Last updated: 23 June, 2023
When the southern right whales make their annual migration from icy Antarctic waters to mate and calve in the temperate seas off South Africa, Hermanus is the place to be. With its steep cliffs and plentiful vantage points, this somewhat-trendy holiday town offers some of the most accessible land-based whale watching in the world.
A cliff-top trail meanders through town, offering up a number of easy-to-access viewpoints. The wonderful thing about whale season is the luck of the draw: pick your spot, take out your binoculars and scan the seas. If you’re lucky, the blubbery tourists will be breaching, lob-tailing and spy hopping off the cliffs, barely 100m away.
Alternatively, take a boat tour for close-up views. Boat-based whale-watching tours depart from the New Harbour. They’re not cheap, but you’re all but assured of incredible sightings. You can also kayak out to see them. Walker Bay Adventures will take you out into Walker Bay in sea kayaks.
Whales are there in season, but dolphins and seals are present all year round. If you time it for late September/early October, you’ll catch the Hermanus Whale Festival. The climax of the season is a celebration of cetaceans, complete with live music, kids’ entertainment and a tempting range of food stalls.
