Hermanus is a small coastal town tucked away in the southwest corner of Africa. The town is famous for frequent visits of the southern-right whales that can be easily spotted merely 5m away from the coastline. This once humble fishing town has transformed into a popular tourist destination, located only a 2-hour drive east of Cape Town
This beautiful town offers a plethora of outdoor with a mix of culinary connoisseur activities, from whale watching, shark cage diving, visiting incredible beaches, enjoying art galleries, wine tasting, tasting superb food at world-class restaurants, and much more. Despite its popularity, Hermanus has maintained the rustic charm that once made it a town well sought after.
Hermanus was founded in the early 1800s by a name named Hermanus Pieters. He was in search of better grazing grounds for his livestock when he happened upon a land with freshwater springs and great grazing pastures. The splendid area attracted a lot of other farmers and fishermen to settle in the area growing the area in no time into a lively town. The town was initially named Hermanuspietersfontein, however, it was too long for the postal service at the time so it changed to Hermanus.
As a famous whale-watching town there are lots of activities available around the admiration of these gentle giants. During the whale season, the Overberg's coast is filled with southern-right whales as they migrate each year from the cold waters of the Antarctic to the warmer oceans of Cape to mate and breed.
You can watch these beautiful mammals from the shores or get a more exclusive experience on a boat as you journey out into the waters to get a more intimate experience. For a historic experience, visit the whale museum to uncover the history and intricate details surrounding these creatures, you'll get to marvel at a giant southern-right whale skeleton that hangs above everything.
For all the culinary connoisseurs, there are fantastic wine farms to visit in the Hermel-en-Aarde valley, experts at making Pinot Noir wines, with a diverse set of restaurants to choose from.
The best time to visit is during the whale watching season occurring between July to November, peaking around September. Visiting Hermanus is not complete unless you witness the sight of these spectacular giants of the ocean.
Let's help you curate a fantastic time out in Hermanus, accompanied by some of the best tour guides in the country. We'll take you on an amazing drive from Cape Town to Hermanus where you'll get to experience the best of Hermanus by doing activities that will leave a positive mark on your experience.
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