Hermanus (originally called Hermanuspietersfontein) is a beautiful seaside town on the southern coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is famous as a place from which to watch Southern Right whales, during the southern winter and spring. The whales can be seen from the cliffs in the town centre from as early as June. They were once hunted locally, but are now protected. The Old Harbor Museum contains several exhibitions which explain the whaling history of Hermanus. There is also a Whale museum and whale watching services that will tell you more about the whales and area.
Tag: Southern Right Whales
Hermanus Whale Festival
Hermanus (originally called Hermanuspietersfontein) is a seaside town situated along Walker Bay on the south coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is famous as a place from which to watch Southern Right whales, during the southern winter and spring and is a popular local holiday spot. The whales can be seen from the cliffs in the town centre from as early as June. They were once hunted locally, but are now protected. Hermanus is 40 km from Gansbaai, a famous spot where one can dive amongst the Great White Sharks. It is also notable that Hermanus still boasts an historic railway station building although eventually no tracks were laid to connect the town to the national network. The founders of the town decided not to lay any tracks as this would have made Hermanus more commercial and they felt Hermanus needed to stay a small Fisherman Village and is still to this day know by the locals as “the Village”.
The Two Oceans Hermanus Whale Festival celebrating its 20th year as the only enviro-arts festival in South Africa, “puts the creatures of the deep on stage and under the spotlight alongside top performers and musicians from 30 September to 4 October 2011”.
Hermanus plays host to thousands of visitors (2010 saw some 130 000 visitors) who flock to the seaside resort to exhilarate in the unique natural environment, watch the whales and revel in music, and African rhythms during the festival. The Whales are always the star performers at the festival and will be joined on land by great food, quality crafters, sport events, kids entertainment and thousands of people celebrating Spring in one of the most beautiful place on earth.
The Evening Music line-up in the Two Oceans Marquee on Market Square is Prime Circle on Friday 30 September and Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels on the Saturday 1 October. The Hemel en Aarde Forest Theatre presents Chris Chameleon on Saturday 1 October. The variety of events planned will keep the whole family entertained throughout the festival which includes a street parade on Saturday 1 October 2011. Contact us at Road Travel to find out more about this party of note.
Sea, Sand dunes and the ever changing Vlei
De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of the Western Cape’s best loved Nature Reserves, and with very good reason. It lies on the southern Cape coast, and is renowned for its floral fynbos diversity, rich bird life, natural vlei and wild antelope. It also provides the backdrop to some of the world’s best whale-watching possible. Just 3 hours drive from Cape Town, and 50km east of Bredasdorp, it offers visitors the choice to explore a pristine coastline, a large vlei, limestone hills, extensive dunes and the Potberg mountains.
The De Opstal is close to the hub of central offices, restaurant, deli and shop and offers a variety of accommodation options. Few other reserves offer as complete an outdoor experience as De Hoop – sea, sand dunes, the vlei, a floral sensation of rare fynbos plants, diverse antelope and the Potberg Mountains. Birders observe wading birds on the shores of the vlei while the Potberg Mountains are home to a colony of endangered Cape vultures.
Hikers and cyclists have close-up encounters with bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, eland, red hartebeest, baboons and ostrich. The De Hoop Reserve is a safe, outdoor destination with almost year-round sunshine. Children of all ages will relish the freedom to explore the reserve. The endless beach, towering sand dunes, inter tidal rock pools and diverse fauna and flora provide a natural playground for kids to learn.
Activities are diverse and guests choose between various day walks, mountain biking along the many gravel roads or scenic game drives. Lazing on the beach and snorkeling in the many turquoise rock pools is simply another way to pass a rewarding day. The Fig Tree Restaurant is open all day offering delicious local fare including picnic baskets for alfresco meals.
De Hoop Nature Reserve is a botanist’s dream, with 50 of its 1500 fynbos plant species found nowhere else in the world. For animal lovers there are endangered bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, while baboons, ostriches, eland, grey rhebuck, duiker and steenbok are all common sights.
Known to amateur and working ornithologists alike, the De Hoop vlei is forever changing. A wetland recognized by the Ramsar convention as being of international importance, the vlei’s uniqueness lies in its partial location in a gorge, while for the most it is a 16km-long lake, blocked off from the sea by coastal dunes. It draws a variety of birds during the year, especially waterfowl and waders. De Hoop’s marine reserve is the breeding ground for 40% of the worldwide population of Southern Right Whales. Dolphins, seals and other sea creatures abound in the waters at Koppie Alleen.
Hikers have close-up encounters with bontebok, Cape mountain zebra, eland, red hartebeest, baboons and ostrich. De Hoop Coastal Trail – this gentle linear trail begins at Koppie Alleen. Enjoy either a beach walk or an exploratory ramble along rocky shores. Klipspringer Trail – hike 6 km (about 2 hours) in the Potberg Mountains in the north-eastern section of the De Hoop Nature Reserve with views of the Breede River valley, the Cape vulture colony and gorgeous floral fynbos. Vlei Trail – starts near the reserve office with three variations to the trail and hikers may walk the entire 15 km to Die Mond or cut their walk short by circling back along either one of two jeep tracks. All three variations of the Vlei Trail are well sign-posted. Cyclists are welcome to use any of the gravel roads laid out in the western sector of the reserve as long as they take care not to trample the natural vegetation.
De Hoop is a unique and romantic location to celebrate a wedding and honeymoon. With almost year-round sunshine and spectacular natural beauty, the reserve is a memorable and special place to exchange wedding vows.
De Hoop offers some of the best and most accessible whale-watching opportunities in the world. Seven whale species have been recorded in the waters off De Hoop but it is the southern right that is most common. Other less common whale species are the Bryde’s whale and the rare humpback. Contact Road Travel today to experience this magnificent and magical piece of South Africa.
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