You will also be engulfed with the beautiful views of hermanus. Out of concern for the health and safety of the exhibitors and visitors to the festival, the hermanus whale festival executive committee has no choice but to postpone the 2020 hermanus whale festival to september 2021 due to the global covid19 coronavirus pandemic. Hermanus whale season whale watching hermanus 2020. Jul 15, 2016 hermanus winter whale watching season is here.
A typical whale watching trip in season, we search for the gentle giants of the sea, the southern right whales. Hermanus whale watching in south africa go4travel blog. Hermanus in south africa is a region blessed with natural beauty, unique wildlife and geological awe, making it no surprise that this is arguably the best whale watching spot in the world and it lies just 90 minutes from cape town international each year, southern right whales migrate from their feeding grounds in the arctic to the warmer waters of the cape coast to mate, calve and put on a. You might spot one or two but not easily but there is a lot of other magnificent marine life to be seen.
These massive creatures can be viewed from the shore, from boats or even planes. The towns mountainous backdrop declines steeply to a rugged shoreline, characterised by deep bays alternating with stark white beaches with names like onrus. Hermanus is generally considered the best landbased whale watching destination in the world. Hermanus in south africa is without a shadow of a doubt, the best and most productive destination for experiencing great white sharks and whales at close quarters anywhere in the world. From what ive read, the whale watching season in hermanus runs until december. The apartment is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as fishing and hiking. Hermanus winter whale watching season is heretop cape. Oct 22, 2014 chris fishing and whale watching recommended for you 14.
The mediumsized brydes whale can be spotted all year round, and while rare, orcas can also be seen. Hermanus hosts an annual hermanus whale festival at the end of september, to celebrate the calving and mating season. Hermanus whales whale season hermanus southern right. Hermanus has a funny way of getting under your skin. The hermanus whale season when is the hermanus whale season. Southern right whales start arriving in walker bay from june and may even remain until december.
These baleens work like a sieve when the whale feeds. The best time to enjoy whale watching in hermanus is between july and november either from land, by boat or from the air via a scenic flight. Matthew lewin offers a guide to spotting southern right whales. I am a tour guide and take tourists all over the western and northern cape. Although the southern right whale is the most prolific. Whale watching season in hermanus hermanus message board. Hermanus whale watching whale route tour shark zone. Dec 25, 2016 peak calving season is july and august, but whales can be seen through september and october. Follow the whales south to the eden whale festival 2019. All hermanus activity prices are detailed below all prices below are per person great white shark cage diving at kleinbaai near hermanus from r2100 to r2450 3 to 5 hrs sightings are not 100% guaranteed copper shark are being spotted on a lot of trips whale watching boat trips r950 to r90 2 to 3 hrs whale watching season starts june, 2020. To take advantage of this optimal part of the season there is the muchanticipated hermanus whale watching festival that takes place every year. Well typically the whale season in hermanus is between june and december every year. I will be in south africa in early january and really want to see some whales, but i dont want to spend a lot of time in hermanus if there are no whales.
This can be enjoyed either from a cliff or an up close and personal experience by whale watching from a. Hermanus celebrates whale watching season 2016 vineyard. The hermanus whale festival is a fitting way to mark the peak of the whale watching season at the end of september. Whale watching, boat trips, tours, transfers and many adventures in hermanus, south africa. The whale watching season runs from june till early december.
If you happen to be here during the whale season, there is one character you are bound to meet. Whale watching hermanus what you need to know before you. The quaint coastal town of hermanus has become synonymous with whale watching, given its sheltered coves in which these marine mammals come to mate and calve. It is located just 5 minutes walk from restaurants, the center of hermanus and 3 minutes drive from the beach.
The official statement regarding the cancellation of the 2020 hermanus whale festival. Hermanus winter whale watching season is heretop cape town. Cape town discovery is an owner managed tour operation with a distinctly hands on, personable approach and would take great pleasure in introducing you to our beautiful part of the world. The peak whale watching season is september and october when cow and calf pairs are prolific and mating groups churn the sea with activity.
