[2] Its name means hippopotamus pond or lake, from the Afrikaans words seekoei (literally "sea cow") and vlei.

Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve (established in June 2000) is based on the lake.

The total area of the reserve is 344 hectares (850 acres).

[2] It is separated by a peninsula from the Rondevlei Nature Reserve and preserves endangered Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland ecosystems.

[3] Zeekoevlei is used for recreational rowing and sailing.