The adjacent De Hoop Marine Protected Area, which extends three nautical miles (5 km) out to sea, is one of the largest marine protected areas in Africa and provides a sanctuary for a vast and fascinating array of marine life.

De Hoop Nature Reserve is situated east of Bredasdorp, approximately 260 km from Cape Town. The reserve may be approached from either Bredasdorp or Swellendam. The last 50 km of either route is along gravel roads.

The reserve was initially utilized as an experimental wildlife farm where rare and endangered species, such as bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, were bred in order to restock reserves and to sell to private landowners. However, since the early 1970s, the primary objective of De Hoop has been to conserve natural ecosystems typical of the Western Cape coastal region. The marine protected area was proclaimed in March 1986 which contributed significantly towards the conservation of this region's coastal marine resources.