About Hermanus | Hermanus Tourism

Hermanus the seaside village

The Greater Hermanus area is situated between two large lagoons namely the Botrivier Lagoon on the western side and the Kleinrivier Lagoon to the eastern side, with the small Onrus Lagoon in the middle. It consists of various settlements namely, Fisherhaven, Hawston, Vermont, Onrus, Sandbaai, Hemel en Aarde Valley, Mount Pleasant, Zwelihle and Hermanus.

Southern Right Whales

The Southern Right Whale inhabits the southern and sub-antarctic oceans except during the winter breeding season. During this breeding season the whales migrate to warmer temperate waters around the southern parts of the African, South American and Australian land masses.

Whale Crier

The Whale Crier’s Kelp Horn was first heard in Hermanus in August 1992. Pieter Claasen, then an employee of the Old Harbour, was our first Whale Crier. Little did he realise when he agreed to dress up in the now familiar regalia what he was letting himself in for. His friends and associates all felt that he was making a fool of himself dressing up as a “papegaai”.

Flora and Fauna

Located between mountain and sea and with nature reserves in and around the greater Hermanus area, bird watchers can delight in spotting an astonishing number of different birds. You can walk along the cliff paths, hike in the Fernkloof nature reserve or just sit in your garden and you’re sure to see a large number of our avian residents.

The historical whale watching town of Hermanus

Each year thousands of domestic and international tourists flock to the shores of the gorgeous coastal town, Hermanus. Internationally renowned for whale watching, Hermanus is an ideal holiday destination. Despite being one of South Africa’s most loved tourist destinations, Hermanus has managed to maintain the quaint and tranquil atmosphere of years gone by.