Whale watching boat trips in Hermanus, South Africa
Whale watching and boat trips, Hermanus, South Africa – Cape Whale Coast
Hermanus Whale Festival was held - 28th, 29th and 30th Sept, 2024
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Established in 2004
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Whale watching of Southern Right Whales
in Hermanus - the season is - CLOSED
next SEASON will re-start on - 1st JUNE, 2025
CLICK here for SUMMER boat activities in Hermanus
in Hermanus - the season is - CLOSED
next SEASON will re-start on - 1st JUNE, 2025
CLICK here for SUMMER boat activities in Hermanus
Whale watching Cessna plane and Helicopter flights over Hermanus, near Cape Town, South Africa
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The Whale Festival of Hermanus has been running since 1992. This amazingly pretty South African seaside town offers spectacular coastlines, stunning beaches and the cherry-on-the-cake is it’s tradition of Whale watching and hosting the annual Hermanus Whale Festival.
The Whale Festival was at - 28th, 29th and 30th Sept, 2024. The world famous Hermanus Whale Festival, usually takes place annually at the end of September / beginning of October and this fabulous event attracts to the town well over 130,000 visitors for the week long festivities. Classified as the only Eco-Art festival in South Africa. The town comes alive during the Hermanus Whale Festival, with 100′s of attractions for everyone to enjoy and explore. |
Hermanus Whale Festival
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Eco-marine displays and educational shows by specialist environmental scientists and researchers; many large marquees holding craft markets, food halls, wine and beer tents; sound systems for bands, DJs and music arts; large kiddie arenas with magic shows, fair-ground rides and art classes; vintage car shows; sports events like bike races, marathons and athletics; large inflatable tents holding all manner of fun; plus so much more AND of course loads and loads of WHALES!
The Southern Right Whales comes to the waters of Hermanus every year and they can be viewed sometimes only metres from the shore as they rear their young babies and play in the shallow waters. Hermanus also boasts the worlds only “Whale Crier”, a man employed expressly to wander the towns cliff-tops announcing the presence and whereabouts of the Whales during the 6 month annual Whale watching season of June to December each year and the Whale Festival. Hermanus is one of the few places in the world where so many of the Southern Right Whales can be seen at such close quarters, with the record viewed in just ONE day being 196 Whales. Incredible! |
Whale watching boat trips in Hermanus, near Cape Town, South Africa
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There are 4 major ways to watch and enjoy the whales -
WHALE WATCHING trips & season in Hermanus - CLOSED, re-starts 1st JUNE, 2025 - Contact Us Whale Watching boat trips are a very popular activity during the Hermanus Whale watching season and are a great way to get really close-up to our Whales without causing them any disturbance – to guarantee this, only 5 boat licences are granted to 5 boat whale watching companies. Land-based Whale Watching Walking tours also offer you an amazing adventure to explore the hidden coves and inlets that the Whales love to laze in. Sea Kayaking will also allow you to observe from OVER 300ms away. Cessna plane and/or Helicopter flights over the Whales, ocean, beaches and mountains are utterly incredible and an experience that you will never forget! |
Southern Right Whales in Hermanus mother and baby, viewed from a helicopter flight - June to late Nov each year
Helicopter flights over Hermanus, Gansbaai and Walker Bay - and whales June to Dec each year
On the 30th October 2019, the Hermanus region was given an extremely important and unique award – being named as – THE Gastronomic region of AFRICA - check it out here - Food & Wine town of AFRICA - Hermanus
Below is our recent article for the Hermanus Whale Festival edition of Whale Talk magazine, enjoy
Whale watching in Hermanus article in Whale Talk magazine of Hermanus
Whale watching in Hermanus article in Whale Talk magazine of Hermanus
PREVIOUS Festival -
Hermanus Community Rhino Project – (2011)
This is a story about a town standing together to help a rhino, about a community joining hands in the most positive and inspiring way to make a difference and discovering what is possible when we work together.
We have all seen the terrible onslaught rhinos are facing; we have all seen the struggle that people in the poorer communities face everyday. In the big war on protecting rhino and fighting poverty, this is a positive story of how one rhino brings a town together and of how a town standing together is able to make a big difference.
The rhino’s name is Metsi and is in the care of the Clive Walker Foundation and their Living Museum (www.livingmuseum.co.za) The Living Museum is a safe haven for wild animals that are not able to return to the wild due to illness, injury or being orphaned as a result of poaching. The crafters are from Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant, Hawston, Kleinmond and Hermanus. They work in a wide range of media and range from experienced and established to emerging crafters. To raise funds for Metsi the wire crafters @ the little shoppe and studio project have set themselves their biggest challenge to date. They are building the worlds largest wire rhino. They have registered the attempt with Guinness World Records, who are currently processing the application. The wire rhino was unveiled at the Hermanus Whale festival (30 Sept – 4 Oct. 2011) in a Craft tent sponsored by the Cape Craft Design Institute and facilitated by the Little Shoppe and studio project.
