Why it’s worth visiting Hermanus
You can visit Hermanus all year round and the town is best known for its top whale-watching opportunities. It is more than just cliffs and ocean views. It’s a small town. The locals love sharing stories of whales leaping offshore. Artists capture the shifting colors of Walker Bay. Restaurants serve seafood so fresh that you can almost taste the sea breeze. The food is delicious. The area has a lot of wineries for any wine lovers.
Hermanus is famous worldwide for the large number of Southern Right whales that swim around Walker Bay. If you are looking for a weekend getaway this is the place to be. There are several surrounding beaches where you can swim, surf and peaceful fishing spots. The best beaches are Grotto and Kleinmond beach, which is Blue Flag-rated and if you are curious like I am, you can visit Onrus beach and Fernkloof Nature Reserve where you can swim in the rock pools.
Day 1: Whale watching from the Cliff Paths
You can start your morning with a walk along the Hermanus Cliff Path. We are in the whale season now, so, you might spot the Southern Right whales closer to the shore at this time. The locals love to tell stories of how the “whale crier” once blew his horn to signal a sighting, and drawing crowds to see a fluke rise above the waves. I can’t say for sure that it actually happened because I have not made use of a tour guide, nor do I live there.
Kayaking in Walker Bay
For those of you who crave adventure, you can book a sea kayaking tour from the Old Harbor. One particular guide recalls the day dolphins swam alongside his group for nearly half an hour, leaping in and out of the water as if performing just for them. That, to me would be an ideal experience. It’s a raw but exhilarating way to experience Hermaunus’ marine life up close.
Dinner with a scenic view
You can end the day at the Burgundy restaurant, which is one of the oldest restaurants in town. Or, Fisherman’s Cottage, which is a cozy restaurant and known for their Cape inspired seafood dishes, and yes I have tried both. For the wine lovers, a glass of Hemel-en-Aarde Valley’s Pinot Noir is a well rounded reward to end off your 1st day’s activities.
Day 2:
Sharks, Art, and the Wine Country
Early birds catches the best worms! You can either walk or drive to the coast of Gansbaai for an exciting shark cage adventure. I’ve heard that many visitors return with stories of Great Whites brushing past the bars of the cage. Now that, is an adrenaline rush you’ll never forget. The local tour guide will often share their tales of first-time divers who arrived nervous, but then, left grinning from ear to ear. I must still experience that, and its the last thing on my bucket list.
From Sharks to Art Galleries
To slow down your heart rate and pace, you can visit the Lembu Art gallery or Walker Bay Modern Art gallery. This is where our local artists captures the spirit of the Cape with it’s bold landscapes, gentle fynbos landscapes, and the sculptures that echoes the rhythm of the tides. The gallery owners shares their anecdotes about the painters who was inspired by the sunsets over Walker Bay.
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
I would suggest that you end off your a visit to Creation Wines or Hemel-en-Aarde winery. Even if you’re not a wine enthusiast you will still enjoy their food-and-wine pairing menus that showcases the valley’s rich terrain. From their crispy white wines with its salty tang of sea air to their earthy red wines that reflect the mountain soil, it is recommended by the locals that it is the perfect way to taste Hermanus’ soul before heading back home.
Here’s why I recommend Hermanus?
From Shark Cage diving to the Art galleries, Hermanus’ mixture of adrenaline activities and creativity just simply resonates with everyones soul.
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