The Whales Are Back!

The Whales Are Back!

It's officially our favourite annual announcement - the whales are back!

"This is always a time for celebration when the whales return to the beautiful coastline at De Hoop, and we could not be happier to welcome them,” says William Stephens, owner of De Hoop Collection at De Hoop Nature Reserve in welcoming the whales back. - Read the full article on goodthingsguy.com

We're making it official with our annual Wine, Whales & Music weekend coming up THIS MONTH. Don't miss out on an amazing weekend jam-packed with extras: 21-23 June 2024.

The weekend kicks off on Friday afternoon with an optional nature drive or an eco-boat cruise with delicious canapés and drinks (R450 per person/kids under 12 half price); then a wine and food pairing dinner at the Fig Tree Restaurant, and live music “The Generation Gaps”. The three talented musicians, Hanna, Bram and Wesley, from three different generations take you on a musical journey. Performing together as The Generation Gaps, they perform songs that young and old have grown to love, with rhythms crossing generations of boundaries, interwoven with stories of hope and humour. End off the evening with some brandy from the Cape Brandy Guild collection!

On Saturday there is an optional early guided Bird Walk along the Vlei (R195 per person/kids under 12 half price), also an optional Chocolate Workshop with Richard von Geusau, (R125 per person - kids under 12 - R70); in the morning there’s wine, Cape Brandy Guild and cheese tastings, then High Tea, followed by a presentation on the fabulous new exhibition “Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour” by Exhibition Ambassador, Dalfrenzo Laing. Guests will then have a guided tour of the exhibition all about early Modern Man and their existence in De Hoop around 75,000 years ago!

Saturday Dinner at the Fig Tree Restaurant features the ever-popular “Whale Time Serenade for Strings and Flute” featuring Irina Tsoniff, Ivo Ivanov on violin and Vladimir Ivanov on Viola, Peta Ann Holdcroft on cello and Malané Hofmeyr-Burger on Flute. On Sunday after breakfast, at Koppie Alleen, guests will enjoy a Marine Walk and ‘Watching the Whales’ with the amazing De Hoop guides.

The Wine Whales & Music 2024 weekend rates for a two-night stay range from R2 725 per person sharing an Equipped Cottage to R7 200 per person in a Suite. Rates include dinner,  bed and breakfast, entertainment (music on Friday and Saturday), wine & cheese tastings, Guest Speaker presentation, High Tea, but exclude drinks, workshops and guided activities. Terms and conditions apply.