Digging De Hoop Full Programme

Digging De Hoop Full Programme

Digging De Hoop is just a week away, and the full programme is now live on our website.

We invite you to meet the esteemed Professor Chris Henshilwood and Dr Karen van Niekerk and some of their palaeoscience team whose life’s work have uncovered some of the oldest art and science which is displayed in the spectacular Origins of Early Modern Man exhibition in De Hoop. Bookings are still open, so do join us for our first ever "archeology weekend."

Guests will receive a 15% discount on their accommodation for a two night stay with the option of joining a Boma Dinner on the Saturday night (R295 for non-inclusive bookings) to meet up with the scientists.

Friday 14 March 2025

14h00

• Guests arrive and check-in to De Hoop

18h00

• Introduction to De Hoop and Origins of Early Modern Man exhibition

• Presented by: Dalfrenzo Laing

Saturday 15 March 2025

10h00-17h00

• Fire experiments - Stone knapping presentations, ochre preparation, using stone tools, geochemical analysis, etc.

• Presented by: Marzena Cendrowska, Samuel Pereira

10h00 - 17h00

• Bare Bones - Learn about identifying animals from their bones and what animal bones can tell us about the past

• Presented by: Asia Alsgaard

10h00-17h00

• Stone Tools - Knapping presentations, making tools, explaining different MA technologies - option to make your own stone tool

• Presented by: Maciej Ehlert, Antoine Muller

12h00-13h00

• Guided Tour of The Exhibition of Early Modern Man - “Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour” - “Mother Africa - Welcome Home” Meet the scientists and ask them questions

• Presented by: Various scientists

14h30-15h00

• “Food for the braai: Life along the coast during the Later Stone Age”

• From shellfish to tortoises, the inhabitants of Klipdrift Cave would have had a variety of animals to cook on the fire. This talk will discuss how their preferences changed as they adapted to changing sea levels and coastlines between 11,000 and 14,000 years ago.

• Presented by: Dr Asia Alsgaard,

17h00

• Lecture by Prof Christopher Henshilwood

18h00

• Boma Dinner (R295 pp for non-inclusive guests)

Sunday 16 March 2025

10h00

• Checkout

Exclusive Wine Weekend 30 May - 1 June 2025

Experience an unforgettable wine weekend at the De Hoop Collection in the stunning De Hoop Nature Reserve with Bruce Jack, Michael Fridjhon, and William Stephens.

This exclusive event includes a tasting of Bruce Jack’s latest vintages and projects on Friday evening, followed by a thought-provoking masterclass on Saturday, where Michael Fridjhon explores how the Agulhas Wine Triangle compares to the world’s great wine regions. Saturday night promises an extraordinary Wine and Dine experience, featuring 25 years of Bruce Jack wines paired with exceptional cuisine and benchmark international wines. Find out more here.

Take 40% off the De Hoop Village Cottages and the Suites this Winter!

Come and enjoy the wonders of De Hoop at a discounted rate this May, June and July. Rates From:

Village from R2760 per unit (sleeps 4 adults and 2 children)

R2340 in our Suites per person sharing per night DBB (sleep 2)

*Ts & Cs apply. Not applicable on Event Weekends and Long Weekends. Applicable to all new bookings. Special not applicable on the Stable Suite. No Minimum Night stay.