If you’re someone who loves coastal hikes with ocean views—and maybe even the chance to spot a breaching whale—then there’s some good news coming out of the Western Cape.
CapeNature has just given the famous Whale Trail a bit of a glow-up, right before the much-anticipated whale watching season kicks off in June.
And trust us, if you’ve ever hiked those 55 kilometers along De Hoop Nature Reserve, you’ll know how magical it is.
But lately, visitors have had a few concerns—and CapeNature listened.
Why the Trail Got a Makeover
Over the years, hikers have been raising red flags about parts of the trail that were starting to feel a little too “rugged” in all the wrong ways.
Some of the huts were looking worn, bathrooms were due for a fix-up, and parts of the trail infrastructure needed attention.
So, as part of a short- to medium-term strategy to improve the experience, CapeNature made the call to shut the trail down for ten days and get to work.
Here’s What’s Been Upgraded
During that quick but impactful closure, the team got busy repainting the overnight huts, sprucing up the bathrooms, and reinforcing several visitor facilities that were in need of a little structural TLC.
In a statement, CapeNature said these changes were all about “futureproofing” the trail—making sure it can handle whatever nature (and hikers!) throw at it, while also keeping the experience top-notch for everyone.
What’s Coming Next for the Whale Trail?
The recent upgrades are just the beginning.
CapeNature has already set its sights on a bigger, more comprehensive revamp.
That next round of improvements is scheduled for May 2026, when the trail will close again—but this time for two full months.
That’s a much more significant upgrade window, likely aiming to really level-up the trail experience for years to come.