Hermanus is a small town on the Southern coast of the Western Cape, and is most famous for its whale watching. While the town is a relatively sleepy “retirement town” during three quarters of the year, it comes alive during the late Southern winter and spring as thousands of tourists come for the Whale Festival. This runs during the first week of November, and is the best time of year for whale viewing.
Hotels & Guesthouses
From: R 1850
Birkenhead House is perched upon a rocky cliff, overlooking Hermanus' Walker Bay – one of the world’s premier whale watching sites in the world.
From: R 2540
Grootbos is an eco-friendly resort 2 hours drive from Cape Town, perched above where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet and surrounded by Milkwood forests.
From: R 1550
There are a number of hotels in Hermanus, most notably the historic Windsor Hotel, which has superior views of the waves crashing onto the rocks as you drive into town. However, for a more relaxed, authentic stay you might want to try out one of the many luxury guesthouses in the area, such as the above-mentioned Birkenhead House or Grootbos Lodges.
Whale Watching
During the Whale Festival the streets fill with tourists, and all you have to do to see whales is walk along the seaside main street of the town and glance out into the bay. Whale spotting is also good for several weeks before and after the festival, but declines sharply towards the end of November.
Whale watching tours are available from many operators, and usually cost between $25 and $50, with some offering a partial refund if no whales are spotted (not a concern during peak season, but well worth considering in early October/late November).
A once popular feature of the town, the local self-appointed Whale Crier, used to walk around the main street with a horn, blowing signals that let tourists know where to find whales (the meaning of the signals were printed on his sandwich-board). The original Whale Crier retired several years ago, but he has since been succeeded by an enthusiastic youngster.
Fishing tours, trips to the local penguin colony, and hang-gliding are also popular activities that run constantly from before the Whale Festival and well into Autumn.
Beaches
Grotto Beach is the largest and most popular beach in Hermanus, with a long stretch of white sand and perfect conditions during summer. It can, however, get a bit windy on the beaches during spring and autumn.
For surfers, the nearby Onrus beach offers a good break with consistent 2-3 foot off-shore conditions, only occasionally changing to on-shore during autumn and winter.
