Page 229 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

THE SOUTHERN C APE  227

Today, Hermanus is famous for
its superb whale-watching sites.
Every year, southern right whales
(see pp190–91) migrate from the
sub-Antarctic to calve in the
shelter of Walker Bay. They arrive
in June and leave again by
December, but the peak whale-
watching season is from
September to October, when
visitors are more than likely to The popular Marine Hotel in Hermanus
sight the large mammals frolick-
ing offshore. The town’s official Approximately 20 km (12 miles)
whale crier blows his kelp horn east of Hermanus lies Stanford, Whale-Watching
as he walks along Main Street, a rustic crafts centre. The heart in Hermanus
bear ing a signboard that shows of this little village contains The World Wide Fund for
the best daily sighting places. many historic homes built in Nature (WWF) has recog nized
Hermanus has a beautiful the late 1800s and early 1900s, Hermanus as one of the best
coastline. Unspoiled beaches and has been proclaimed a land-based whale-watching
such as Die Plaat, a 12-km national conservation area. The spots on earth. October sees
(7-mile) stretch from Klein River early school building and a peak in whale numbers
Lagoon to De Kelders, are Anglican Church both date back (between 40 and 70 have
perfect for walks and horse to 1880, while the reputedly been recorded). The
riding. A clifftop route extends haunted Spookhuis (ghost mammals can be seen as
from New Harbour to Grotto house) is dated about 1885. close as 10 m (11 yd) away.
Beach – the regularly placed Fernkloof Nature Reserve Particularly special is the Old
benches allow walkers to rest boasts 40 km (25 miles) of Harbour Museum’s sonar
and to enjoy the superb views. waymarked footpaths, a 5-km link-up. A hydro phone buried
Swimming is generally safe, and (3-mile) circular nature trail and in the seabed transmits
there is a tidal pool below the more than a thousand species the whale calls to an audio
room on shore.
Marine Hotel, to the east of of fynbos.
the old harbour.
Activities nearby include the E Old Harbour Open-Air
Rotay Way, a 10-km (6-mile) Museum
scenic drive, and the Hermanus Marine Drive. Tel 028 312 1475.
Wine Route, which features four Open 9am–4:30pm Mon–Sat, noon–
vineyards in the pretty Hemel 4pm Sun. Closed Good Fri, 25 Dec. Cape Whale Coast logo
en Arde Valley. & ∑ old-harbour-museum.co.za

The rocky coastline around Hermanus offers good vantage points for whale-watchers

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