It offers some fine landbased viewing opportunities because the whales often come within metres of the shoreline. One of the best places to view southern right whales is in the small town of hermanus, where you can sit on the cliffs along the town center and watch this amazing spectacle. The travel experience of visiting hermanus during whale. The albino whales are even more at risk to this and are therefore rarely seen. See whos going to hermanus whale festival 2020 in hermanus, south africa. A whale of a season as southern right numbers rise. Peak calving season is july and august, but whales can be seen through september and october. Hermanus is the worlds best location for landbased whale watching, and over a hundred thousand visitors come to the festival in october to enjoy the be. South africas hermanus whale festival is an enviroarts festival that spotlights creatures of the deep alongside top musicians and performers. Some years the southern right whales have arrived as early as april but the usual time for them to start arriving is at the end of may. Whale watching in hermanus hermanus whales xplorio.
Hermanus whale season 2017 301 hermanus seaview apartment. The peak whale season runs from june to mid december, annually. The ultimate guide to whale watching in hermanus cape town. Hermanus and the surrounding towns of gansbaai, stanford and kleinmond offer highlights all year round. Each year from june to november, tourists and south africans alike but mostly tourists flock to enjoy hermanus whale watching season in its peak.
The boatbased whale watching trip is not capped and is from 1hr 30m 3hrs maximum. Residents and visitors celebrate the migration of southern right whales and other marine wildlife with oceanthemed activities and exhibitions, emphasising education and environmentally responsible adventures and activities. It is a tribute to the legacy left to the town by wendy the whale whose story is about mans ability to live in harmony with nature as well as peoples ability to come together as communities valuing the. A whale of a season as southern right numbers rise hermanus. The exact date all depends when the star performers arrive and depart. Watch the worlds gentle giants of the deep frolic in waters of walker bay.
Well typically the whale season in hermanus is between june and december every year. Hermanus whale festival event in hermanus, western cape. Hermanus has a funny way of getting under your skin. While sightings alone can be affected by multiple factors and do not necessarily translate to an actual increase in individuals, it is worth noting that 2018 saw an increase of almost four times the number of individual whales observed in 2017. The hermanus whale season when is the hermanus whale season. These massive creatures can be viewed from the shore, from boats or even planes. With southern right whale sightings rising over the last three years. The curious humpback whale can be seen between may to december, moving up along the coast from hermanus to st lucia in kwazulunatal. Watching southern right whales in hermanus, south africa. Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa. Hermanus whale watching blog southern right charters. In season whales can be seen from shore in the area.
Southern right whales start arriving in walker bay from june and may even remain until december. Whale watching season in hermanus cape town magazine. It is famous for southern right whale watching during the southern winter to spring seasons, and is a popular retirement location, too. The annual hermanus whale festival is a celebration to the return of the southern right whales to the coastal waters of southern africa. Wedged between the mountain and the sea, the quaint hamlet of hermanus has been rated by the world wildlife fund wwf as one of the twelve best whale watching locations in the world, and it is often regarded as the heart of the whale route. Hermanus whale watching fairest cape meander tours. Southern right whales have been reported to still be in hermanus. Whale watching season, boat trips in hermanus, south. I have never known if it is the laid back atmosphere of a seaside town, the claimed most oxygenated air in the world or the proximity of spectacular nature so close to you at all times all i know is that it is a special place.
The hermanus whale festival, the only enviroarts festival in south africa, is held annually to celebrate the return of the southern right whales to the waters of walker bay, our magnificent environment and the arrival of spring hermanus, known as the best land based whale watching destination in the world, plays host to thousands of visitors who flock to. The trip to hermanus can easily be done on a twoday trip from cape town. Whale watching in south africa southern right charters youtube. Whale watching in south africa southern right charters. Hermanus whale festival this year held on the 29th of september until the 1st of october 2017. Its because of this that the whales choose to make their way to hermanus in the winter months, when the sun is weaker and the waters cooler. Watch as whales come within metres of the shores, and join in on the festivities of the annual hermanus whale festival this year held on the 29th of september until the 1st of october 2017.
Whale watching, shark cage diving, kayaking trips, horse trails, golf or simply relaxing and dining at one of the many restaurants is a must do in hermanus. We are frequently asked when is the best time to visit hermanus and its without a doubt a very important question. With southern right whale sightings rising over the last three years, and individual numbers rising drastically over the last year, this season is almost certain to deliver once again. Great viewings can be had from terraces such as old harbour and gearing point and other great spots include gansbaai, grootbos nature reserve. This is a good budget option, but obviously your chance to see these magnificent animals are much lower. Southern right charters offers boatbased whale watching tours from the new harbour in hermanus, the capital of. Hermanus is the whale watching capital of south africa where every year between august to november an estimated 100 southern right whales will gather in the towns walker bay. The quaint coastal town of hermanus has become synonymous with whale watching, given its sheltered coves in which these marine mammals come to mate and calve. For the 26th year south africas first and only enviroarts extravaganza, the hermanus whale festival, celebrates the giant creatures of the deep, as well as top local performers from. Hermanus, once a small fishing village, is today considered to be the best landbased whale watching spot in the world. The best time for whale watching in south africa is from june until october, though whale watching season starts as early as may and lasts until november. Hermanus travels whales and seafood hairy one travels. The southern right whale and the humpback whale comes into our waters to mate and calve every year during these months and it is a sight to be enjoyed by all who love animals.
