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The jewel of the Overberg:
Cradled by two large estuaries, this attractive town lies between the rocky coastline and gentle green mountains.
The natural beauty of the area has inspired many visitors, and over the years Hermanus has become a popular holiday destination.
World-renowned for its biodiversity, Hermanus has an abundance of plant, animal and bird life - a paradise for nature lovers. The greatest attraction is undoubtedly the whales that migrate to our shores from the Antarctic between June and December to mate and calve in the secluded bay.
This has earned Hermanus the title of best destination in the world for land based whale watching, and visitors are always thrilled at the opportunity to observe these marvellous mammals in such close proximity.
These natural attractions, combined with a lively bustling town that offers visitors a wide range of accommodation options, excellent restaurants, interesting shops, art galleries and craft markets, make a visit to Hermanus a truly unique and unforgettable experience.
Hermanus offers visitors:
• Pristine, powdery white sand beaches
• Nature reserves with various graded hiking trails
• Excellent restaurants, cafés and bars
• Paradise for bird watchers
• Whale watching and shark cage diving
• World-class golf course
• Water sports that include surfing, diving, kayaking, sailing and boating
• Markets, fairs and festivals
• Wine route to some of the southern-most vineyards in Africa
• Champagne air and Mediterranean climate
• Relaxation and rejuvenation for mind, body and spirit.
Hermanus is situated in the heart of the Cape Whale Coast about 120 km from Cape Town, and is easily reached by car in an approximately 90 minute journey. Perched on rocky cliffs, Hermanus has been hailed as the best land based whale watching destination in the world, thanks to the moratorium on the killing of whales that has allowed the once threatened southern right whale population to grow at a steady 6,7% per annum.
Dramatic seaside cliffs and mountains, blanketed by spectacular fynbos, form a backdrop for the town. A wide variety of birds, mammals and insects abound.
The choice of accommodation ranges from upmarket hotels, guesthouses and lodges, through to comfortable B&Bs and backpacker establishments.
The town centre, being quite compact, is comfortable to explore and the diversity of shops, restaurants and bars, some tucked away in quiet back streets, are within easy walking distance of one another.
The high season in December/January is extremely popular and booking well in advance is strongly advised.
Begin your search for just the right accommodation in the pages of this publication where many fine establishments advertise.
The business index at the back of the book offers further options, while the Hermanus Tourism Bureau has detailed information with a free booking service for accommodation in the area. Contact the bureau on 028 312 2629 , fax 028 313 0305 or e-mail
hermanustourism@hermanus.co.za

Climate:
Generally the climate is mild, with the temperature only occasionally dipping really low or climbing exceptionally high.
Hermanus is in a winter rainfall area which often brings several consecutive days of rain, but for the rest the days are usually pleasant and sunny, punctuated by wild storms or hot berg wind conditions.
Summer is usually sunny and dry with occasional thunderstorms. Robust summer winds keeps the temperatures from soaring. The champagne air makes for idyllic weather conditions in early autumn (March to April). Average temperatures: summer 26,4 °C; winter 14 °C.

Medical services:
Tourists are advised to obtain medical insurance before leaving home, as visitors are responsible for their own medical needs.
Hospitalisation is generally arranged through a medical practitioner, but visitors can go directly to the provincial hospital in case of an emergency.
Situated Hospital Street, Westcliff.
Contact 028 312 1166.
Ambulance services can be reached on the emergency number 10177. A private ambulance service is available on the 24-hour number 076 512 3459 or 076 512 3467.
As an alternative to state health care, there is a fully equipped private hospital, the Hermanus MediClinic, 028 313 0168.

A few things to know:
In the three marine reserves around the Hermanus area no creatures or plants may be disturbed - so should you wish to snorkel or dive in these areas it’s a case of ‘look but don’t touch’. For obvious safety reasons no one may dive in the New Harbour.
Line fishing (if you have a permit) in the reserves is allowed from the rocks - the authorities and the locals beseech you to clear up after yourself and leave your fishing spot as you would like to find it.
Wild flowers, sour figs and milkwood trees are protected by law, so be sure not to remove, prune or pick any of them as the fines are hefty.

Baboons
The mountains behind Hermanus are home to two troops of baboons. The Fernkloof troop number about 16 and their behaviour has forced the municipality to set up a monitoring programme to control and protect them. The Vogelgat troop number about 34 and they can often be seen on the road to Stanford.
People are asked not to feed baboons, no matter how cute or amusing they may seem to be - for the baboons’ own sake.
It takes a whole day of scavenging for a baboon to gather its fill, so it’s no wonder these opportunistic feeders will risk an encounter with humans for quick and easy take-aways. If they have to, they can put on a burst of speed of up to 60 k/ph - so if you have food in your hand, you may only see a blur as it is whipped away at high speed. While generally not aggressive, coming face to face with them can give you quite a scare.

