Meandering along a narrow stretch of land between the mountains, the spectacular sea cliffs and the Indian Ocean shoreline is Hermanus, surrounded on all sides by nature. This seaside town, south east of Cape Town, in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, is best known as a whale watching destination, but that’s not all it has to offer. Mountain walks, beautiful beaches and lagoons, secluded forests, crashing surf and prestigious golf courses; and all wrapped up in some of the most spectacular and botanically rich parts of the Cape Floral Kingdom. Just a short drive from Cape Town, along Clarence Drive with its jaw dropping views, a visit to Hermanus is easily slotted into a Western Cape itinerary, and I’d highly recommend it.
Hermanus is probably most known for its whale watching, and the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay are the perfect vantage point for this. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has listed Hermanus as one of the 12 Best Whale Watching Destinations in the World, so no article about this destination would be complete without mentioning these gentle giants.
Hermanus is a breeding ground for southern right whales. Each year whales travel thousands of kilometres, from the cold waters of the Antarctic, to give birth to their young and to frolic in the sheltered bay. The best time to visit Hermanus, for whale-watching, is between July and November, and the town’s two whale festivals, in August and September, celebrate these wonderful creatures. Hermanus is home to the only ‘whale crier’ in the world, a tradition that started in 19291, and from June to December his cries echo through the small town, alerting visitors to any whale activity off shore, with a few blows from his kelp horn.
If you want to get out on the water and little closer to the whales, in an ethical way and with a company who are very involved in conservation, then Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai, approximately a 45-minute drive away, offer a ‘Marine Big 5’ experience. You’ll head out on a 14m catamaran, for a 2-to-3-hour boat cruise, depending on sightings and weather conditions, to look for whales, dolphins, seals, sharks and African penguins. Each trip is led by an experienced marine biologist.
It’s on the Hermanus cliff path that some of the best land-based whale watching occurs. Running almost the entire length of town, the cliff path winds 11km along the rugged coastline. Strolling along it you have beautiful views of…
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