Hermanus is a small town in the western cape of south africa. Oct 24th, 2017 dolphins, photo blog, sightings, whales. Hermanus originally called hermanuspietersfontein, but shortened in 1902 as the name was too long for the postal service, is a town on the southern coast of the western cape province of south africa. With southern right whales, orcas aka killer whales and probably also some other. Hermanus whale festival is celebrating the return of the migrating southern right whales during the only ecomarine festival in south africa. The three types of whales that are most often spotted in south africa are the southern right whale, the humpback whale and the bryde whale. Compilation of footage taken during the 2017 whale season in hermanus, south africa. Although the southern right whale is the most prolific.
This year, the festival takes place over three days from 29 september to 1 october 2017 and as always promises good food, live. The southern right whales usually arrive during early spring and although its not possible to to provide an exact start and enddate, it is generally accepted that the hermanus whale season lasts from june to november every year. Hermanus is a small town on the coast of the western cape province of south africa, but during whale season, it becomes the whalespotting capital of the country. It depends on traveling time to the hermanus whales on that trip. In terms of weather, december to march are the hottest months in hermanus, with the least amount of wind. A whale of a season as southern right numbers rise winter has come to walker bay, and with the cold, so too comes the start of whale season 2019. This massive increase in whale numbers has caused hermanus to be named the top destination in the. Hermanus has been recognized by the wwf world wildlife fund as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world. Hermanus is rated as one of the top 12 whalewatching locations in the world by the world wildlife fund. Hermanus whale festival, where the stars of the show are the southern right whales, near cape town in south africa. Land and whale boat watching can be enjoyed in the holiday town of hermanus. Whale season between june to december attracts tourists from all over the world. The cliff paths of hermanus offer an excellent vantage point to view the whales. Visitors from all over the world descend to this attractive former fishing village to see the famous southern right whales that come here every year to mate and calve.
Another discerning factor is the vshaped blowhole atop their heads. Hermanus whale watching southern right whales humpback. Hermanus whale season whale watching hermanus 2020. Whale watching season in hermanus hermanus whales xplorio. Hermanus becomes a hive of activity with hustle and bustle every year during the last week of september, which is the official whale festival week. The hermanus whale festival have a whale of a time at this fun, familyfriendly fiesta. Whale watching season in hermanus hermanus message board. This is prime hiking country, full of fynbos and trails, with over 1474 known species. Hermanus whale festival 2017 the hermanus whale festival started 26 years ago in the coastal town of hermanus. To take advantage of this optimal part of the season there is the muchanticipated hermanus whale watching festival that takes place every year. The peak whale watching season is september and october when cow and calf pairs are prolific and mating groups churn the sea with activity. Hermanus whale festival 2020 in hermanus, south africa. See the beauty of the migration of southern right whales and other marine wildlife, activities, oceanthemed activities and exhibitions.
The hermanus whale watching festival is a fun and celebratory way to immerse into the whale watching fever that takes over the town. Best time for whale watching in south africa rhino africa. The whale viewing during the months of july and august vary from year to year with regards to how many whales are. Did you see the whales in table bay from a boat on the water or from the shore. Southern right charters offers boatbased whale watching tours from the. We discovered that the hermanus restaurants also serve great seafood, and that the local winelands produce some good wine. The annual hermanus whale watching season is upon us again. If you are visiting south africa during whale season, hermanus is a must. The exact date all depends on when the star performers arrive and depart. Hermanus in the western cape during the whale season. If you happen to be here during the whale season, there is one character you are bound to meet. Southern right charters boat based whale watching in hermanus,south africa southern right charters offer boat based whale watching in walker bay, hermanus. Hermanus is a pretty coastal town on the indian ocean and surrounded by mountains. Whale watching in hermanus is regarded as the place on the planet to view southern right.
The boat based whale watching trip is from 1hr 30m 3hrs maximum. The mediumsized brydes whale can be spotted all year round, and while rare, orcas can also be seen. If you read the other comments, there seems to be a complete disconnect concerning visiting hermanus, at least at the cliffs. There are viewing terraces at the old harbour, and gearings point is a popular spot. Hermanus whale watching whale watching hermanus 2019.
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