Western Cape: Hermanus Cliff Path’s missing link finally opens! [update]

update (26 November 2025): The Overstrand Municipality announced that a popular section of the Hermanus Cliff Path in Hermanushas been given a fresh new life with the completion of two wooden viewing decks, where everyone can safely enjoy the sea and stunning surroundings. The new deck, situated opposite Swallow Park, is named the Rotary Viewing Deck. 

The world-famous Hermanus Cliff Path in Hermanus in the Western Cape is now fully connected following the long-awaited opening of an 800-metre missing link at Poole’s Bay. The upgrade, completed in October 2025, creates a seamless 12 km coastal walk from the New Harbour to Grotto Beach, offering uninterrupted ocean views along South Africa’s Whale Coast.
For years, walkers had to detour along the R43 due to property and environmental disputes. Thanks to cooperation between the Cliff Path Action Group, Overstrand Municipality, and the Western Cape Government, the missing section has finally been completed.

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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Alan Winde (@alan.winde)

Sustainable and scenic
The new path section is 1.2 metres wide, built with raised boardwalks and natural stone to protect the coastal ecosystem. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views, fynbos, and frequent southern right whale sightings from June to November.

A Boost for Tourism
The fully connected trail enhances safety and accessibility while reinforcing Hermanus' reputation as the Whale Capital of South Africa. The 12 km route is one of the most scenic coastal walks in the country - perfect for nature lovers and day visitors alike.

 

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These three beaches in Southern Africa are among "The Best Beaches in the World"!

 Luxury and lifestyle travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler has recently released its annual selection of "The Best Beaches in the World". Three beaches in Southern Africa have been recognised among a list of 34 beaches worldwide. These beaches are Die Plaat Beach in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve just east of Hermanus in South Africa's Western Cape, Dolfynstrand, a seaside resort located about 20 km south of Walvis Bay on the B2 Road towards Swakopmund in Namibia and the Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of southern Mozambique. Congratulations!

World’s Best Vineyards 2023: These three vineyards in the Western Cape are among 50 best!

World’s Best Vineyards has revealed the top wine destinations for 2023. The extensive list, which is compiled from all the nominations by a global Voting Academy, showcases the very best of wine tourism, highlighting the world’s finest and diverse vineyards across the globe. The academy of voters consists of over 500 leading wine experts, sommeliers and travel experts and they submit their nominations based on the different criteria that make the best destination vineyard, including quality of the overall experience, ambiance, cuisine, activities, views, staff, and value for money. The results are then collated and converted into the annual World’s Best Vineyards list.

According to the World’s Best Vineyards annual list for 2023, South Africa's Western Cape has three vineyards in the top 50 as well further two vineyards in the top 51–100. Creation Wines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Hermanus) was named fourth best vineyard in the World 2023, Klein Constantia in Constantia was ranked 32 and Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch came in at 36. Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in Walker Bay closely missed the Top 50 and was named 53rd best vineyard, while Tokara Vineyard in Stellenbosch was ranked 93rd. Congratulations!
Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina, was named the World’s Best Vineyard 2023, followed by Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal in Rioja, Spain, and VIK in Chile's Cachapoal Valley.

South Africa: Three destinations in the Western Cape are among the "Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations in the World"!

According to the findings of the global Tourism Sentiment Index (TSI), a travel data intelligence solution created by the destination marketing agency Destination Think, three destinations in South Africa's Western Cape are among the "Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations in the World" in 2022, with Hermanus ranking in the Top 20 at #18, Stellenbosch at #34 and Cape Town at #40.

Photo by Rudi De Meyer on Unsplash

The Tourism Sentiment Index (TSI) tracked the sentiment of travellers online across a staggering 1.6 billion online conversations and content pieces publicly available about 21,330 global destinations to determine how people felt about destinations around the world. The Tourism Sentiment Score® is a measure of a destination’s ability to generate positive word of mouth about its tourism offering. It is an aggregate score that focuses solely on online conversations and content that reference or affect a potential traveller’s perceptions of a destination’s tourism offering.

Five destinations in South Africa among the "Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations in the World"!