The CCDI will meet with the crafters (approx 40 community crafters) in August to evaluate the craft and help identify ways that product may be developed further. They will register crafters with the CCDI, add their product and information on their database and identify training that would benefit crafters in our community and work towards bringing training to the crafters -www.capecraftanddesign.org.za
Space and security for the tent in the centre of the festival has been sponsored by the Hermanus Whale Festival Committee. They have also listed the Hermanus Community Rhino Project as an attraction at the Whale Festival and will include it in all media advertising the event.
The wire rhino will leave the festival on 4th October. Organised by www.stoprhinopoaching.com the rhino will be collected by the 4 x 4 club of SA who will take it in a relay to all the various game parks on its way to the Kruger National Park where it will be auctioned off as a symbol of hope. StopRhinoPoaching have also made a page available on their website with links to the project and crafters allowing visitors to follow the progress, the road trip, and will allow them direct access to buying product from the crafters in an effort to continue the momentum and sustain the exposure for the crafters.
We have all seen the terrible onslaught rhinos are facing; we have all seen the struggle that people in the poorer communities face everyday. In the big war on protecting rhino and fighting poverty, this is a positive story of how one rhino brings a town together and of how a town standing together is able to make a big difference.
The rhino’s name is Metsi and is in the care of the Clive Walker Foundation and their Living Museum (www.livingmuseum.co.za) The Living Museum is a safe haven for wild animals that are not able to return to the wild due to illness, injury or being orphaned as a result of poaching. The crafters are from Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant, Hawston, Kleinmond and Hermanus. They work in a wide range of media and range from experienced and established to emerging crafters. To raise funds for Metsi the wire crafters @ the little shoppe and studio project have set themselves their biggest challenge to date. They are building the worlds largest wire rhino. They have registered the attempt with Guinness World Records, who are currently processing the application. The wire rhino was unveiled at the Hermanus Whale festival (30 Sept – 4 Oct. 2011) in a Craft tent sponsored by the Cape Craft Design Institute and facilitated by the Little Shoppe and studio project.
The CCDI will meet with the crafters (approx 40 community crafters) in August to evaluate the craft and help identify ways that product may be developed further. They will register crafters with the CCDI, add their product and information on their database and identify training that would benefit crafters in our community and work towards bringing training to the crafters -www.capecraftanddesign.org.za
Space and security for the tent in the centre of the festival has been sponsored by the Hermanus Whale Festival Committee. They have also listed the Hermanus Community Rhino Project as an attraction at the Whale Festival and will include it in all media advertising the event.
The wire rhino will leave the festival on 4th October. Organised by www.stoprhinopoaching.com the rhino will be collected by the 4 x 4 club of SA who will take it in a relay to all the various game parks on its way to the Kruger National Park where it will be auctioned off as a symbol of hope. StopRhinoPoaching have also made a page available on their website with links to the project and crafters allowing visitors to follow the progress, the road trip, and will allow them direct access to buying product from the crafters in an effort to continue the momentum and sustain the exposure for the crafters.
Braam Malherbe at Hermanus Whale Festival 1st Oct 2011
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On 1st October, 2011, at the Whale Festival, extreme conservationist / adventurer and 50 / 50 national TV presenter Braam Malherbe will talk about his adventures, running the great wall of China, why rhinos are close to his heart and do a book signing in the tent. An "Ask Braam" session will allow people the opportunity to ask him questions and get to know him better.
Wild Life sculptor and conservation chopper pilot John Bassi – www.johnbassisculptures.com has donated a limited edition bronze sculpture of a black rhino that will be auctioned off in a silent auction during the festival. (All proceeds to Metsi) Wildlife photographer Andrew White from – www.silentwildlife.com will exhibit and sell his rhino images – all proceeds to Metsi. |
Township Art at Festival
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The tent will be a fully interactive space. Stalls will include, wire designs from animals to spectacular home wear, bags, aprons, jewellery and soft toys. Women from Zwelihle Design and Hermanus Child Welfare Women’s Craft Project are among the groups participating. All the lights for the stalls will be made from recycled white milk bottles and will be for sale
– part of the proceeds to Metsi. The centre chandeliers will be made from recycled PET (coca cola and green sprite bottles) collected by children in Zwelihle as part of the Recycle Swop Shop at the Houmoed centre. Ceramics, metal art, wooden toys, mosaic and hand made candles are but a few of the product available. People with disabilities will be represented by the mosaic group from the Overberg Wheelchair Association, APD and Camphill. |
Mandala Art at festival
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Stunning beaded Mandala dream-catchers and organic art, sculptures and rhino bands will also be available. The tent will have vibrant storyboards with images taken by local photographers (established photographers mentoring emerging township photographers).