Boat based whale watching
Walker Bay is a whale sanctuary from June to the end of November and only three licensed operators are allowed to approach whales to within 50 metres. At any other time all boats are
instructed to keep to a minimum of 300 metres. Contact the Hermanus Info Centre on 028 312 2629 to book trips, which leave from the New Harbour.

Vehicles
Vehicles are not allowed on the flat beach at the lagoon mouth, nor on the sandy beaches between Hermanus and De Kelders.
Fishermen are, however, allowed to take their 4x4s to access the fishing grounds if they buy a permit at either De Kelders or Uilenskraal. The appropriate day permits are for sale at the entrance points at R40 per adult and R20 for scholars. Wild cards, which allow access for longer periods, can be bought from CapeNature in Voëlklip. They can be contacted on 028 314 0062. The Walker Bay Fishing Trail, on the other side of the Klein River lagoon, has been open since September 2007. Permits can also be bought from CapeNature.

Recycling
The Overstrand Municipality instituted a recycling programme some years ago which went a long way to help Hermanus win the nationwide Cleanest Town competition in 2003, and the second place in 2005. In the regional competition Hermanus came out tops, winning in 2009 and 2010.
Containers for specific items such as glass, paper and tin are placed in strategic positions around the town.

Water conservation
Healthy rainfall ensures that the town remains green almost all year round, but water demand increases exponentially during the sweltering summer months as thousands of visitors flock to the town.
In anticipation of future growth and further hot summers, the Greater Hermanus Water Conservation Campaign was initiated in an attempt to reduce consumption by 30%.
The residents of Hermanus have accepted that efficient water use is a way of life and not only for times of drought, and visitors are entreated to use our precious water sparingly.

The blue cranes
The elegant blue crane (Anthro-poides paradisea) is listed as globally threatened in the international Red Data Book.
With more than half the remaining blue cranes found within the province, the Western Cape can boast the only stable and increasing population of South Africa’s national bird.
This is in part due to the concerned and protective attitude of the farming communities in the Overberg and Swartland regions, and their ongoing contribution to crane conservation.

The Overberg Crane Group (OCG), a joint partnership between CapeNature and farmers, heads numerous blue crane projects in the area in line with the national blue crane conservation strategy focusing on reducing man-made threats to the cranes.
These include power line collisions or misuse of agrochemicals. Ongoing research, public awareness and rehabilitation of injured and confiscated birds back into the wild all contribute to the increase in their populations.
For more information visit www.bluecrane.org.za or call 082 676 1734 or 082 695 9835.

Milkwoods
The long lived milkwood (Sider-oxylon inerme) is an indigenous evergreen that has earned its status as a protected tree partly because of its role in South African history.
The shiny oval leaves of the milkwood are said to be the darkest green found in nature and the gnarled branches provide a canopy that gives a deep welcome shade in the heat of summer.
It produces greenish-white flowers in summer that become pungent purple berries in late summer - the smell, reminiscent of sour milk, attracts birds and baboons as effectively as any neon sign.
The trees can withstand robust, often harsh coastal winds and each tree is a virtual eco-system, providing shelter and food for a variety of animals, insects, birds and the shy, but highly venomous, boomslang (Dispholidus typus).
The milky latex in the bark and fruit is used in traditional African medicine and is reputed to dispel nightmares.
In the past, a lack of large trees in the Cape’s coastal areas led to heavy demands being made on the hard, durable milkwood timber for building boats, bridges and mills.
Today, however, the greatest threat to the milkwood tree is invasive alien vegetation such as rooikrans and port jackson. Unlike fynbos, this alien bush burns fiercely and the intensity of the heat kills nearby milkwoods.
The density of the alien growth also prevents the germination of milkwood seeds and growth of the seedlings.

Disabled friendly
The Access for Citizens Committee is responsible for Hermanus becoming a more disabled friendly town.
Disabled visitors should look out for the proudly accessible logo.
Toilets for the disabled can be found at the Market Square and municipal library.
Recreational facilities where the disabled can be accommodated are at the village craft market, Fernkloof Nature Reserve, certain parts of the cliff paths, Voëlklip beach, the library, the cliff top development and Grotto beach.