According to the findings of the global Tourism Sentiment Index (TSI), a travel data intelligence solution created by the destination marketing agency Destination Think, five destinations in South Africa are among the "Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations in the World" in 2021, with Knysna ranking in the Top 20 at #19, Stellenbosch #23, Hermanus #41, Cape Town #54 (all in the Western Cape) and Pretoria #73 (Gauteng).

Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations in the World

19. Knysna - Tourism Sentiment Score® 30.23
23. Stellenbosch - Tourism Sentiment Score® 29.31
41. Hermanus - Tourism Sentiment Score® 27.65
54. Cape Town - Tourism Sentiment Score® 26.44
73. Pretoria - Tourism Sentiment Score® 24.77

The Tourism Sentiment Index (TSI) tracked the sentiment of travellers online across a staggering 1.6 billion online conversations and content pieces publicly available about 21,330 global destinations to determine how people felt about destinations around the world. The Tourism Sentiment Score® is a measure of a destination’s ability to generate positive word of mouth about its tourism offering. It is an aggregate score that focuses solely on online conversations and content that reference or affect a potential traveller’s perceptions of a destination’s tourism offering.

City Sightseeing South Africa to launch a new service in Hermanus!

update (31 March 2020): City Sightseeing South Africa has suspended its Hop-On Hop-Off open top bus tours in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Hermanus for an initial period until at least 19 April 2020.

City Sightseeing South Africa, operator of the well-kown red open-top hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses in Cape Town and Johannesburg, is set to launch a new service in Hermanus in South Africa's Western Cape this week. City Sightseeing Hermanus will offer hourly 90-minute tours through Hermanus, which will include stops at the Old Harbour, the New Harbour, Rotary Way and Grotto Bay. This gives customers the opportunity to enjoy Voëlklip beach, Langbaai beach and Grotto beach, take in the sea views overlooking Walker Bay, uncover the local history of the Old Harbour and the New Harbour, get an insight into the Zwelihle Township and experience the breath-taking views from the Rotary Way lookout point. Enjoy!

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Ein Beitrag geteilt von City Sightseeing South Africa (@citysightseeingsa) am Mär 12, 2020 um 7:57 PDT

South Africa: Whale watching hotspots between Cape Town & Hermanus

Every year between June and November, the coastline between Cape Town and Hermanus is becoming one of the best land-based whale watching spots of the world. During those five to max. six month Southern Right Whales are migrating from their icy feeding grounds off Antarctica to warmer climates off South Africa to play and breed in the sheltered bays of the Western Cape coast and to nurse their newborn calves.


View Top five whale watching spots in Cape Town and surrounds in a larger map

Top whale watching sports between Cape Town & Hermanus:

• Road between Llandudno and Bakoven
• Hout Bay area (you will need a powerful pair of binoculars)
• Chapman's Peak Drive
• Road between Scarborough and Kommetjie
• Cape Point
• Road from Boulders to Smitswinkelbaai
• Coastal road between Fish Hoek and Simon's Town
• Glencairn
• Fish Hoek
• Road to Fish Hoek to Kalk Bay
• Boyes Drive from St James to Kalk Bay
• Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els
• Hangklip & the Kogelberg Biosphere
• Hermanus

Did we miss a great spot? Let us know and we'll update the list asap!

New "Hermanus Wine Route R320" launched

Hermanus is now home to a new wine route named "Hermanus Wine Route R320" that runs along the R320, with 15 wine producers on the 20km route.
The R320, a regional road that connects Hermanus with nearby Caledon in the Overberg region, is leading wine lovers to the tasting rooms of estates in the aptly named Hemel en Aarde (Afrikaans for "heaven and earth") Valley.
Between wine tasting and whale watching, locals and tourists can also participate in a range of activities which include walking and hiking in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve and its fynbos covered mountains, as well as fishing in the Walker Bay or shark cage diving in nearby Gansbaai.


View Larger Map

To mark the re-launch, wine producers along the new wine route have collaborated in the production of a special red blend also known as (Hermanus Wine Route) R320, sales of which will go towards a charity registered to give educational assistance to pupils in the Hermanus area.
Bottles of the (Hermanus Wine Route) R320 red blend are available from restaurants and retail outlets in the area, and each costs about R100.