Life in Balance Magazine will do a full spread on the project. LeadSA will feature the project on all their national Radio stations (94.5fm, 94.7fm and 702am) and their website. SABC national TV News to follow the project and the rhino on the road – and national TV programs – 50 / 50 (wildlife show) and Pasella (lifestyle) are looking at ways to include the project in their shows. |
This is truly a HERMANUS COMMUNITY RHINO PROJECT – one town, one rhino. All of this is already in place. The media attention and interest in the project is growing.
Township Artists who will build the huge wire and bead Rhino
At the heart of the project are the crew responsible for building the rhino. For the next three months they will be doing nothing else but focus on the rhino. On Tuesday 12 July we fly courtesy of StopRhinoPoaching up to Vaalwater to spend time with Metsi. Here the crew will have an opportunity to interact with a live rhino and discuss their ideas and design with rhino experts. When we return to work on Friday the studio will be cleared out and construction starts on Monday 18 July.
The task at hand now is to raise funds. We have designed a banner that will hang behind the rhino in the tent and will travel with the rhino on the road to the Kruger National Park. The rhino will be filmed and photographed with the banner behind it. There are 30 spaces on the banner shaped like a business card and are approx. 40cm x 30cm in size. It will clearly state that this project was sponsored by the following HERMANUS businesses. A space on the banner is R1,500 each. To reserve a space a R500 deposit is required (July 2011) and the balance paid in two R500 instalments (August and September). Each business will also receive an A3 poster saying that they are proud sponsors of the Hermanus Community Rhino Project – to be displayed in their place of business. All sponsors will be included in the press kit.
The task at hand now is to raise funds. We have designed a banner that will hang behind the rhino in the tent and will travel with the rhino on the road to the Kruger National Park. The rhino will be filmed and photographed with the banner behind it. There are 30 spaces on the banner shaped like a business card and are approx. 40cm x 30cm in size. It will clearly state that this project was sponsored by the following HERMANUS businesses. A space on the banner is R1,500 each. To reserve a space a R500 deposit is required (July 2011) and the balance paid in two R500 instalments (August and September). Each business will also receive an A3 poster saying that they are proud sponsors of the Hermanus Community Rhino Project – to be displayed in their place of business. All sponsors will be included in the press kit.
Two Corex boards of 40cm x 30cm – free standing at the base of the rhino (in front) are available at R3,000 each.
An FNB account had been opened for the project and an independent accounting service will audit the account.
Raffle tickets will be sold – a rhino (R10) for a rhino. Exciting Hermanus prizes up for grabs.
Funds raised will be used to support the wire crew, print raffle tickets, posters and silent auction ballots, cover communication and transport costs. We hope to buy an industrial sewing machine and over locker to assist the crafters from Zwelihle design with the manufacturing of their soft toys. It will also allow them to expand their range of services.
If you are interested in a space on the banner, the free standing ad boards or in donating a prize, sell raffle tickets, want to volunteer, help with marketing or selling our project to potential business investors, want more information or give feedback – we would love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
the little shoppe and studio project
Sustainable income through creative design in the fight against poverty.
An FNB account had been opened for the project and an independent accounting service will audit the account.
Raffle tickets will be sold – a rhino (R10) for a rhino. Exciting Hermanus prizes up for grabs.
Funds raised will be used to support the wire crew, print raffle tickets, posters and silent auction ballots, cover communication and transport costs. We hope to buy an industrial sewing machine and over locker to assist the crafters from Zwelihle design with the manufacturing of their soft toys. It will also allow them to expand their range of services.
If you are interested in a space on the banner, the free standing ad boards or in donating a prize, sell raffle tickets, want to volunteer, help with marketing or selling our project to potential business investors, want more information or give feedback – we would love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
the little shoppe and studio project
Sustainable income through creative design in the fight against poverty.
Whale watching, Boat Trips and many Adventures in Hermanus, South Africa.
Phone number +27 (0) 72-062-8500 / WhatsApp - 0027-72-062-8500
Phone number +27 (0) 72-062-8500 / WhatsApp - 0027-72-062-8500
Whale watching boat trips in Hermanus, South Africa