Hermanus whale festival, where the stars of the show are the southern right whales, near cape town in south africa. Hermanus whale watching south africa lonely planet. From june to december, the bay becomes the swimming grounds for a large number of southern right whales. Another discerning factor is the vshaped blowhole atop their heads. The curious humpback whale can be seen between may to december, moving up along the coast from hermanus to st lucia in kwazulunatal. Music, art and food festivities are also part of the program. Not only is the large population of whales and sharks unparalleled elsewhere, but the locations are so accessible and in close proximity to land, that you are virtually guaranteed to witness numerous animals. This tour covers whale watching but also includes a.
Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa. It has been recorded that walker bay has played host to over 100 whales at a time. They will furnish you with the details of the very experienced pilot evan austin who does whale watching trips from the air. In addition we have observed the occasional southern right whale, as they appear to slowly meander their way into walkerbay. The hermanus whale festival have a whale of a time at this fun, familyfriendly fiesta.
Prices for all activities, tours and adventures in hermanus. Hermanus is an awesome seaside resort in walker bay one hour from cape town which offers the best whale viewing from land in the world. However, with time and the banning of whale hunting the numbers are said to start increasing slowly but surely. Hermanus has been recognized by the wwf world wildlife fund as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world. Xplora tours, hermanus, western cape, south africa sharks, whales, wine tours, explorations, safaris, vacations and african adventures 0027 0 72 062 8500 whatsapp 0027720628500. Greater hermanus is situated only 90 minutes drive from cape town on the southern coast of the western cape along the cape whale coast route. Whale watching season in hermanus hermanus forum tripadvisor.
Download our free app to find the top whale watching spots in nsw and submit your. Whale away guest house offers elegantly furnished guest rooms. Hermanus whale festival whale festival of hermanus. With many sightings of brydes and breaching humpback whales, we enjoyed an early inception to the whale epoch. Hermanus whale watching near cape town, gansbaai in south. For the 26th year south africas first and only enviroarts extravaganza, the hermanus whale festival, celebrates the giant creatures of the deep, as well as top local performers from. The peak whale season runs from june to mid december, annually. The book was adapted into a 2016 movie by the same name. The quaint coastal town of hermanus, is said to be the worlds best land based whale watching spot. Just a 2 hour drive from cape town to the whale capital of the world hermanus, launching from gansbaai. Hermanus becomes a hive of activity with hustle and bustle every year during the last week of september, which is the official whale festival week.
A hermanus whale watching tour is a definite mustdo. The whale viewing during the months of july and august vary from year to year with regards to how many whales are. Peak calving season is july and august, but whales can be seen through september and october. Ecotourism is the main theme of the hermanus whale festival with the ecomarine village. Whale watching in december hermanus forum tripadvisor. Brydes whales great white sharks dolphins seals penguins bird life extra bonus. Check out march is the offseason, but we can still find brydes whales in the bay. A cliff path stretching from one side of the town to the other, hugs the coastline for about 12 km giving whale watchers unlimited opportunities to study the gentle giants sometimes within 20m in the coves below or lolling just beyond the breakers. Whale watching season in hermanus hermanus whales xplorio. The hermanus whale festival started 25 years ago as an annual community event in the pretty coastal town of hermanus. They spend one season in one place and the rest of the year in another, and travel long distances inbetween these seasons. I hope this helps you a bit my bottom line advice is to go to hermanus and enjoy it its at its best outside of the whale season because there are less crowds. Whales in hermanus hermanus whale festival october 2016. Oct 02, 2016 40 ton humpback whale leaps entirely out of the water.
Hermanus whales whale season hermanus southern right charters. Whale away guest house is a small guest house facing the walkerbay. Peak calving season is july and august, but whales can be seen through. Wedged between the mountain and the sea, the quaint hamlet of hermanus has been rated by the world wildlife fund wwf as one of the twelve best whale watching locations in the world, and it is often regarded as the heart of the whale route.
