Information on Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa

Hermanus is a town along the Walker Bay on the southern coast of the Western Cape Province, about 115 km from Cape Town. It is a popular retirement town and known for whale watching. The whales can be seen from the cliffs in the town centre from as early as June. Several exhibitions which describe the whaling history of Hermanus can be seen at The Old Harbour Museum.

Hermanus is only 40 km from from Gansbaai, where diving with great white sharks can be done. The Hermanus Magnetic Observatory, a research facility of the National Research Foundation, is part of the worldwide network which monitors variations of the Earth's magnetic field. Hermanus Yacht Club is a popular yacht club in the Western Cape amongst the yachting community.

Grotto Beach is the largest beach in Hermanus and has also been proclaimed a blue flag beach which ensures its preservation as a world heritage site. Other beaches include Voelklip, Onrus, Kammabaai and Langbaai. Hermanus hosts an annual whale festival at the end of September, when the Southern Right whales come into the local bay during the mating season. The hinterland beyond the town is largely mountainous and rugged, and there are many remote areas of wild ravines and hills.