Whale Watching:
The presence of southern right whales in Walker Bay every winter and spring was more or less taken for granted by locals until the 1990s when a resident, Jim Wepener, came up with the idea of emulating Britain’s town criers and created Hermanus’s own unique whale crier.
Hermanus has been acknowledged by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as one of the twelve best whale viewing sites in the world. The whale crier has become world famous and is the most photographed icon in South Africa next to Nelson Mandela. Considering that whales can be seen from as close as a few metres from the rocky cliffs, Hermanus deserves its title of best land based whale watching spot in the world.
The whales arrive from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic in June, taking anything up to eight weeks to swim the 3 000 kilometres at a leisurely speed of about 4 to 5 k/ph. Whale sightings can be virtually guaranteed between August and the end of November. Calving takes place in August and September and the males arrive for mating in October when the whale populations peak. The whale count for Walker Bay, which is periodically done from the air, has risen steadily over the years to around 150 at the height of the season.
Information on whales
The southern right whale was so named because it was considered the ‘right’ whale to catch. The fact that it was rich in oil and baleen (the large food filter plates that hang from the roof of the mouth) and floated when killed, resulted in this slow moving behemoth becoming the most ruthlessly hunted of the whale species, taking the estimated population off the South African coast from 25 000 to only 50 by 1935.
Since then they have received international protection and the annual population growth is estimated to be 6,7%, which means the population is doubling every ten years. There are now approximately 2 200 whales visiting South African waters and the world population of southern rights is thought to be about 5 000. The northern right whale was not so lucky. There are only about 350 of them left and they are not breeding, leading to fears that they might soon become extinct.
Since then they have received international protection and the annual population growth is estimated to be 6,7%, which means the population is doubling every ten years. There are now approximately 2 200 whales visiting South African waters and the world population of southern rights is thought to be about 5 000. The northern right whale was not so lucky. There are only about 350 of them left and they are not breeding, leading to fears that they might soon become extinct. From a distance, southern rights can be distinguished from other whales by their signatory five metre high V-shaped spray when they come to the surface for a 300 k/ph blow. They also sport callosities on and around their heads which are growths of tough skin forming
unique patterns for each individual. The callosities are a very handy whale identification tool. A strong bond exists between females and their calves. Mothers have been observed playing with their young for hours on end.
In normal circumstances they are non-aggressive toward man and have earned the moniker ‘gentle giant’ for their passive behaviour toward humans in the water.
What are they doing?
Breaching: Whales can lift their entire bodies out of the water in massive, graceful leaps. Keep watching, as they usually breach three to five times in succession.
A whale may push three-quarters, or more, of its body out the water and fall back into the sea with an enormous splash - a spectacular sight.
Scientists are not yet sure whether this is a means of communication, an aggressive display, or simply an act of sheer exuberance.
Spyhopping: Whales lift their heads and part of their bodies out of the water vertically. This gives them a 360° view of the world above the water.
Lobtailing: Whales slap their tails on the surface producing loud claps. This may be done repeatedly over long periods of time. It may be a form of social communication or a warning to rival whales or sharks.
Sailing: Whales sometimes lift their tails clear of the water for long periods. This could be a means of catching the wind to ‘sail’ through the water, or a way of cooling down.
Some locals believe whales just enjoy showing off a well-turned tail.
Blowing: The hollow, echoing sound made when air is expelled from the lungs through the double blowhole, accompanied by a spout of water vapour. The vee shape of the spout enables whale watchers to identify the type of whale.
Grunting: A loud, bellowing sound that carries up to 2 kilometres away, often heard at night.
Playing with kelp: Whales may be seen within the outer edges of kelp beds, or actively manipulating pieces of floating kelp over their backs or heads. They appear to enjoy this contact and the kelp possibly acts as a rough loofah for the release of dead skin and whale lice.
Hermanus, at the heart of the Cape Whale Coast, has interpretative signboards providing visitors with essential information on the southern right whales at various points between the New Harbour and Grotto beach.
Where will we see them?
The 12 km-long cliff path, stretching from one end of Hermanus to the other, provides some of the best whale watching vantage points in the world. Whales can be viewed frolicking as close as five metres from shore.
An hour-long walk along the cliff path is sure to be rewarding.
Favourite spots are:
Dreunkrans - Drive south on Westcliff Road and park at Fick’s Pool. Take the cliff path towards the New Harbour for about 100
metres.
Windsor Bay - Park at Fick’s Pool or in Marine Drive. In Marine Drive you can view whales while sitting in your car.
Gearing’s Point - A large paved parking area offering views of Walker Bay to the east and west. The fishermen’s paths leading to the rocks at the point are excellent vantage points for whale watching.
The Old Harbour - Above the Old Harbour there are viewing terraces with spectacular vistas across the bay. An information board provides basic information about the whales that visit Walker Bay.
Die Gang - Drive down Main Road towards the beaches (north-east) and take the turn-off to Die Gang at Berg-en-See.
Sievers Punt - This is one of the most rewarding spots for whale watching. Whales are often seen in the bay between Mossel River and Voëlklip.
Kwaaiwater - One of the most popular areas for the whales is Kwaaiwater, where several viewing points are accessible by
vehicle.
Voëlklip and Grotto - Whales are often found swimming just beyond the breakers at these beaches.
While they do not swim as close to the shore as they do in other areas, whales are often seen breaching in this area and have even been known to surface under surfers waiting for a wave.
Whales are also regularly spotted at the neighbouring villages of Hawston, Vermont, Onrus and Sandbaai.

