Hermanus
A seaside town about 120 km southeast of Cape Town, known as the best land-based whale-watching spot in the world, where southern right whales often come within tens of meters of the cliffs.
Hermanus lies on Walker Bay. Every year from June to November, southern right whales come into the bay to mate and calve. They often breach and slap their tails just tens of meters offshore, and you can see them from the Cliff Path, a roughly 12 km cliff walk. The town also has the world's only 'whale crier', who blows a conch horn to signal where the whales are. You can also take a licensed whale-watching boat out for a closer view, at about ZAR 900–1,200, or book a great white shark cage dive in nearby Gansbaai. A whale festival is held at the end of September. The Old Harbour has a small whale museum, and the nearby Hemel-en-Aarde Valley has Pinot Noir wineries. From Cape Town, a self-drive along the R44 coastal road takes about 1.5–2 hours and passes the Stony Point penguin colony, so it can be done as a day trip.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Old Harbour & Whale Museum
- Hermanus Cliff Path
- Hermanus Country Market
- Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
- Rotary Way Scenic Drive
- Fernkloof Nature Reserve
- Grotto Beach
- Klein River Lagoon