Hermanus information and tourist attractions
Hermanus Information and Tourist Attractions
Hermanus Information
Hermanus is a coastal town, situated in the Western Province of South Africa and lies along the shores of Walker Bay near the Southern most tip of Africa. Hermanus is approximately 127km from Cape Town, known as the Mother City, about a 90 minute drive by car. In close proximity to Hermanus are the coastal towns of Gansbaai, a mere 30 minute drive from Hermanus, this town is world renowned for its shark cage diving. Kleinmond with Arabella Golf Estate, voted the number one golf estate in the Western Cape. Hermanus lies roughly 1350km from Johannesburg International Airport and about 1510km from Durban
Hermanus is known to many as the Whale watching capital of the world. Hermanus boasts as being the best land based whale watching destination in the world. Whales are a mere 20m from the shore. Southern Right Whales leave there icy feeding grounds off Antarctica and head for warmer waters, protected bays, where they mate, calve, breach and lobtail, just meters from the shore. They arrive in winter to early spring and the southern cape coast becomes an abundance of whales. Although Southern Rights are the pride of the region, there are also humpbacks, Bryde's whales and orcas.
Whale watching Festival normally runs in late September and Hermanus plays host to thousands of local and international tourists who flock the seaside resort to exhilarate in the unique natural environment, watch whales, revel in music, comedy, cabaret and African rhythms throughout the Festival.
Hermanus has it’s very own whale crier, and, what’s more, Hermanus lays claim to the only whale crier in the world. The Whale Crier alerts the hundreds of tourists by blowing his kelp horn for the tourists to know about the whales whereabouts.
Hermanus Climate
Summer: between December and March and has dry hot sunny days with extreme heat tempered by cool air from the Atlantic Ocean with warm evenings.
Autumn: between April and May with mild days to occasional hot days.
Winter: between June and August, a mild winter climate, although it is the rainy season there still are many sunny days.
Spring: between September and November, mild to warm days.
Average summer temperatures are 27 degrees and winter 15 degrees.
For more information on weather in Hermanus
Hermanus Tourist Attractions
Explore Hermanus tourist attractions and activities. There is so much to do in Hermanus and the surrounding Hermanus area from mild family activities to extreme adventure activities.
Hermanus Whale Cruises offers you a "tail" you can tell others..... The experience of boat-based whale watching in Hermanus, heart of the South Afican whale coast. We also offer Eco-Tours, a sight-seeing experience where you can interact with dolphins, seals, clawless otters and a variety of sea bird life. More information on Hemanus Whale Cruises tourist attractions
Fernkloof Nature Reserve covers 1800 ha in the Kleinrivier Mountains above Hermanus and ranges in altitude from sea level to 842 m.There is no other place on earth where so many different species can be seen growing in such close proximity. In Fernkloof 1474 species have thus far been collected and identified.The name of the principal vegetation type of this region is derived from the Dutch word 'fijn bosch' which is the collective name for a myriad of evergreen shrub-like plants with small firm leaves, often rolled - but also includes woody plants with hard leathery leaves, usually broad, often rolled. The prevailing climate is Mediterranean with cold wet winters and hot dry summers with strong south easterly winds.
Grey rhebok, Cape grysbok, klipspringer, baboon,mongoose and dassie are present in small numbers.Others such as porcupine, genet and hare are nocturnal and these mammals are seldom seen. Although not as rich in bird-life as other areas in South Africa, 92 bird species have been recorded. Species most likely to be seen include the Cape Sugar Bird,Sunbirds,Rock Thrush and Rock Jumper. Raptors include the Jackal Buzzard and Black Eagle. Limited areas of forest alongside streams support numbers of seed and insect-eating species such as Rameron Pigeon, Canaries,Flycatchers and White-eyes.
The reserve lies on the northern side of the town with a 60 km network of trails.These provide the opportunity for people of all fitness levels to go out and enjoy some exercise and fresh air. A display of some of the flowers that can be found in the veld is permanently maintained at the Fernkloof Tourist Centre. The various trails offer magnificent and unequalled views of Walker Bay, the Hemel en Aarde Valley and Maanskynbaai. More information on Fernkloof Nature Reserve tourist attractions
Shark Cage Diving - Dyer Island, about 30 minutes from Hermanus is know as the Great White Shark Cage Diving capital of the world. This once-in-a-lifetime activity has attracted many famous celebrities, nature film and TV crews, it is safe and an exhilarating experience to be that close up to these amazing creatures. There is a 99% sight seeing hit rate all year long. More information on Shark Cage Diving tourist attractions
