The De Hoop Nature Reserve is a marine protected area on the southern Cape coast. Visitors come to the dunes of Koppie Alleen from all over the world for a glimpse of some of the reserve’s special guests – the whales.

The highest level of protection is applied at the De Hoop MPA to limit human impact to a minimum. Not even a rock or a small shell may be removed from here, but if you’re willing to walk a bit, you can enjoy the sights and sounds this area has to offer.

The De Hoop MPA does not only protect the reserve and the coastline. It also stretches three nautical miles (5.5km) into the sea, meaning that all the sea creatures within that zone are also protected.