Whale Watching in Hermanus

Hermanus is regarded as the whale watching capital of South Africa. By Land - By Boat - By Air

Old Harbour in Hermanus

The Old Harbour Open-Air Museum is a provincial heritage site. It is unique in that apparently it is one of only two fishing harbours in the world that has been conserved in tact.

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Hermanus Cliff Path

meanders for almost 11 kilometres along the coast from the New Harbour in the west to the estuary at the mouth of the Klein River in the east.

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Hermanus in the heart of the Cape Whale Coast of South AfricaContact Us

WHAT TO DO

Top Activities and Adventures

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Hermanus, a village by the sea in South Africa

Nestled between lush mountains and the turquoise waters of Walker Bay, near the southern tip of Africa, Hermanus is one of the Cape’s most beautiful coastal destinations. Known as the heart of the Cape Whale Coast, it’s world-famous for its land-based whale watching and exceptional wines.

From June to November, Southern Right Whales return to these shores, offering unforgettable close-up encounters along the scenic cliff paths — one of the best whale watching experiences in the world.

Beyond the ocean, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley boasts award-winning vineyards, while the nearby Stanford Wine Route offers a charming countryside escape.

Hermanus also hosts the vibrant Hermanus Whale Festival, held annually in September. This popular eco-marine event features live music, local food, marine exhibits, and family-friendly entertainment celebrating the arrival of the whales.

Hermanus Online Travel Magazine is your go-to guide for where to stay, what to do, and what to see — from accommodation bookings and top activities to local history and marine life.

Start planning your Hermanus escape today — where mountains meet the ocean

Africa Travel Week 2024 opens with a significant 53% increase in attendees. | WTM Africa

Record-breaking attendance marks Africa Travel Week's triumphant return! This year's event in Cape Town shattered expectations with a staggering 53% surge in attendees from 88 nations worldwide.

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3 differences between a whale and a shark you do not think about

Dolphins, whales, seals, sea lions, and otters are all mammals. They give birth to live young and nurse their young with milk. In contrast, even though some sharks give birth to live young, sharks are fish.

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Buffel Comes Home to Moult

Buffel, the elephant seal is perfectly evolved to handle extended periods of starvation, specifically when he come ashore to moult for approx. 4-5 weeks

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Bryde's Whale - a baleen whale around 20 tonnes of awesomeness !

Bryde’s whales are found in every ocean of the world. However, some populations of Bryde's whales take such a liking to an area that they are considered ‘resident’. The Cape Whale Coast is fortunate to have these whales as residents.

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Nature Reserves -Enjoy Nature’s Playgrounds where the Wild is all about Fun

Nature reserves are special areas of land or water that have been set aside for the protection of wildlife and their habitats. The Cape Whale Coast is speckled with these treasure troves of natural wonders. Visit and enjoy the biodiversity and natural beauty of these five nature reserves - they are all valuable and worth protecting.

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Join a fun and friendly local parkrun on Saturday

Parkrun is a collection of 5-kilometre events for walkers, runners, and volunteers that take place every Saturday morning at 8hr. In this area, we have 3 parkrun venues

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Southern Right Whales are back- an all time record count in the 2023 aerial survey

The southern right whales are finally on the move back to the feeding grounds in Antarctica. This journey will take them about 6 weeks.

What an epic whale-watching season it was this year!!

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Will competition with fishermen nudge Africa’s only penguin towards extinction?

African penguins are in serious trouble. To help, South Africa has rolled out no-fishing zones near six important penguin colonies. The question now is, Will it work?

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