Visitor Information
The excellent Hermanus Tourism Bureau, the Old Station Building, corner of Mitchell and Lord Roberts Street (tel. 028/312-2629; www.hermanus.co.za), is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 5 or 6pm, and from August to April on Sunday as well from 10am to 2pm.
Getting There
By Car -- Hermanus lies 112km (69 miles) east of Cape Town via the N2 (just under an hour). The N2 route is a pretty drive, but the winding coastal route from Gordon's Bay, at times snaking along cliffs that plunge into the sea, is simply breathtaking.
By Bus -- Contact Hylton Ross (tel. 021/511-1784) for scenic day trips to Hermanus from July 1 to November 31 via the coastal route on Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday. Expect to pay about R630.
Guided Tours -- For an insight into the greater community, take a walking tour of the Hermanus township Zwelihle, the first black township established in the Overberg, with Wilson Salukazana, a registered SATOUR guide and proprietor of Ubuntu Tours (tel. 073/214-6949). Walker Bay Adventures (tel. 082/739-0159) runs kayaking trips in the Walker Bay whale sanctuary for R300 per person; you can also kayak across the lagoon for a wine-tasting session under milkwood trees on the beautiful Mosaic Farm for R400 per person. Call Fernkloof Nature Reserve (tel. 028/313-8100; www.fernkloof.com) to find out about specialized fynbos tours. Contact Klein Paradys Equestrian Centre (tel. 028/284-9422) for Overberg outings on horseback. They're based in Bot River, about 33km (20 miles) inland from Hermanus. Wine lovers will enjoy an introduction to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley's many wine farms and tasting rooms: contact Cape Wine Academy-accredited Percy Tours (tel. 072/062-8500; www.percytours.com) for details. Tours start at R350 per person.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
