Cape Town - Winter and school holidays... always a time of the year that your kids are cooped up inside, irritable and bored with nothing to do.
Look no further - head off to De Hoop Nature Reserve where you and the kids can enjoy all the usual home comforts, plus a myriad of entertainment alternatives, amazing activities to do and picturesque sites to visit and take advantage of De Hoop’s winter special offers.
From May 1 until July 31, 2016 a Winter Special with a whopping 50 percent discount - R 1 390 per night (usual price – R2 780) for accommodation only, for one to four guests, in a self catering De Hoop Village Cottage -minimum two-night stay is being offered.
This special is only valid for new bookings in June and July. The De Hoop Village Units can sleep six guests and consists of 1x double room, 1x twin room, 1x room with bunk beds, a lounge, a fully equipped Kitchen and dining room, bathroom with shower and an outside barbeque/braai area.
Extra guests can be added at R695 per person per night. Another generous Winter Special, also running for May, June and July 2016: Pay for 3 nights and stay for 4 nights promotion on all accommodation (excluding the De Hoop Village Cottages - already on a 50 percent discount).
The De Hoop Reserve, in the Overberg region near the southern tip of Africa, is a comfortable three hours’ drive from Cape Town on the world renowned Garden and Whale routes - the ideal stop-over en route from the Cape Winelands to Plettenberg Bay. Guests of all ages and tastes will find something to do at De Hoop.
Aside from the wonderful birding opportunities and customised once-off events, nature lovers will enjoy the interpretive rock pool and Fynbos walks, while the more adventurous can experience the extensive hiking and mountain biking trails. And don’t forget, winter is whale season at De Hoop.
The School Holiday programme, a full programme of daily activities for young and old alike, is on offer from 25 June until 17 July 2016.
Kiddie Activities (daytime): Rock and Roll (1 ½ - 2 hours) - a fun and educational guided activity of the exploration of creepy crawlies under the rocks of De Hoop. An experienced field guide will accompany the children; Nature Quest (1 hour) - a treasure hunt where children solve riddles to find the next clue that leads them to their very own treasure.
Questions involve the birds and mammals seen at De Hoop and have the children exploring the Opstal and Vlei areas; De Hoop Games (1 hour) - a selection of games - mini golf, mini cricket or croquet, playing with a De Hoop guide; ‘Discover De Hoop’ (1 hour) – a Guessing game where a few objects are taken from the bush, the kids are blind folded and they need to guess what the object is, while others give them clues in the form of interesting facts pertaining to the object and for the inevitable rainy days there are the ‘Rainy Day’ activities ‘ (1 hour) comprising Clay Modelling, Sand art and Minute-to-Win-it games.
The cost per child for all the above activities is R50.
And then for the mom’s (dad’s too) who wish to take time out from the kids and escape the everyday stresses, guide yourself to the new SPA @ De Hoop and indulge yourself in its signature massage, a facial to uplift or just pamper yourself with something good and allow the team to spoil you with the Africology brand, exclusive to SPA @ De Hoop.
There are additional activities: in the mornings (the children’s rate of half price applies to 12 years and under): at 7am - Guided Bird watching - a wonderful walking experience with a qualified field guide focused on the identification and behaviour of the abundant birdlife - R100 pp (kids R50); at 9am - Guided Quadbiking – take the chance to go on a quad bike and visit Tierhoek with a qualified field guide who will share his knowledge of fynbos and less obvious natural and historical aspects of De Hoop – strictly no under 16s allowed (R350 pp).
Guided Mountain Biking - explore De Hoop on a mountain bike with a guide and experience close-up encounters with bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, eland, baboons and ostrich (R200 pp); at 11am explore the De Hoop Vlei on an Eco Boat Cruise on Vlei and enjoy bird, game, otter and even porcupine sightings.
Morning cruises include tea, coffee as well as pastries and croissants with jam and cheese or take the afternoon cruise which includes house wines, local beers and savoury snacks - children must be accompanied by an adult/guardian (R325 pp children 12 and under R162.50). In the evening at 9pm, Stargazing at R85 pp, you can experience the magnificent stars and constellations that the clear De Hoop night sky has to offer and learn about the various star signs and other interesting facts about the sky.
Scheduled at Low Tide is the Marine Walk (R185 per adult /Kids R92.50) - an exploration of the rocky shores and pools where you see fascinating marine life like limpets, barnacles, starfish, whales and octopi. The De Hoop guides will share fun facts on these creatures and they will discuss beach cleaning as well as the educational elements of where it comes from, and why it’s important to remove it.
All activities need to be booked at reception and picnic baskets can be ordered the day before. Please note that all activities are subject to weather conditions and that the Kiddies activities will only take place with a minimum of four kids booked per activity.
Phone 021-422 4522 or email [email protected] www.dehoopcollection.co.za/com
Adapted from a press release for IOL