Whale Watching Season in Hermanus
If you think about whales, Hermanus is probably the first place that pop up. Hermanus is located about two hours out of Cape Town and it is infamously known as the whale hub of South Africa. This once “little town” has attracted thousands of visitors each year from all over the world.
Hermanus is filled with great history, local entertainment and untouched beautiful beaches namely; Grotto Bay, Voelklip and Langbaai. Each year between June and December thousands of whales migrate from the icy waters of Antarctica to the warm Indian ocean coast line of South Africa. These giant mammals can be found mainly in the waters of Hermanus. The whales are said to swim to this location to breed.
It is nearly impossible to miss an opportunity to spot a whale during this period. Many safe designated lookout points have been allocated for visitors to witness these mammals in their natural habitat. These lookout points are absolutely free, giving you some financial relief.
To really enjoy your trip to Hermanus we recommend that you make it a mini holiday while on holiday with the following list of activities to do during the whale watching season which you will battle to resist:
- Boat based whale watching: Whale watching from the cliffs surrounding the coastline may seem amazing but just imagine standing about two metres away from these beautiful giants. Well, nothing is impossible in Hermanus. Boat trips vary in price and sails from the harbour to the open waters of the ocean where the whales can be seen up close. Be careful they might just show off a little too much for you.
- Open sea kayaking: In Walker Bay, visitors can experience kayaking into the ocean, distance restricted, amongst the whales. These tours are guided by professionals who will train and safeguard the group of paddlers.
- Aerial Whale Watching: Enjoy a helicopter flight from Walker Bay over the ocean where you are able to view the whales from a bird’s-eye-view. The clear ocean waters allow visitors to take pictures and clearly see the whale up close while it is swimming.
- Whale house museum: Surely if you visiting Hermanus to watch the whales it would only make sense to learn more about these animals. The Whale house museum is a small and unique museum that has a large whale hanging from the ceiling on display. There is an affordable fee to pay to gain entry into the museum.
- Hermanus Vineyard tours: There are many vineyard tour packages to choose from. Most packages include a meal and wine tasting which you could enjoy after a long day of whale watching.
Contact African Peninsula Tours for assistance with your whale watching trip.
