“Digging De Hoop”

 

Situated in the heart of the De Hoop Nature and Marine Reserve in the Western Cape, is arguably, one of South Africa’s most perfect destinations for a weekend getaway, the De Hoop Collection.

 

This premier member of Cape Country Routes offers a range of accommodation, a unique outdoor experience like no other – sea, beaches, a 19 km Ramsar-listed vlei, rare indigenous plants, diverse animal and bird life, one of the best spots for land-based whale watching in South Africa and, since January 2024, the ‘Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour’ exhibition that showcases the rich archaeological heritage of the Southern Cape coastline and features some of the findings made by SapienCE scientists Professor Christopher Henshilwood, Dr Karen van Niekerk, Professor Sarah Wurz and their research teams at sites in the reserve.

As De Hoop Collection is hosting these scientists in February and March 2025 for their annual diggings at De Hoop, it is offering guests an opportunity to meet the teams, participate in presentations given by exceptional Post-Doctoral students at the end of their 2025 excavations at Klipdrift and to enjoy a visit to the outstanding “Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour” exhibition with its amazing Weekend with a difference Package.

 

The ’Digging De Hoop’ (the past in Africa is the past of us all)  Weekend at De Hoop Collection will take place from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 March 2025.

 

A weekend to escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary:

• a weekend where you’ll get to meet Professor Chris Henshilwood and Dr Karen van Niekerk, whose life’s work of documenting human origins, archaeological research and discoveries is featured in the spectacular ‘Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour’
• a weekend where you’ll get to meet some international scientists specialising in archaeology, psychology and climatology – focusing on excavating and analysing the finds from the archaeological sites at the ‘Klipdrift Complex’- Klipdrift Shelter and Klipdrift Cave.
• a weekend of presentations by Post-Doctoral researchers – Asia Alsgaard, a marine fish, mammal and statistics specialist (archaeologist); Marzena Cendrowska, a usewear and residue (on stone tools) specialist and experimental archaeology; Antoine Muller, a Stone tool specialist who does 3D scanning of artefacts; Maciej Ehlert, also a Stone tool specialist, and expert at making stone tools and who served as the research team’s field technician this year and Samuel Pereira and Katrina Kerr, both geochemists.
• a weekend that includes, on the Friday evening, an introduction presentation given by Dalfrenzo Laing on the Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition – “This unique exhibition serves a big purpose. It is so vital to understand where we are from and what we inherited from our past – it’s an exhibition that educates us about our common past and allows us to see first-hand where and how our common ancestors lived and flourished”.
• a weekend filled with available-throughout -the-day activities that include several ‘hands-on’ archaeological activities and the usual de Hoop activities of biking, tennis and (pre-booking required ) eco-boat cruises on the vlei, walks through the coastal fynbos, guided marine walks at Koppie Alleen (where rock pools teem with anemones, mussels and colourful starfish) and up close encounters with herds of bontebok, antelope and other diverse wildlife.

 

The ‘Digging De Hoop’ Weekend Package:

Date: Friday 14 March to Sunday 16 March 2025

Price: guests will receive a 15% discount

Package includes:

• accommodation (a choice of accommodation for a minimum of two nights)
• two nights at either a Suite OR a Cottage – on a DBB basis
• an introductory presentation on Friday evening on the Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition by Dalfrenzo Laing (after which guests can book for a complimentary visit to the exhibition and ‘hands-on’ archaeological activities)
• a Boma Dinner on the Saturday night (R295 for non-inclusive bookings) to meet the scientists

Terms and conditions apply. Booking is essential – to make your reservation email Samantha res@dehoopcollection.co.za