About Hermanus
Hermanus is known as the best land based whale watching destination in the world, but it was “discovered” by a shepherd searching for fresh water and grazing for his flock just over a 100 years ago.
It was settled by fishermen who relied on a rich harvest of fish but it was its champagne air that earned it an international reputation as the Riviera of the South, attracting visitors from Europe and further afield from the late 1800’s to this moment.
Its unique asset, known simply as the Cliff Path, is a meandering walk that hugs the seafront from New Harbour to beaches, a distance of about 12km, providing idyllic spots along cliff tops for a birds-eye view of the whales and benches to sit and rest and absorb the coastal Fynbos. Intimate coves provide quiet sunbathing escapes and long, sandy beaches beckon the beach comber.
Today residents and tourists agree that it is the most spectacular of coastal resorts and, cradled between mountain and sea, offers every outdoor adventure and activity from mountain climbing to deep sea diving. With Fernkloof Nature Reserve and its 1500 species of Fynbos and more than 200 species of birds, the sea with forests of kelp nurturing abalone, crayfish and other marine life, including the seasonal visits of Southern Right Whales, Humpback whales and dolphins, it is a primary eco-destination on the planet.
The resident population has grown to around 50 000 people, many of them younger businessmen and women who have chosen quality of life over the fast lane and fat pay packets of the city. The economy is driven largely by tourism and visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants and guest houses.
Little lanes with a treasure of quaint boutiques and shops link main roads in the heart of the village and encourage leisurely browsing and buying.
Hermanus is about living life for every memorable moment – breathe in crystal clear champagne air; take long beach walks in the moonlight or laze all day on sun-kissed sand; take a stroll along mountain paths or hike for days through mountain ranges; surf, swim, sail and dive; watch whales from a rocky outcrop or up close and personal from a boat or even a kayak; dine in style in world class restaurants or picnic on a wine estate; the adventures await your discovery.
