| A Bit About the Whales | | | | blanket and some wine on the beach or eat at the |
| Many visitors travel to Hermanus for the whale | | | | restaurant in the harbour while you peer out at the sea. |
| watching opportunities offered by this quaint coastal | | | | If watching from the land keeps you too far away |
| town. The type of whale that can be spotted in | | | | from the Southern Right Whale's, you could also take |
| Hermanus is known as the Southern Right Whale. The | | | | advantage of the boat trips that are offered to take |
| origins of its name are a little unfortunate, as it was | | | | you out to sea. Experienced guides can chat you |
| named by hunters who termed it the 'right' whale to | | | | through a whale viewing experience, and bring you as |
| hunt because it's a slow swimmer and its blubber | | | | close as is possible without actually disturbing the |
| makes it float even after being killed. The good news | | | | whales. The whale festival happens around the 25th |
| is that the Southern Right Whale population is now | | | | of September for a week every year, when many |
| growing at a rate of about 7 percent every year, | | | | flock to the town to spot the visiting whales. |
| meaning that its population doubles every 10 years. | | | | Other Activities In Hermanus |
| These types of whales generally have dark grey | | | | Hermanus offers a variety of other charms. The town |
| bodies and massive heads, measuring up to a third of | | | | has become quite a popular tourist spot, without |
| their bodies. | | | | expanding too much. As a result there are a range of |
| Why Do the Whales Like Hermanus? | | | | wonderful restaurants and shops to keep you busy on |
| Hermanus falls along the 2000 km's of whale watching | | | | days when the whales are hiding. Various mountain |
| territory on the coast of South Africa that are ideal for | | | | trails and hikes offer some activity that could give you |
| the whales' needs. The shallow waters and sandy | | | | an entirely different view of the ocean as well, with |
| bottoms offer a safe haven for mating, calving and | | | | walks in the Hermanus reserve proving particularly |
| nursing their young. | | | | popular. While the town can't claim to have a large |
| Why Would You Like Hermanus? | | | | number of options in terms of nightlife, there are a |
| Hermanus offers a variety of ways to view whales | | | | number of clubs and pubs to keep you entertained if |
| and a large number of other activities to complement | | | | you are that way inclined. |
| a whale watching holiday. There are a many coves, | | | | Hermanus has an established history of being a whale |
| with charming smaller beaches that are connected by | | | | watching spot and lovely vacation get away. The |
| walk-ways running along the coast. This gives you the | | | | natural splendour and relaxed sea-side offerings are |
| options of relaxing walks to view whales, or if that's | | | | enough reason to go there, with the whales' offering |
| too much activity, you can always cuddle with a | | | | an extra bonus, albeit quite a large one! |