The property is a mere stroll from the hermanus cliff path which offers unspoiled views of the bay and overberg mountain range. Southern right whales come to visit hermanus shores to give birth or to find a mate every year between june and december. These tours meet at the great white house and then head down to the hermanus harbour. Hermanus in the western cape during the whale season. Hermanus whale season 2016 southern right charters. Cape whale coastwhale watching on the cape whale coast. Hermanus whale view beach house is located in hermanus, 1. In summer december through may, they are in the cold polar regions of the southern hemisphere where food mainly krill is present and plentiful. The boatbased whale watching trip is not capped and is from 1hr 30m 3hrs maximum. Cruising the coast hermanus offers many beautiful and professional whale watching cruises that can be enjoyed in large groups or smaller parties.
So what might have otherwise just been a small fishing village is today a large, bustling town with an excellent range of accommodation. Southern right charters whale watching 36,749 views. Jul 01, 2018 hermanus is a small town on the coast of the western cape province of south africa, but during whale season, it becomes the whale spotting capital of the country. You will also have the privilege of coming across dolphins, seals, penguins, bird life and lots more marine life. Hermanus whale view beach house takes a front row seat on a breath taking private rocky beach a mere 30m from the crashing waves in hermanus, cape town, south africa.
If you want a guarantee that the whales are in the bay, go in september at the same time as the whale. Hermanus whale watching south africa lonely planet forum. Hermanus is a town on the southern coast of the western cape province of south africa. It forms the centre of the cape whale route and is surrounded by nature reserves. There is usually security on the sections nearer the town. Hermanus, situated between magic mountains and serene seas.
Hermanus is a small town on the coast of the western cape province of south africa, but during whale season, it becomes the whale spotting capital of the country. Whale watching in hermanus hermanus whales xplorio. Just a 2 hour drive from cape town to the whale capital of the world hermanus. Only an hour and a halfs drive from cape town, hermanus hugs walker bay every bit like a mother who has perfected the art of the embrace gently, but without any attachment so that its waters appeal to a group of whales who return, yearuponyear, to mate and calve in these waters. Hermanus originally called hermanuspietersfontein, but shortened in 1902 as the name was too long for the postal service, is a town on the southern coast of the western cape province of south africa.
Apartment hermanus whale view beach house, south africa. I have never known if it is the laid back atmosphere of a seaside town, the claimed most oxygenated air in the world or the proximity of spectacular nature so close to you at all times all i know is that it is a special place. Its because of this that the whales choose to make their way to hermanus in the winter months, when the sun is weaker and the waters cooler. How to have a whale of a time without whales in hermanus. The tours are operated from the new harbour in hermanus and departs 3 to 4 times daily depending on the time of year and. On a recent visit i didnt see any security and i just didnt feel 100% safe so i headed back into town. Last days of whale watching in hermanus for 2012 duration. Whale watching in hermanus is an unforgettable experience, so make sure to book your tour with shark zone today.
Visitors from all over the world descend to this attractive former fishing village to see the famous southern right whales that come here every year to mate and calve. Also a huge plea to those who like to come to hermanus to watch whales the whales are being seriously threatened by japanese. We depart gansbaai harbor and head toward dyer island where there are 60 000 cape fur seals and this is the hunting grounds for the great white sharksapex predator we will hang around shark alley near dyer island, where you will watch the cape fur seals run a gauntlet to. Southern right whales have been reported to still be in hermanus. There are a number of outdoor activities available, including shark cage diving, golfing, boat trips, whale watching a must during whale season, wine tasting and more. Hermanus is the mecca for whale watching during the southern hemispheres winter months. Southern right whales migrate to the bay and use their time here to mate and calve. Hermanus comes alive as it celebrates whale watching season 2016 the internationally renowned town of hermanus reels in tourists from around the country during august and september as the kalfiefees festival kicks in line with the hermanus food and wine festival. The exact date all depends when the star performers arrive and depart. Because of this their numbers have been depleted drastically, with only 3000 or so left. It is famous for southern right whale watching during the southern winter to spring seasons, and is a popular retirement location, too. We were so blessed to find mother and child a new life. I have walked on the cliff paths in hermanus many times, more than 20 at least. Residents and visitors now celebrate the migration of southern right whales and other marine wildlife with oceanthemed activities and exhibitions, emphasizing education and environmentally responsible adventures and activities.
