Whale Photographs

Our photo of the day is in fact two photographs, both of which are of  southern right whales taken near Hermanus, South Africa. The popular resort town of Hermanus has gained world-wide recognition as the world’s foremost land based whale watching destination so if you are planning to visit South Africa and want to see the whales, head to Hermanus for a front row seat! Continued

Brides to be – meet Aleit at Kennedy’s Wedding Indaba

The first of its kind in the Overberg, this is a wedding expo with a difference. Get to Kennedys Beach Villa on the 22nd August to learn from the best of the best in the Cape Town Wedding industry! Continued

Events in August

If you’re looking for things to do this August, we’ve selected a number of the events happening in South Africa this month to get you out and about …

Hermanus Kalkiefees

The Hermanus Times Kalfiefees is taking place from Thursday 6 August to Monday 10 August, bring your kids and their grandparents and make this a weekend to remember because there is something for everyone. This weekend celebrates the arrival of the Southern Right Whales to Hermanus, come and hear the Hermanus Whale Crier who will let you know exactly where the whales are spending their time – his rounds are from 10h00 to 16h00.

There are a number of activities and productions planned over the weekend to keep you and your family entertained. The costs for these productions start at R30 and go up to R80 per person. Some of the line up this year includes Chris Chameleon, opera arias performed by Magdaleen Minnaar, Elizabeth Frandsen and Aubrey Lodewyk, jazz and blues music from Blues en Susters as well as a few comedies and plays to lift your spirits … Continued

Hermanus Whale-Crier

Whale Crier

Until fairly recently it was unknown to all but locals, but mention the small South Africa coastal town of Hermanus anywhere in the world today and someone will have heard about the village, and no doubt, the whales. Whales are one of the most popular and well known attractions on offer in this small town, located nearby Cape Town on the eastern coast of the Cape and have been instrumental in transforming a now booming tourist industry.

One of the most unique aspects of the Hermanus whale experience is the whale crier, the town’s own “GPS” for the Southern Right whales that frequent its coast in droves during the months of June to September. The only one in the world, the original whale crier, Pieter Claasen, an employee of the Old Harbour complex, took up his horn and began alerting tourists and locals alike to the whearabouts of whales in 1992 as a means to attract tourism to the then little known town. Continued

Hermanus – The Riviera of the South

Hermanus

My first memories of Hermanus are from high school holidays, my school friends and I taking the bus up the East coast for a week of getting ejected unceremoniously from bars for being underage, scorned by the local girls for not being cool enough and raiding the liquor cabinets of parents that were gullible and unfortunate to allow us to stay in their Hermanus holiday homes. At around 115kms South East of Cape Town, or around an hours drive from the city centre, Hermanus, also known as the Riviera of the South, can be found. Once a sleepy little fishing village, this bustling town is now a popular holiday destination, with high school students still making that self-same pilgrimage every year.

Originally named Hermanuspietersfontein, after Hermanus Pieters, who made this idyllic seafront spot his summer camping area in the early 1800’s, the town only sprung up in the late 1800’s. The development boom, however, is a much more recent development. With several well-known luxury hotels, guesthouses, self catering houses and cottages, and camping grounds, Hermanus has become one of the primary holiday destinations for Capetonians, and an attractive option for for tourists wanting to see a little more of the Western Cape. Continued

Whale Watching in Hermanus

Whale Watching

The Cape Overberg coastline (or “Cape Whale Coast“) is without doubt one of the most exciting parts of the country to view whales and few visitors leave disappointed or untouched by the experience …

In South Africa boats are not allowed closer than 300 metres from a whale without a permit and 50 metres with a permit. This of course does not stop the whales from coming closer to the boats, which they very often do. Approaching whales is done quietly, without motors and at ‘no wake speed’.

South Africa is the only country in the world, to date, with an established environmental court where poachers of protected marine species are tried for their offences. Continued