Hermanus Whale Route

Cape Town | Harold Porter |Wine Tasting |Scenic Drive | Hermanus | Whale | Boat Ride |

The coast to the east of Cape Town has become known for being one of the best shore based destinations in the world. From about July onwards, until near the end of November, the Southern Right whales migrate from the southern ocean around Antarctica, to the ‘warmer’ waters of the Cape to mate and to calve.

The tours itineraries are individually adapted to meet the needs of the group. During whale season it is possible to arrange boat based whale watching trips that last 2½ to 3 hours. Bookings for these trips need to be made in advance and itineraries then have to fit in with departure times (first departure 9 a.m.). Hermanus itself is about a two hour drive directly from Cape Town.

Other optional attractions on this tour are visits to the land based penguin colony at Shelley Point, the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Kleinmond Harbour and the town of Hermanus itself. Further afield there is the shark cage diving capital at Gansbaai (Goose Bay) and the cliff walk at De Kelders where in the right weather conditions many whales can be seen.

The Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven-and-Earth) Valley and Stanford areas are wine producing districts in their own right and the tour can be  combined with wine tasting and lunch on one of the beautiful estates. Outside of whale season, it is still and area worth visiting for it’s scenic beauty and the drive to get there, as well as the wine and cliff. Gansbaai, 45 minutes from Hermanus is also the Shark Cage Diving capital of the country.