Whale Watching:
Hermanus has the status of being the best land-based whale watching destination in the world. Southern right whales visit Walker Bay from June through to December and can be viewed from aboard a boat, an airplane or the shore. Hermanus is home to the world’s only Whale Crier who blows his kelp horn when whales are spotted along the central sea route.
The Whale Festival has also become a feature on the town’s calendar. Hermanus is a cosmopolitan town but has retained some of its historical fisherman’s village heritage. A number of craft markets sell a range of interesting wares, a marimba band frequently adds a vibrant atmosphere on different occasions and the old harbour with its restored fishing boats gives a glimpse of times past.
Shark Cave Diving:
Shark cage diving provides an adrenaline fix for adventure lovers and kayaking trips on the sea or lagoon can be booked. Fernkloof Nature Reserve offers a range of spectacular walks among the fynbos. Whether you choose to spend a day on one of the spectacular beaches or playing a round of golf, Hermanus has something for everyone. Many of the shops and amenities are also wheelchair friendly.
Raka Wine Estate:
The Dreyer Family bought the farm, Remhoogte south east of Hermanus in the Akkedisberg area in 1982. Piet Dreyer was doing commercial fishing at the time. They ran livestock and later planted citrus trees. Piet’s wife and children tended the farm in his absence. During 1999 the Dreyers planted 10 hectares Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. Since then a few hectares were added every year, and the 68 hectares on the farm at present, includes plantings of Pinotage, Sangiovese, Viognier, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot and also larger plantings of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc, making the farm self-sufficient as far as varieties needed for the different blends are concerned.
The farm is 17 kilometres from Stanford in a glen in the Kleinrivier Mountains, where the Klein River flows through. The Kleinrivier Mountains is the southernmost mountain range in Africa and its slopes provide a variety of aspects and soil types.
Other Activities:
Whale Watching, Wine Estates, Nature Reserves, Shark Cage Diving