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

Design for sustainable living expo in Hermanus

Contributed by Wanda of www.urbansprout.co.za

There is something so exciting about this time of year. Yes, it rains a great deal in the Western Cape (who’s complaining, it’s not like we get a lot!) but it’s also the time of the coming of the whales to our shores.

Whale

I love the whales. These beautiful, gentle, giants show utter trust in humanity when they enter our bays to produce their young. I wouldn’t trust human beings with quite the same level of humility and grace (hey, I know what they’re capable of!) particularly when you take a step back and reflect on the current state of the environment. Yet people flock in their thousands to reciprocate the confident peace of these great beasts, and to catch a glimpse that leaves each of us feeling touched by something infinitely exceptional.

But back to humans and our commitment to affluence and economic growth at all costs, that is literally costing us the earth. We live in wonderful, yet alarming times where radical changes are called for. Where a profound shift in our value system and our take on the world needs to take place, or there will be little left to enjoy or call our own, and whales will be a distant memory, something about which we tell our grandchildren, but which they will never have the joy of seeing. 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