Whale Watching in Hermanus Day Trip
Whale Watching in Hermanus Day Trip
Take a slow approximately two hour drive from Wellington to Hermanus and watch these graceful giants put up a show you will remember forever.
Getting there
• From Wellington, drive to Paarl
• From Paarl take the Wemmershoek Road (R301)
• Drive about 20 km and turn left onto the R 45 at the T-Junction and drive towards Franschhoek.
• You will go over the Franschhoek Pass and pass Theewaterskloof Dam and turn right at the T-junction and drive towards Grabouw. Turn left onto the N2
• Stay on the N2 until you reach the Hermanus R43 exit on your left
• Take the R43 all the way to Hermanus past Fisherhaven, Hawston, Vermont, Onrus and Sand Bay
• You will arrive in Hermanus and follow your nose to the sea! You cannot miss it.
For more information visit ShowMe Hermanus.
Hermanus is best known for the Southern Right Whales that frequent Walker Bay each year from June to early December.
The Southern Right Whale is a migratory whale that spends approximately 6 months feeding in the Arctic Ocean, and the other 6 months mating and/or calving in the warmer oceans off the coast of South Africa, South America and Australia. The shallow, sandy-bottomed and sheltered Walker Bay is perfect for mating, calving, nursing their young and resting.
The residents of Hermanus are passionate about Southern Right Whales. A large area of Walker bay has been declared a Whale Sanctuary, and from 1 July to 30 November each year, no boats or crafts of any kind are allowed in the Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary Marine Protected Area.
The Whales
Southern Right Whales are easily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye.
Humpback – and Bryde’s Whales are also regularly spotted in Walker Bay.
Bryde’s Whales are resident off the South African coast all year round. It can easily be told apart from the Southern Right Whale by its sharp, hooked dorsal fin located far down its back. Unlike the Southern Right Whale, their tail fluke never breaks the surface. They are shy and elusive, and are much faster swimmers than the Southern Right Whale, often seen chasing and feeding on shoals of small fish, such as anchovy, pilchard and squid.
Humpback Whales pass by on their way to their breeding grounds just off the coast of Mozambique. They have proportionally the longest flippers of all whales, a small dorsal fin which is positioned on a small hump far down their back and a fluked tail with wavy trailing edges.
Land-based Whale Watching
The height advantage of the cliffs, stretching from Westcliff to Kwaaiwater, offer fantastic land-based whale watching conditions. The whales are often found close to the shoreline, nursing their calves and displaying a variety of natural whale behaviour.
The best Land Based Whale Watching in the World!
Sea Kayaking
One can also explore the coastline on a guided sea kayaking trip. Trips leave from the historical Old Harbour, in the Marine Reserve and by law are not allowed to come within 300m of a whale. If whales decide to come close to the kayaks they must move away from them.
Boat-based Whale Watching
There are also a number of Whale Watching Charters operating from the Hermanus New Harbour. These Charter companies offer you the chance to get closer to the whales and see a larger variety of marine life than is possible from land.
Permits for boat-based whale watching have been issued to a limited number of applicants in various ‘concession areas’ along the South African coastline. Walker Bay falls within the boundaries of two such areas and permit holders adhere to a strict code of conduct.
Other marine life that may also be seen be seen include Cape Fur Seals, Cape Gannets, Cormorants, African Penguins, and Common – and Bottlenose Dolphins.
Whale Watching Operators :
See ShowMe Hermanus