Hermanus is positioned along the shores of Walker Bay near the Southern most tip of Africa. With magnificent mountains as a backdrop, this picturesque seaside resort is known to be one of the premier land based whale-watching destinations in the world.
A leading tourist destination year round, Hermanus has much to offer the tourist. From adrenaline junkies looking for the thrill of great white shark cage diving to nature lovers wishing to experience the magical Fernkloof Nature Reserve, part of our world-renowned fynbos floral kingdom.
Southern Right whales visit Hermanus annually between the months of July and December coming within metres of the shoreline entertaining visitors with their antics as they breach and play in the ocean. The Hermanus Whale Festival is held annually to welcome the whales and celebrations reach fever pitch with food stalls, arts and crafts stalls, pubs, bands and theatre productions to entertain, wine and dine you.
The famous Cliff Paths of Hermanus which meander along the coastline of the village offer an ideal vantage point from which to view these gentle giants of the ocean with benches positioned at regular intervals it’s advisable to take along a picnic basket, a refreshing drink and binoculars for a fabulous day of whale watching from the Cliff Paths.
Home to several talented artists, Hermanus is rich in art galleries and craft stalls where artists display their beautiful works for sale. The regular craft market held in the centre of town is always a hive of activity with objects of interest for every member of the family.
Hermanus is known to be a nature lovers paradise and offers excellent bird watching opportunities, hiking trails, and outdoor adventure activities including great white shark diving (from nearby Gansbaai), boat based whale watching, paragliding, sailing, scuba diving, great beaches, golf, fishing, horse riding and a unique “Wine Wander”.
Climate
Summers are pleasant, perfect beach weather often with high temperatures but thankfully, being a coastal town, a welcome sea breeze will cool things down in the late afternoons.
Being in a winter rainfall area Hermanus will often have several consective days of much needed rain during the winter months. Storms are not unknown during winter but these are thankfully few.
Summer Average 26.4°c
Winter Average 14°c
Average annual rainfall: 546mm
Entertainment
Eating Out
Hermanus is a fiesta for foodies. Restaurants abound to suit all tastes and budgets. Magnifent views and ambiences to please one and all.
Festivals
The annual Whale Festival (Art and Environmental Feast) is held celebrating the arrival of the whales to the bay. The festival's popularity has grown immensely over the years and draws crowds from all over the country. The festival offers not only national theatre productions and south african bands but local arts and craft stalls, cuisine and wines from more than 60 exhibitors and growing.
Hermanus Whale Festival
Wine
The Hermanus Wine Wander commences at the Wine Village at the Hemel-En-Aarde Valley with the largest selections of South African wines. At Whalehaven Wines just a few metres on you can sample wines with a view of the mountains and the ocean. Meander on to the Hamilton Russell estate where you realise why this valley is called the Hemel-En-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley.
Local galleries are filled with local art and some artists display their work at local flea and craft markets. The area does not only abound with painters, but also with writers, ceramicists, architects, sculptors and glass blowers. Hermanus also has an active Art Society.
Shopping
The village is a feast for shoppers. With the most interesting little shops, speciality stores, boutiques and the craft market including the farmers market at the Hemel-En-Aarde valley which is held on a Saturday, there’s something to please even the most discerning shopper.
Sport/Outdoors
Beaches
Hermanus is home to some of the finest beaches in the world. There are several beaches from which to choose, Grotto being possibly the most popular with it’s picturesque mountain backdrop and expansive powdery white beach sand. In addition see the following:
Hawston
In the village of Hawston, magnificent beach, picnic & BBQ areas.
Voëlklip
Ablution facilities, good surf spot and great sun tanning.
Langbaai
Just beautiful
Kammabaai
Great surf spot, picnic and BBQ areas.
Sandbaai
Rock pools, great snorkelling
Onrus Beach
Great body boarding & surfing
Breakfast Bay
Situated at Vermont. Good picnic spot, sheltered beach.
Cycling
Fernkloof Mountain biking trail
Eastcliff cycling track
Fernkloof Nature Reserve (Fynbos)
There is no other recorded place on earth where as many different species of fynbos can be seen growing in such close proximity as in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. A total of 1 474 species have been collected and identified to date. Fynbos is endemic to the Western Cape and can be seen in abundance along the famous Hermanus Cliff Paths.
The Hermanus Cliff Paths which are approximately 12 kms long meander along the coastline from the New Harbour in Westcliff to Grotto Beach in Voëlklip offering excellent vantage points for whale watching, fantastic photo opportunities and a wonderful way to keep fit.
Paragliding
Climatic factors offer perfect paragliding conditions in Hermanus.
The weather and the mountains of the area make Hermanus a paragliders paradise. Summer skies are usually dotted with the reds and blues and yellows of paragliders as they soar over the Olifantsberg and land on the perfectly positioned high school fields.
Scuba Diving
With several wrecks in the Hermanus and Gansbaai areas, scuba diving is popular with dives varying in depth from 9m to 40 m. Reefs are accessable by boat but experienced divers will guide you to shore entry points.
Scuba diving can be done at Hermanus and nearby Gansbaai. There are several wrecks that can be explored and various reefs ranging in depth from 9m to 40m. Most reefs are only accessible by boat, but shore entries are possible at certain points.
Shark Diving (Gansbaai)
White shark cage diving and surface viewing has become one of South Africa's biggest tourist attractions in the past few years with most of the White Shark Dive operators working out of Gansbaai, just a few minute's drive from Hermanus.
This is a must see and and you're not obligated to cage dive, boat based viewing of these maginificent creatures is fascinating. See the colony of Jackass Penguins on Dyer Island and the enormous colony of seals at Geyser Island on your day out with one of the professional dive operators.
White Shark Cage Dive Operators leave from Kleinbaai harbour (Gansbaai) daily subject obviously to prevailing weather conditions.
Surfing
Great spots for surfing and body boarding:
Onrus Beach
Kammabaai
Whale Watching
Whale watching does take pride of place amongst tourist attractions as there's nowhere else in the world where land based viewing is so conveniently layed out. The Cliff Paths offer excellent vantage points to view the whales as you sit on one of the many benches strategically placed along the paths for visitors to relax and take in the spleandour of Hermanus.
Tours
Township Tours
Take a tour into a South African Black Township. Walking tours are offered daily to the Zwelihle Township.
