I say dad braaied, out in the cold, while we read stories.
We played a family game of tennis – me and dad v Gia and mom. While we were playing, Dusty the Ostrich, tried to pick-pocket snacks from my mom’s bag through the fence. He was the most curious ostrich I’ve ever seen – all day long he walked and “chatted” with families – some got a bit scared, but most had a lot of fun.
We all slept late while my dad had an early morning run along the cliffs above the vlei – he came back so excited about all the amazing birds he saw in the early morning light. Later, after breakfast, we went on a boat cruise and were lucky enough to see pelicans, darters, spoonbills, sacred ibis, dabchicks, cormorants, giant kingfishers and many other birds.
Pinkie our guide was so knowledgable about all the marine life and birds. We had delicious croissants, pastries and hot chocolate on the cruise – it was a great way to see the birds. My mom said it reminded her of Lake Kariba.
After lunch we rented some mountain bikes and rode through the herds of eland, bontebok and zebra, all the way towards the dunes in the distance. The wind picked up and we got tired and pretty cold – my dad had to remind us that we weren’t stuck out in the Antarctic with Shackleton and that everything would be ok. He rambled on about three years under a whaling boat eating seal blubber…. Anyway the wind was at our back on the ride home and it was such fun riding amongst the animals.
That night William, the owner of De Hoop Collection joined my mom and dad for a delicious seafood dinner, while we listened to fireside stories out under the stars. We learnt that “My Ernest Mother Just Served Us Nothing” is a good way to remember the planets, now that Pluto is a dwarf planet, so it’s no longer “No Porridge”.
Through stories we also learnt about Orion and the Scorpion and the Centaur – half man half horse. All while being warmed by a roaring fire and feasting on marie biscuits and Nutella and hot chocolate – heaven!
The next morning we drove down to Koppie Aleen, and explored the dunes. It was such fun jumping and running down the dunes. We also explored the caves and shoreline and saw the ancient fish traps built by the strandlopers.
My sister found tiny kelp “trees” and a disappearing underwater plant. We spent hours beach combing for shells and stones, before having a picnic lunch and a family swim.
I loved the huge herds of animals, the flocks of birds covering the sky and playing tennis with my family. The mountain bike ride was my best. And of course crazy Dusty the Ostrich.
Gia loved exploring all the rock pools and caves, and combing the beach for shells, stones and other amazing treasures. She wants to be a marine biologist – it’s so cool to see how passionate she is about the ocean.
Dad’s note:
Having spent time here many years ago, it is inspiring how De Hoop Collection have created such a sophisticated, adventure and nature filled tourism offering, at great value. The buildings and cottages have been beautifully and meticulously restored and decorated with Overberg farm house furniture. In many ways, two days was just too short to really appreciate the beauty and wonder of De Hoop. I’d recommend at least 4 nights. The excursions William and his team have created are world class – from the Marine excursion, to bird-watching, night adventures, boat cruises, kids mini-chefs, star-gazing and fireside stories. You can also hire bikes or simply enjoy the fynbos veld on foot, including awesome walks around the vlei. The natural beauty, animal and birdlife is quite extraordinary – and all within a few hours of Cape Town.
Click here to book your stay at De Hoop Collection
Click the links below to read more about Indi & Gia''s fun family holiday down the coast of South Africa
Watching whales at Grootbos near Gansbaai in the Overberg