Albino Southern Right Whale in the Walker Bay (video)

The little village of De Kelders is one of the world's best whale watching spots. Located right at shores of the famous Walker Bay and only 5 km north of Gansbaai and a about 30 minutes’ drive from Hermanus, De Kelders is renowned as the home of the Southern Right Whales. The whales are coming to stay in the warm waters of the Bay with its rocky inlets and sheltered bays usually between June and December year after year to mate and calve.

Lloyd Koppel, a local from De Kelders, filmed a rare albino Southern Right Whale along with other whales in the Walker Bay in November 2011. All the footage in the video was shot from land, indicating just how close the whales come. Kudos @ Lloyd Koppel

Hermanus promotional video

The town of Hermanus, situated on the shores of the Walker Bay about 120km from Cape Town, is known as the best land based whale watching spot in the world. But the town offers more than just whale watching - Hermanus is also known for its long stretches of beach, the mild climate, the rich floral kingdom and its friendly environment. That is at least what the promotional video about Hermanus below is telling its viewers.

click here to watch the video!

But to make it clear - Hermanus is defo worth a stop on your way from or to Cape Town. It is a pretty relaxed town with perfect shore-based whale watching between June and November, nice beaches as well as loads of accommodation establishments and restaurants. And Hermanus also offers you an easy access to the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, which is part of the smallest but richest floral kingdom in the world, the Cape Floral Kingdom. Enjoy Hermanus!

South Africa: Cape Whale Coast Route officially launched

The Cape Whale Coast Route was officially launched at a gala celebration in Hermanus recently. The formal scenic drive along the southeast coast of the Western Cape stretches from the coastal hamlet of Rooiels in the west to Quoin Point in the east and is flanked by mesmerising mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.



The main towns of the area are Kleinmond, Hermanus, Stanford and Gansbaai; but the Whale Coast is in fact made up of a collection of villages, farms, rivers, bays, coves and valleys - each filled with its own special magic.

Video: Paragliding in Hermanus & Franschhoek

Hermanus, renowned as the best land-based whale watching location in the world, is situated along the Walker Bay on the south coast of South Africa's Western Cape. The town is located only about 115 km southeast of Cape Town, to which Hermanus is connected by the R43 (or coastal R44 scenic route) and the N2 motorway. The R43 continues to Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point of Africa. Hermanus is also only 40 km from Gansbaai, a famous spot for Great White Shark cage diving. And apparently Hermanus is also a famous paragliding spot...



btw - the dude in the video lands right in front of his hotel in Hermanus... not bad, right?

Tandem Paragliding in & around Cape Town
Since the late eighties, paragliding in South Africa has seen a tremendous growth. Presently the industry boasts more than 900 registered pilots and a staggering 1200 flying sites around South Africa.
The sport is normally considered to be "Extreme" and has a degree of danger appended to it. Most people have a small degree of vertigo and could never imagine themselves dangling alone thousands of feet in the air under a "parachute". Many paraglider pilots are even slightly scared of heights!
Tandem Paragliding is the solution - with an over-sized, specially designed tandem glider and two harnesses, the sport now invites all who wish to explore the skies and soar the mountain tops, but don't want to learn to paraglide on their own.
Sites: Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Sir Lowries Pass, Hermanus, Franschhoek Pass, Dassklip Pass (Porterville), Noordhoek and the Garden Route from Wilderness to Port Elizabeth.

  Tandem paragliding - more info & tour booking >>

Surfing in Cape Town >>

Cape Town city guide, tour & accommodation booking >>

South Africa's Blue Flag beaches

The Blue Flag is a certification issued by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards. The main criterias include standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria. The Blue Flag is sought for beaches and marinas as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards.
South Africa was one of the first countries outside Europe awarded with a "blue flag" for some of the countries beaches.

