Visit Hermanus: Whale Capital Of The World In South Africa
This charming small town on South Africa’s Overberg coast is a wonderful place to visit, where you can see the Southern Right Whales at their best. Let’s find out more about Hermanus.
Hermanus nestles on the coast southeast of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The town is primarily a whale-watching destination, but it also has spectacular beaches as well as other interesting locations to explore.
Beaches And Whale Watching In Hermanus
The most popular beaches in Hermanus are Voëlklip Beach and Grotto Beach, the latter of which overlooks Walker Bay. Voëlklip is a popular surfing spot and offers grassy lawns for relaxation and picnics during a day at the beach. Grotto Beach is a Blue Flag status beach, perfect for whale watching.
The Cliff Path is a great place for strolling in the fresh sea air, while watching the whales cavorting in the water below. The Fernkloof Nature Reserve is also a wonderful place for walking through nature, seeing the fynbos, typical of this area of South Africa as well as wildlife and the many bird species. Gearing’s Point is another great location where visitors can spot the whales out at sea from high up on the cliffs.
The best time to visit in between July and November each year. Options for viewing the Southern Right Whales include viewing from the land, boat tours and aerial tours on a scenic flight over the water.
Museums of Hermanus
The Old Harbour Museum is another interesting site which encompasses a typical fishermen’s village, the Old Harbor itself and the Whale House Museum. Here you can find out more about the Southern Right Whales that come to Hermanus each year for breeding. The Whale House Museum has informative displays, as well as the suspended skeleton of a whale.
The Whale Crier Of Hermanus
A much-loved tradition of Hermanus in the town’s Whale Crier. The first of its kind came into being in 1991, after a tourist visited the publicity offices in the town, saying the Southern Right Whales must be the best-kept secret of the Cape. That had to change!
His visit led to a publicity stunt where the town hired the first Whale Crier, a colorful character who stands on the coast, blowing his kelp horn to announce the presence of whales in the bay. This has continued ever since, with regular changes in the person acting as the Whale Crier. It is a grueling task to perform, hence the Whale Crier often stands down to give someone else the opportunity.
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One such employee, Wilson, also organized township tours in Hermanus and while he is no longer blowing his kelp horn, he is still running his fascinating tours into the traditional life of the locals.
Out of whale season, the current Whale Crier can be found at the information kiosk in Village Square or the tourist office and you can chat to him about his job and his wide knowledge of the whales. See the whale crier in action in the video included here.
Shopping And Dining In Hermanus
While the town is small, there is no shortage of great restaurants, serving the freshest catch of the day fish and seafood and other dishes.
Meanwhile, Village Square is one of the best places for retail therapy in the town, selling all types of goods, including clothing, souvenirs and gifts, as well as coffee houses for a relaxing drink.
Make a plan to visit Hermanus during your vacation in the Western Cape of South Africa. Explore the town more in the video included below.
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