Things To Do Zeekoevlei

Zeekoevlei takes its name from the Afrikaans “seekoei” (sea cow, meaning hippopotamus) and “vlei” (lake). Jan van Riebeeck himself described it in 1656 as “quite a large lake… with deep brackish water, full of hippopotami.” The hippos are long gone from Zeekoevlei itself, but the neighbouring Rondevlei Nature Reserve still hosts the only wild hippo population in greater Cape Town. Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve, established in 2000, is one of the city’s youngest conservation areas and uniquely shares its boundary with 136 private homeowners.

Outdoor Adventures

Zeekoevlei is popular for recreational rowing and sailing on its 258-hectare lake, with Rondevlei’s hippos, pelicans and caracals a short walk away for wildlife spotting.

Food and Dining

Local options are limited around the lake itself, with Grassy Park and the wider Cape Flats a short drive for a fuller range.

Family Friendly Activities

Zeekoevlei’s lakeside setting and water sports make it a popular weekend destination for families, with the close relationship between residents and the nature reserve giving it a genuinely community feel.

Nightlife and Culture

Life here revolves around the lake rather than nightlife, sailing clubs and community events fill most of the calendar.

Zeekoevlei by the Numbers

The Short Version

Zeekoevlei has carried its “hippo pond” name since Jan van Riebeeck first described it in 1656, and remains a genuinely community-oriented, lake-based suburb today.