HOTELS IN HERMANUS

Hermanus Pieters, a teacher from Caledon, stumbled upon this delightful coastal gem in the early 1800's, when he followed an elephant trail while looking for grazing for his flock of sheep during the long, hot summer months.
The elephant trail led him through the aptly named Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley - famous for its boutique vineyard - down to the coast where he found a freshwater spring which made it an ideal spot for his sheep to graze.
Word of the discovery spread amongst the local farming community and soon everyone in the district was coming down to the area during the long hot summers. It became known as Hermanuspietersfontein, but the name was shortened to Hermanus in 1904 when Hermanus officially gained municipal status.
The bay where Hermanus is situated, Walker Bay, which was named after a young Naval Officer called Walker, teemed with an abundance of fish, which soon attracted more and more fisherman to the town.

The Marine Hotel

By the early 1900's Hermanus' reputation as an excellent fishing spot, an area of outstanding beauty and it's 'healing air' had spread across the world. Harley Street doctors in London prescribed the 'champagne air' to their high-brow patients, and soon wealthy aristocrats were booking in at the sanatorium, the Windsor Hotel, and taking tea at the Marine Hotel on the clifftop walk.
Today, Hermanus is a popular and vibrant holiday destination due to its reputation as one of the best land-locked whale watching spot in the world.

Hotels range from budget to 5-star establishments. We have a list of current hotels and their contact details on our Hotels Page.

THE WHALES ARE IN TOWN!

This is the time when the whales are calving, mating and rearing their young in the sheltered bays off the Cape Coast, and Hermanus is undoubtedly the place to visit at this time.

Make sure to heed the call of Hermanus' Whale Crier, who blows his kelp horn to inform visitors and residents alike where they can see these magnificent giants of the sea.

Hermanus is nestled between the mountains and the sea on the Whale Coast Route. Grotto Beach with its Blue Flag status is a popular place for young and old to come and spend time on the pristine, white, powdery beach, take a dip in the sea or stroll along the shore while breathing in the champagne air.

IN AND AROUND HERMANUS

The view over Hermanus from the top of the Rotary Way Lookout Point. In the centre right is Hoy's Koppie, and in the distance is De Kelders and Gansbaai.

There are many excellent restaurants with magnificent sea views. The umbrella provide much appreciated shade in the heat of the day.

The stunning coastline of Walker Bay.

A Short Drive From Cape Town

From Cape Town, take the N2 towards Somerset West and keep going.

The road takes you over Sir Lowries Pass, into the Overberg region with it's orchards, vineyards and olive groves.

The Farmshop at Elgin is popular for its homemade breads, fresh produce and famous pies. We loved the Springbok Pie, as well as the Spinach and Feta as a meat-free option.

A Personal Journey To Hermanus, South Africa

It was with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty that we boarded our fight to Cape Town, which is the nearest international airport to our first port of call in South Africa.

Even though I grew up in the country, many things had changed since those days, and I wasn't sure what to expect.

Where Is South Africa?

South Africa is an independant republic situated at the southern-most tip of the very large African continent. It is a vast country - the whole of the UK can fit into one of its national Game Reserves - with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique forming it's immediate neighbours within the southern African region.

It is a country of contrasts: it has both a vibrant and growing economy, but a lot of poverty, vast swathes of countryside devoted to farming or wild-life, spectacular mountain ranges and breathtaking coastlines.

South Africa has a diverse and exciting cultural heritage, and English is widely spoken by all, which ensures that foreign visitors have no problem communicating with the locals.

In the last few decades, the nation has been emerging from the graveclothes of "Apartheid", and we were pleasantly surprised at the friendly welcome we received in what is popularly called "The Rainbow Nation".

Journey To Hermanus:

Hermanus is a mere 90 minute drive from Cape Town, and is famed for being the best land-locked whale-watching destination in the world.

What once was a popular holiday destination for South Africans, Hermanus today is a vibrant, growing, tourist attraction. Visitors come from all over the world to enjoy the whale-watching season especially from June to December when the Southern Right Whales arrive off the coast to mate and calve.

Hermanus overlooks Walker Bay, with its warm, sheltered waters, which provides a safe place for the whales to deliver their young. At birth, Southern Right calves weigh about 900 kg, and they grow about 3 cm a day. They stay close to their mothers, suckling on their fat-rich milk until they are strong enough to undertake the long journey back to the cold waters of the Antarctic.

The coastline here is ideal for the whales to swim right up to the rocks and visitors can often observe these gentle giants from mere feet away. For an even closer encounter with these wonderful creatures, many tour operators offer boat trips from the New Harbour on the west side of Hermanus. 

Why not take a trip with African Wings and see how many whales you can spot on a 30-minute flight around Walker Bay. 

Contact African Wings here:

Tel/Fax :	+27 (0)28 312 2701
Cell :	+27 (0)82 555 7605
	PO Box 215, Hermanus, 7200
e-mail :	safari@africanwings.co.za