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.

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