Hermanus – Heart Of The South African Whale Coast

While you’ll come across a “whale coast” in many parts of the world, Hermanus is what the experts call “the best land based whale watching spot in the world” – the place where over 100 Southern Right Whales come to calve, mate and frolic each year.

Whales, Southern Rights in particular, are found along a vast stretch of South African coastline – from way up the West Coast to as far as Plettenberg Bay and even Port Elizabeth on the South Coast. You’ll also find Humpbacks and Brydes whales in much smaller numbers. The entire coast is a whale viewing paradise!

The focal point or “heart” of this southern Cape Whale Coast is the popular seaside resort of Hermanus, just south of Cape town – about a 2 hour drive away.  It is a beautiful town chosen by many living abroad as their second home.

Hermanus is situated on a narrow coastal plain embracing Walker Bay (see Google map of Hermanus), it has a mellow Mediterranean climate and has for many years been referred to as “The Riviera Of The South” and is known for its “champagne air”.

What makes Hermanus so special?

• It’s in Hermanus where you can be woken by the whales blowing at night, where you can watch them while sipping coffee or enjoying a restaurant meal, or, best of all, while walking along the cliff paths which hug the town’s coastline for about 12 kilometres.

• If walking’s not your thing or you want get up close and personal with a Southern Right Whale, then a trip on one of the registered whale watching boats is the answer. They are permitted to approach whales as close as 50 metres. Problem is, the whales don’t know that, and they’re curious creatures …

• A town that has the world’s only Whale Crier (like a town crier!) just has that extra special touch during whale season.

• If the weather gets a bit “tempestuous” – and it certainly can! – Hermanus has so much else to offer our visitors. Apart from its natural beauty – a large bay ringed by mountains – the immediate area has plenty for you to do. How about more than 60 wine estates ….? And the wine‘s top notch – trust me on this!

• There are marine reserves to protect fauna and flora, and during whale season no motorised vessels may enter the larger portion of the bay (June to end November). Which means you can take out a kayak …

• The town has a Blue Flag beach with a second beach at Hawston, part of the same municipal district, sporting the status

and

• Its very own Whale Festival

• Just across the bay is Gansbaai (Bay of Geese), arguably the best spot in the world for cage-diving among Great White Sharks (just ask Brad Pitt)

Whale watching, or whatever else you want to do … Hermanus is a great place to do it in!
whales

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