Things to do in Hermanus

Hermanus Whale Cruises

Hermanus Whale Cruisesis famous for its whale-watching cruises, where visitors can take a whale-watching boat into the bay to search for these massive marine creatures on the open sea. From June to December each year, southern right whales and humpback whales gather here, providing excellent viewing opportunities. Professional whale-watching cruise services are available, allowing visitors to observe these magnificent marine creatures up close. When whales appear near the boat, it often creates an unforgettable visual experience. Visitors may see massive mother whales swimming slowly across the water with their calves, and if they encounter an active pod, they might even see whales breaching, rolling over, or slapping the waves with their massive tail fins. The moment their massive bodies suddenly leap out of the water and crash back down is one of the most anticipated scenes during whale watching.

Gearing's Point

Grotto Beach (Blue Flag)

Wide beach, fine sand, open views, and well-equipped facilities. Strolling along the coastline is a very enjoyable experience.

Voëlklip Beach

Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Southern Right Charters

Onrus Beach

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in South Africa

Table Mountain

Table Mountain is a highly recognizable natural landmark in Cape Town, famous for its distinctive flat-topped shape. The summit plateau stretches approx. 3 km from east to west, surrounded by steep cliffs and precipices, resembling a giant stone table spanning above the city when viewed from afar. The mountain, together with Devil's Peak to the east and Lion's Head and Signal Hill to the west, forms a natural arc-shaped mountain array embracing Cape Town's city center, while the Twelve Apostles extending southward along the Atlantic coast create a continuous chain of cliffs. The highest point of Table Mountain is located at the eastern end of the summit plateau, at an elevation of about 1086 m, and is marked by a stone triangulation beacon — the Maclear Beacon, built by the astronomer Sir Thomas Maclear in 1865. At the western end of the summit is the upper cable car station; the cable car line opened in 1929 and is one of the main ways to reach the top. Platteklip Gorge is a popular hiking route, and as early as 1503, explorers were already climbing Table Mountain along this path. Table Mountain is located in the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, where the vegetation is dominated by sclerophyllous shrubs and supports a large number of locally endemic plants. When the southeast wind prevails, the summit is often covered by orographic clouds, creating the famous "tablecloth cloud" spectacle — clouds cascade down from the flat summit like a white tablecloth, a representative natural phenomenon of Table Mountain. In 1998, Table Mountain and most of the natural areas of the Cape Peninsula were incorporated into Table Mountain National Park, managed uniformly by South African National Parks, and it sits within the city limits.

Hermanus New Harbour

Cliff Path