Famed for its whale watching, Hermanus is a charming seaside town in South Africa’s Western Cape. It is named after Hermanus Pieters, a Dutch language teacher who holidayed in the area during the early 19th century. Overlooking Walker Bay, Hermanus is fringed by glorious beaches that come to life with the town’s influx of visitors in the summer months.
Things to do in Hermanus
Perched on the waterfront is the Old Harbour Museum, which comprises historic fishing shacks and vintage vessels that recreate the atmosphere of 19th-century Hermanus. See how the town has transformed as you browse the old photographs on display and get up close to intertidal species in the saltwater tanks. Exhibits dedicated to the cetaceans migrating along the coastline can be found in the Whale House.
Want to stretch your legs? Follow the Hermanus Biodiversity Walk, a clifftop trail extending between Hermanuspietersfontein and Gearing's Point. It takes in rocky coves, picturesque beaches and forest glades along its route, as well as the town’s old and new harbours. The trail ends at magnificent Grotto Beach, which stretches for 19 kilometres around Walker Bay.
Nestled inland from Hermanus is the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, which is home to more than 1,300 recorded plant species. Around 60 kilometres of walking trails traverse the reserve, with one of the most popular connecting from the visitor’s centre to a picturesque waterfall. A wheelchair-friendly trail can be found in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve Gardens, together with a children’s playground and an amphitheatre.
Getting around Hermanus
Hermanus is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Cape Town International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Hermanus and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.