Dyer island crusies also visits the 60,000 strong cape fur seal colony of geyser rock, the great white sharks in the shallows, and the african penguin colony of dyer island so it is much more than just whale watching. The new harbour as opposed to the old harbour, the remains of which lie at the heart of gearings point below cliffs that function as some of the best landbased whale watching in the world is whale watching central as boatbased charters come and go with amazing regularity our advice. The southern right whale was so named during the time when they were still hunted. Hermanus whale festival filmed with a drone duration. For its scenic beauty alone, hermanus is one of south africas cape gems. Travel through to gansbaai from hermanus about a 30 minute drive and take a boat trip to dyer island youll see many things including the great white shark. Book an unforgettable whale watching trip today with hermanus whale watchers, a boatbased whale watching company in south africa. The southern right whale is a baleen whale, which means that instead of teeth it has long plates hanging from the top jaw. It depends on traveling time to the hermanus whales on that trip. Exciting update for all nature lovers and whale enthusiasts. While most people will associate hermanus as one of the top wine routes in south africa for its pinot noir, there is no doubt that hermanus is one of the top places in the world to southern right whale watching. Although the southern right whale is the most prolific species in the bay, it is.
Southern right whale watching season is early june to late november each year hermanus is regarded by wwf and greenpeace as being one of the worlds best locations to watch whales, it holds the annual week long whale festival at the end of september early october which attracts over 150,000 eager whale watchers. It is a favourite 365 day a year holiday destination offering tourists and locals. The albino whales are even more at risk to this and are therefore rarely seen. The heart of hermanus town is a mere 3 km from the apartment. Whale watching gansbaai book a gansbaai whale watching trip for r1200pp. For whale watching at hermanus contact us whales and. Hermanus in south africa is a region blessed with natural beauty, unique wildlife and geological awe, making it no surprise that this is arguably the best whale watching spot in the world and it lies just 90 minutes from cape town international. To alert onlookers, a whale crier sounds his kelp horn when he spots whales off the hermanus coastline. Hermanus is famous for boat based whale watching trips to see southern right whales in their natural environment and in a responsible manner. Welcome to the official hermanus tourism website that provides information so you can plan the holiday of your dreams in hermanus, heart of the cape whale coast. Join gary flynn of cape discovery tours for a full day of whale watching. Watch the worlds gentle giants of the deep frolic in waters of walker bay.
R600 per adult driver trips for 90mins kids under 16yrs on the back of instructors. Whale watching hermanus offers amazing boat based trips to. Xplora tours, hermanus shark cage diving whale watching. Whale watching season in hermanus offers a spectacular experience for all visitors. Some years the southern right whales have arrived as early as april but the usual time for them to start arriving is at the end of may. The best way to see them if they are still around would be the air. Hermanus whale view beach front house self catering. I prefer the quieter side of the village, where i can linger over coffee, and wait for calls of the official whale crier telling me that the season for sightings has begun. Hermanus is regarded as the whale watching capital of south africa and there are few better ways to see these gentle giants in their natural environment than on a boat based whale watching trip. Hermanus whale watching near cape town, gansbaai in south africa. Hermanus whale watching is renowned for the most prolific whale viewing experience in the world. Hermanus whale watching southern right whales humpback. Whale watching boat trips hermanus walker bay adventures.
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