South Africa's "Blue Flag" beaches are currently:

• Western Cape - Cape Town - Bikini beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Cape Town - Camps Bay beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Cape Town - Clifton 4th beach
• Western Cape - Cape Town - Mnandi beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Cape Town - Muizenberg beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Cape Town - Strandfontein beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Hermanus - Grotto beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Hermanus - Kleinmond beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Mossel Bay - Hartenbos beach - Access for people with disabilities
• Western Cape - Mossel Bay - Santos beach
• Western Cape - Hawston - Hawston beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Western Cape - Yzerfontein - Yzerfontein Main beach
• Western Cape - Stilbaai - Lappiesbaai (Access for people with disabilities)
• KwaZulu-Natal - Ramsgate - Ramsgate beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• KwaZulu-Natal - San Lameer Resort - Trafalgar beach    
• KwaZulu-Natal - Southbroom - Marina/San Lameer (Access for people with disabilities)
• KwaZulu-Natal - Margate - Margate beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Eastern Cape - Port Alfred - Boknes beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Eastern Cape - Jeffreys Bay - Dolphin Beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Eastern Cape - Port Elizabeth - Hobie beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Eastern Cape - Port Elizabeth - Humewood Beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Eastern Cape - Kenton-on-Sea - Kariega beach    
• Eastern Cape - Port Alfred - Kelly's Beach (Access for people with disabilities)
• Eastern Cape - Plettenberg Bay - Robberg 5 (Access for people with disabilities)
• Eastern Cape - Nelson Mandela Metro (25 km northwards of Port Elizabeth) - Wells Estate (Access for people with disabilities)
• Northern Cape - Port Nolloth - McDougalls Bay (Access for people with disabilities)

Hermanus Whale Festival 2010, 24 - 28 September 2010

Sleepy little Hermanus goes BIG! Grab your family, friends or travel mates and venture to this arty and fun festival which claims to be the only Enviro-Arts Festival in South Africa.



Hermanus Whale Festival 2010
Where: Hermanus (Western Cape) - directions to Hermanus
Start: 24 September 2010 09:00 AM
End: 28 September 2010 11:00 PM

more info about the festival on safarinow.com »

Baz Bus 21 Day Travel Pass - ON a Time Limit »

Whale watching in South Africa »

podcast: Hermanus - Whale watching capital of South Africa »

new hostelworld podcast: Hermanus - Whale watching capital of South Africa

Hostelworld is currently releasing a series of podcasts about South Africa. In the latest episode Hostelworld.com's Colm Hanratty is visiting Hermanus. Hermanus, roughly two hours from Cape Town, is known to be one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world. Colm therefore speaks to Storm Kreusch of Hermanus Tourism to find out what types of whales you can see there, when is the best time to see them and more.

Previous podcasts:

• Wine Capital of South Africa
• Johannesburg - Gateway to Kruger National Park
• Pretoria - At the Union Buildings
• Port Elizabeth - Highlights of the Garden Route
• Jeffrey's Bay - A surfer's paradise
• Plettenberg Bay - At Monkeyland and Birds of Eden 
• Mossel Bay - Cage Diving with Great White Sharks 
• Cape Town - Ask the locals
• Johannesburg - At the Apartheid Museum
• Durban - Gateway to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve

accommodation in Hermanus >>

Hermanus Day Trip with Seasonal Whale Watching >>

Whale Watching in South Africa >>

Whale Watching in South Africa

One of the best places in South Africa for whale watching is Cape Town's warm False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula. The most frequently seen whale is the Southern Right Whale, which are using the area as calving and nursery grounds and may be seen just metres from the shore. Peak season for whale watching are the months from end-July/August to mid-October. Other whales that can be seen in the False Bay (although less frequently than Southern Right Whales) include Humpback Whales, Killer Whales and Bryde's Whales. Dolphin species in the region include Bottlenose Dolphins on the east side and Dusky Dolphins on the west side.


Hermanus Whale Watching Tour
Close to the southernmost tip of Africa, Hermanus enjoys a richly deserved reputation for its fantastic shore-based whale watching, between July and November. From the excellent vantage points on the rocky cliff path that hugs the coastline from one end of Hermanus to the other, whale watchers can get within 20 meters of these magical creatures as they cruise along the coves. The area is a haven for the Southern Right Whale, but other species including Humpbacks, Killer whales plus Bottlenose and Common dolphins are occasionally sighted. The world’s only ‘Whale Crier’ alerts visitors to the location of the whales by blasting his kelp horn. Enjoy wondrous views of the Cape Peninsula as you return to Cape Town via Sir Lowry’s pass. [more info & booking]

View Whale Watching in South Africa in a larger map

Cape Town city guide >>
daytours in & around Cape Town >>
flights to South Africa >>
accommodation in South Africa >>