Planning a trip to The Whale Coast

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 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 via the coastal route on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday.

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) run kayaking trips in the Walker Bay whale sanctuary for R250 ($35/£18) per person Call Fernkloof Nature Reserve (tel. 028/313-0300) to find out about specialized fynbos tours. Contact Klein Paradys Equestrian Centre (tel. 028/284-9422) for outings on horseback.