Hermanus, South Africa - whale viewing capital

Fri, Jul 11th 2008, 00:00

Hermanus is a popular holiday town for both South Africans and international visitors alike because of its sheltered beaches and superb whale viewing opportunities.

Hermanus is a small town on the southern coast of South Africa located approximately 100 kilometres southeast of the city of Cape Town. The story goes that early in the 1800s a shepherd called Hermanus Pieters was following an elephant trail through the interior of South Africa towards the sea. He came out at a pleasant valley near a spring and decided it would be a good spot to graze his sheep in the summer months.

Word of the spring spread and it was known in the area as Hermanuspietersfontein. As the area became more popular, the name was shortened to Hermanus and a settlement was established. It became a town in 1904.

Hermanus is most famous as one of the best places in the world to view whales. The charms of the place do not stop here. The surrounding countryside features pristine fynbos, vegetation unique to South Africa’s western cape region. The area also attracts a large number of artists producing a host of fine art and craft goods. The surrounding Hemel en Aarde valley is a popular wine producing area.

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