Hermanus Tourism Information
Hermanus Population = 50 000
Whales, beaches, mountains, wine, nightclubs,
sun
and much, much more.
Famous for its champagne air, long stretches of beach, mild climate, rich floral kingdom and friendly environment, Hermanus is within easy reach of Cape Town International Airport. Hermanus, also described as the Riviera of the South, offers the best shore-based whale watching in the world. Nature lovers from all over the world visit Hermanus to view these magnificent creatures from the cliffs.
Every year around June, locals eagerly await the arrival of special guests of honour, the Southern Right Whales. These visitors are an endless source of delight as they gambol in Walker Bay, in easy view of the cliff paths.
Sometimes so close that it is hard to distinguish between the whales
and the rocky shoreline. They favour the
relatively shallow waters of the bay for breeding and mating.
They leave towards the end of November beginning December.
During the summer months the white sandy beaches are filled with holiday makers enjoying the sunny weather and excellent swimming in the sea. Hermanus is the ideal over wintering resort for visitors who wish to escape the cold Northern Hemisphere.
This narrow coastal town, between the fynbos-covered
mountains and the waves of the Atlantic is a haven for the outdoor
enthusiast. There is golf, tennis, squash, bowls, canoeing,
yachting, diving and surfing to enjoy. For those who need the
adrenalin rush there are the thrills of hang gliding,
powerboat racing and of course shark cage diving.
And that's not all:
- Boat-based whale watching
- Shark cage diving with the
Great White Shark in the cold Atlantic from nearby
Kleinbaai, also island cruises viewing the seal and bird
breeding colonies. Shark cage diving is preferable to
diving without the cage as these great white sharks have
been measured up to 5,5m in length. The bigger sharks
seem to inhabit these waters in our Winter months, if
3,5m is smaller. This is a 4 to 5 hour trip on the
water. It is not far off shore but to attract the sharks
and get the cage in and ot the water takes time. There
is no substitute for viewing them in their natural
environment.
- Rock lobster fishing tours during season.
- Hermanus is regarded as the principal centre of the perlemoen industry. The perlemoen derives its South African name from a corruption of the Dutch perlemoen, meaning mother-of-pearl, from the
beautiful pearl-lined interior of its shell. It is known internationally as abalone or Venus ear.
- Quaint boutiques, markets and shops. Lovers of semi-precious stones can purchase from a wide selection of gifts and jewellery manufactured locally.
- There are numerous art and craft studios and galleries -mostly managed by the artists themselves.
- Several of the country's top wine estates will please the wine connoisseur. Various acclaimed wines are being produced in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde valley, and wine lovers can sample some of them by following the Hermanus Wine
Route.
- Kilometers of unspoilt beaches, coves and sheltered bays. Wide open sandy beaches and magnificent lagoons
attract all kinds of watersport lovers, from sailing to
motor boat enthusiasts , anglers, kite surfers and
wind surfing. During our Winter big wave competitions
are also held with competitors from all over the world -
not for the faint hearted.
- The unique cliff path,
hugging the coast from one side of town to the other.
The views of sea and mountains are spectacular, and from
June to November the Southern Right Whale may be seen just off-shore, also dolphins and seals.
- Water sports on a tranquil lagoon or diving, fishing and boating in the sea.
- The Fernkloof Nature Reserve, part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, smallest but richest in the world, in the fynbos-covered mountains that form the backdrop to the town, offers walks and hikes with
splendid views of mountain and sea.
- Roridula gorgonias (or vlieëbos in Afrikaans), the largest carnivorous plant in the world grows on our doorstep in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.
- Bird watching. Hermanus offers the ornithologists the opportunity to observe birds in mountain, coastal, river and estuarine habitats.
- Watch fishing trawlers unloading their catches at the New Harbour. Boating and rubber duck enthusiasts can make use of the facilities in the New Harbour at a fee. Also in the New Harbour there is an excellent fish shop where you can purchase fresh fish, live
crayfish, oysters and other quality seafood.
- The Old Harbour is a historic highlight of the town, remaining unchanged from early days when it was the centre of activity in the fishing village. It is a popular destination for visitors, and contains a small museum with interesting information and artifacts.
- Fishing - Hermanus attracts fishermen from all over the country as the sea and lagoons abound with galjoen, steenbras, kob, red roman, silver fish, red stumpnose, John Brown, and many more. The cliffs provide many excellent spots for angling.
- Top
golf courses - include Hermanus golf course 27 holes and
Arabella golf course of the Nelson Mandela Classic fame
( one of the countries best)
- A magnetic observatory is located in Hermanus. The Hermanus Magnetic Observatory functions as an active participant in the worldwide network of magnetic observatories, which monitor and model
variations of the earth’s magnetic field. Visitors are allowed by appointment.
- A large number of accommodation establishments, from basic camping and budget accommodation to B & B's, luxury guest-houses and hotels are available - this together with a good variety of
coffee-shops, tea-gardens and restaurants (you can even dine in an old cave right on the sea's edge.) , serving local and international seafood delicacies.
- Some interesting places to visit, using Hermanus as a good base from which to explore the Overberg.
Easy day trips to Cape Agulhas to visit the Southern
most tip of Africa, visit our penguin colony at Betty's
Bay and watch them in their natural environment.
- Friendly people.
- Hermanus is a unique tourist mecca - once you've been here you will always want to return.
|
