Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the Western Capes. The peak time, when daily sightings are virtually guaranteed, is during September and October. Humpbacks and Bryde’s whales are mostly spotted offshore from boats, but by far the most commonly sighted species, either from land or from boat, is the Southern Right whale.

These majestic giants migrate to the South African waters from the Antarctic Ocean to calf from June, and begin the long journey back again at the end of November or beginning of December.

Hermanus offers some of the best whale watching spots and trips, and can easily be combined with a stay in Cape Town.

Because the whale watching boat trips tend to leave at first tide, we always recommend staying in Hermanus at least for the night before your trip, and you can now take advantage of this new special offer :

Stay 3 nights at either the Bay Hotel or Camps Bay Retreat, and receive one free night at the Harbour House Hotel in Hermanus.

Valid: 29 July 2011 – 30 September 2011.

Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the Western Cape, and Hermanus and Gansbaai are the 2 main areas for whale watching, either boat-based or land-based.

The first Southern Right whale has been spotted in Walker Bay at Hermanus, so this is now officially the start of the whale watching season !

Having been whale watching myself at Hermanus, I would definately recommend including this in your itinerary if you are in this area. I would also recommend actually staying in Hermanus for at least one or 2 nights if time permits, especially if you want to go out on a boat. The boats tend to leave early in the morning, as they go out with first tides, so this would mean a VERY early start from Cape Town (around the 5.30 am time) to ensure you arrive in time – and let’s be honest, unless you are on safari do you really want to get up that early ??

You can read more about whale watching in Hermanus, and check out the hotels and guest houses that we recommend by clicking here.

We also recommend Dyer Island Cruises or Southern Right Charters if you are looking for an operator to go out with.

Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the Western Cape. Humpbacks and Bryde’s whales are mostly spotted offshore from boats, but by far the most commonly sighted species, either from land or from boat, is the Southern Right whale.

These majestic giants migrate to the South African waters from the Antarctic Ocean to calf from June, and begin the long journey back again at the end of November or beginning of December.

For families thinking of coming to South Africa from now until the end of September, and who want to see these wonderful creatures first hand, why not take advantage of this special offer that we are currently running at Milkwood Lodge in Hermanus :

Children stay Free

Looking for an Easter getaway ?

Pebble Beach Guest House are offering a Stay for 4 nights, Pay for 3 over this period only.

This is an exclusive upmarket guest house, offering a great escape and a chance to relax in beautiful surroundings. The 25th green of the Hermanus Golf Course forms part of the front lawn, and a pathway from the back garden leads you into the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.

Pebble Beach offers exclusive accommodation with 6 innovative designer bedrooms, each with its own finely appointed bathroom and furnished balcony.

A crystal-clear pool is situated amongst wild olive trees in a sun drenched courtyard.

Contact us now to check the availability and make a booking for you !

Abalone Guest Lodge, situated situated midway between the town centre and the beautiful white beaches of Hermanus, has re-opened its doors and is welcoming guests again, having just finished an extensive renovation project, which has seen this extremely popular guest house shut for several months.

The renovations have included the introduction of a water-wise indigenous garden, a sparkling rim-flo swimming pool, and extensive rain water reservoirs. The interior has also undergone a facelift, with some major changes to the rooms, now enabling guests staying here to enjoy not only more privacy but also to take advantage of the beautiful views.

It’s whale-watching season in South Africa!

Every year, around September, Southern Right whales gather along South Africa’s coast to mate and thousands of tourists flock to watch them.

South Africa’s whale route stretches for nearly 2,000 km from Doringbaai, south of Cape Town, to Durban. Popular viewing spots include Lambert’s Bay, the Cape Peninsula, False Bay, Hermanus and its surrounds, Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

Tourists can also visit coastal nature reserves, such as the De Hoop Nature Reserve and Tsitsikamma National Park.

Humpback whales also make an appearance around this time of year, joined by Bottlenose dolphins, and occasionally, Brydes whales and Orcas.

Whale-watching season ends in November.

Our recommended operators for whale watching and shark cage diving in the Hermanus area are Dyer Island Cruises & Marine Dynamics, who have just received certification from Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA).

Dyer Island Cruises focuses on offering clients personal experiences with whales and dolphins around the Dyer Island region in the Western Cape while Marine Dynamics specialises in shark-cage diving. 

Marine Dynamics is the first shark-cage diving initiative to be certified by FTTSA.