Where and when does one see whales - and how

Watching whales in Hermanus is best between August and the end of October. While it's true that the Southern Right Whales start arriving in Hermanus from June onwards, the "season" only peaks during August, with sightings virtually guaranteed until the end of October/early November. Some accommodation establishments advertise that there are whales from June/July already, but the chances are good that you'll be disappointed if you come to Hermanus for the whales only. If you're coming here for everything else the town has to offer with the possible bonus of spotting whales, that's fine - otherwise wait till at least the middle of August.

Download your free Whale watching Guide here.

When things are in "full swing" you have a few whale watching options, depending on where your main base is and what your holiday plans are:

• A day trip for land-based whale watching. 
  If your main accommodation is Cape Town, for instance, you can either take a bus trip or hire a car if you're visiting from abroad. The buses don't stop in Hermanus for more than about an hour, which means you can't stroll too far. So, if you're out to enjoy the coastline and see plenty of whales, come by car. That way you can enoy so many other Hermanus attractions as well. Pack in warm clothing, as our weather is pretty changeable and the wind can get cool.
• A day trip for boat-based whale watching.
  These trips depart from Cape Town hotels at around 9 the morning and return from Hermanus late afternoon. Lunch is normally for your own account. It's always cooler at sea than on land, so be prepared and bring along a warm jacket.
  

   

  Whale Watching in Hermanus with Viator Travel the coastal route to Hermanus for shore based whale watching. If you're lucky you may see Southern Right and Humpback Whales frolicking in waters not far from the shoreline, before returning to Cape Town via Elgin and Sir Lowry's Pass.

• The town is a perfect gateway to the rest of the Western Cape. 
• It's 2 hours from Cape Town if you need to be in a city.
• It's close to the Winelands - not to mention our own wine estates. Franschoek is just an hour away.
• Just across the bay there's Gansbaai where you can - apart from watching whales - go cage diving with Great White Sharks (or just study them from the boat, if you prefer!).
• If your holiday includes a stint along the Garden Route to Knysna or Plettenberg Bay, Hermanus is close to the N2, the national road which will take you there.
• If the whales decide to be shy for a while, there's plenty of other things to do.
• Hermanus is part of the Overstrand Municipality which includes the nearby towns of Rooiels, Hangklip, Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay, Kleinmond, Hermanus, Stanford, Gansbaai and Pearly Beach. Apart from whales, all of these towns have an abundance of natural beauty - and charm - to be enjoyed by visitors.
• Hermanus is also the perfect place in which to do absolutely nothing at all! It's a "just chill out" kind of place.

Tip: Take along a pair of binoculars, a hat, sunscreen and patience.

If you're in the vicinity of the seafront area of town you'll soon learn to spot the crowds and the whales they are watching.  You can also listen for the "oooohs" and "aaaahs" and head in that direction!

The hub of Hermanus is undoubtedly the area overlooking the Old Harbour.
From there you look down on the bay so it's easy to spot our nautical guests. Right across the road there's the Village Piazza where there are numerous restaurants and a nice vibe. It's a place where us locals meet for coffee or a meal - and to have the occasional music festival which thumps its way deep into the night!  There are plenty of shops as well.

Stephen Wong has an excellent gallery of Southern Right Whale photos