Whale Watching Hermanus

When it comes to whale watching Hermanus certainly has a load of natural advantages.

According to the World Wildlife Fund it's the best place in the world for shore-based watching of Southern Right whales!

First it has the cliff paths and rocks, perfect for meandering along or picnicking on while you watch in a leisurely fashion.

Then there's the wide open bay, which is actually a DESTINATION for the whales, not just a transit lounge like some other whalewatching destinations.

Hermanus whales seen from the cliff tops
Photo courtesy of the Hermanus Times

And finally, there’s its reasonable closeness to the city of Cape Town itself, which makes it really convenient for city folks and visitors from further afield!

It also has the official Whale Crier of Hermanus who, with the help of his coded kelp-horn calls, keeps all us landlubber mammals informed of the movements of the sea-based ones – as if all that ponderous fluke-waving, splashing and leaping were not advertisement enough!

You may want to learn a little more about the critter that creates the hullabaloo, so I have written a Southern Right crib sheet for you. Once you’ve read up a little, you’ll be able to spout off in an authoritative fashion about comparative fin and fluke sizes, fluke shape, callosities and all the rest!

Hermanus is in a really spectacular spot. The seascapes are beautiful but the mountains are equally so and Fernkloof nature reserve is a bio-diversity hotspot.

I have put together a collection of gleaned Hermanus photos as a showcase. Special thanks to all contributors!

Southern Right whale passing beneath the boat hull
Hermanus, South Africa
Photo kudos go to Kackermann on Flickr



You may find the following related pages helpful:
Map - Hermanus | Accommodation in Hermanus | Day trips from Hermanus
Hermanus Wine Route | Hermanus Photos
Southern Right | Whale Watching Hermanus