The whale crier:
The world’s only whale crier, Pasika Noboba, is found in Hermanus, where he patrols the streets of the town blowing his kelp horn and alerting everyone to the whereabouts of the whales.
Different horn ‘codes’ refer to different points along the coastline where whales have been spotted.
The key to these codes is found on his sandwich board, as well as the number of whales spotted at each location. Pasika does his rounds along the coastline between 10:00 and 16:00 during the whale season between June and November.
Please feel free to ask questions, photograph or film him.

Wine Wander:
Tucked into the folds of the Glen Vauloch Mountains on the outskirts of Hermanus lies the picturesque Hemel-en-Aarde valley.
The name literally means “heaven and earth” and it is here that many of South Africa’s most acclaimed wines have been produced over the last few years.
The cool maritime climate and the rugged clay soil composition combine to make the valley the ideal location for early ripening noble varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, mostly due to the cooling effect of the nearby Atlantic Ocean.
Wine lovers can treat themselves to a wine tour that pays visit to these unique wine estates, set among some of the southern-most vineyards in Africa.
The entrance to the Hemel-en-Aarde valley is where the R43 to Hermanus and the R320 to Caledon intersect.

Town History:
Strandlopers must have known about Hermanus and its fresh water spring for centuries, but it was Hermanus Pieters who put it on the map way back in the early 1800s.
Pieters was a teacher in Caledon, living on the farm Boontjieskraal. When it was time for the summer holidays, he herded his livestock towards the cooler climes of the coast in search of sweet grazing. He is said to have found his way down the so-called elephant path and discovered a bubbling spring in an idyllic setting. Delighted with his find, he set up camp for a few months.
The news spread fast among the farming community in the Caledon district, who enthusiastically packed up their families into the ox wagons and with provisions, servants and livestock made their way down for long summer holidays at the seaside.
The spot became known as Hermanuspietersfontein among the farmers who would trek back to Caledon for the winter months.
The people who eventually settled permanently, were fishermen who discovered a bay brimming with fish. News of the growing village, its beauty and good fishing spread like wildfire even as far afield as Harley Street in London, where it became fashionable to prescribe a period of convalescence for patients to “take the champagne air”.
By this time, in the early 1900s, the name Hermanuspietersfontein had become too cumbersome and the postmaster peremptorily changed it to plain and simple Hermanus.
Set on rugged cliffs pounded by the sea against a backdrop of mountains, the village with its rustic fishermen’s cottages and gravel roads was a charming place to visit. Its growing popularity alarmed an important regular, one William Hoy, who happened to be the general manager of the South African Railways.
Afraid that the extension of the Bot River railway line to Hermanus would bring a plethora of day-trippers to the village, he used his position effectively to block any attempt to bring the rail line here. It is thanks to his efforts to keep Hermanus exclusive that the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory, with its sensitive equipment, was able to be located here, far away from the vibrations that trains cause as they clack along the tracks.
The first hotel to be built was the Victoria, which stood in the centre of Hermanus where the Astoria Village is today. Soon after that a handsome sanatorium went up on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, where overseas convalescents were accommodated in some comfort - today it is the Windsor Hotel.
The Marine Hotel, still fashionable today, was built in 1902 and became a hideaway for English gentry.
The infrastructure of a stable and growing community was being established - churches, a school, a post office, magistrate’s court, police station and even a new modern harbour were built. The town, with all its delightful attributes - sun, sea, beaches, mountains, cliffs, champagne air and annual whale migration, has continued to grow in size and popularity and its reputation draws people from all around the world.