Whale Route

Drawing visitors from around the world to its rocky shores, the whale route comes to life between the months of June to December. Every year hundreds of whales make their way to the Whale Route’s sheltered bay to calve and nurse their young, coming as close in to the shore as possible. Low sea cliffs allow you to get closer to the whales than you will ever believe possible, and have turned the area around Hermanus and especially Walker Bay into one of the of the continent’s most desired tourist destinations. It can confidently be said that the Whale Route offers the best land based whale watching in the world.

The seaside town, Hermanus is renowned as the heart of the Whale Route. Its 12 km’s of cliff paths stretch from the one side of the town to the other and give visitors the opportunity to observe these gentle giants. Benches are placed along the cliff paths providing a comfortable resting place to spot the whales. In some places you can watch these amazing creatures from as close as five metres from the rocky cliffs. The luxury guesthouses are well-positioned on the cliff edges, with many of them offering views of the whales from the comfort of your breakfast table!

Drawing visitors from around the world to its rocky shores, the whale route comes to life between the months of June to December. Every year hundreds of whales make their way to the Whale Route’s sheltered bay to calve and nurse their young, coming as close in to the shore as possible. Low sea cliffs allow you to get closer to the whales than you will ever believe possible, and have turned the area around Hermanus and especially Walker Bay into one of the of the continent’s most desired tourist destinations. It can confidently be said that the Whale Route offers the best land based whale watching in the world.

The seaside town, Hermanus is renowned as the heart of the Whale Route. Its 12 km’s of cliff paths stretch from the one side of the town to the other and give visitors the opportunity to observe these gentle giants. Benches are placed along the cliff paths providing a comfortable resting place to spot the whales. In some places you can watch these amazing creatures from as close as five metres from the rocky cliffs. The luxury guesthouses are well-positioned on the cliff edges, with many of them offering views of the whales from the comfort of your breakfast table!

Hermanus has the world’s only whale crier who has the role of keep visitors informed as to where the whales can be seen. He blows a horn made of sea kelp to tell people that the whales are in view. The sound of his horn has become a charming characteristic of this attractive seaside town. Throngs of visitors line the shores, eagerly pointing to the numerous spouts of mist-like water that dot the ocean as the whales surface and ‘blow’. It is an incredible feeling when you see one of these gigantic creatures breach in an awesome display of pure power, before crashing back into the water with a huge splash.

Whale safaris – boat trips with licensed whale viewing operators – depart regularly.

The other major attraction to the Whale Route is the Great White Shark population. South Africa was the first country to protect this super predator of the ocean. The small town of Gansbaai offers exciting shark cage diving trips bringing you within touching distance of these masters of the ocean.

For ten days each September, the little quaint town of Hermanus is transformed and comes alive as thousands of visitors arrive at the annual Whale festival. The main attraction is to come and see the whales as well as enjoying flea markets, arts & culture and fantastic restaurants.

The best time to see the Southern Right whales is between June and November. Humpback whales migrate through our region between May and December and Bryde's whales are found slightly further off shore all year round; making the Whale Route a top year round destination.         

Other attractions in the area include wine tasting at the famous Hamilton & Russel Estate, strolling through the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, playing on the Arabella golf course and eating at the many lively restaurants in Hermanus.

Many visitors to this area combine a trip up the Whale Route with a stay in Cape Town, and a drive up the beautiful Garden Route. If you want to go one up on the rest of the safari world and tick off the Big Six, instead of the Big Five, then you can combine the Whale Route with a visit to one of the Garden Route Safari game lodges. Whale, lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo – it’s a special occasion when you get to sit in the presence of all these great creatures in one vacation.

Speak to any one of our Travel Experts to help you plan your itinerary, or to advise you on what accommodation will best suit your tastes. There is plenty on offer in the area – all of it of a very high standard – and each has its own distinctive flavours and nuances. Our Travel Experts have spent time visiting each and every one so they are very well suited to give you the best advice you will find.