Location
Hermanus is a coastal village which is located South East of Cape Town City Centre in the Western Cape of South Africa. It is 115km from Cape Town City Centre. It lies along Walker Bay and is connected to the Mother City via the R43 and N2 highways. The N2 continues to the Garden Route. The R43 continues to Cape Aghulhas ( the most Southern Tip of Africa ). Gansbaai is another 40km form Hermanus. Gansbaai is very famous for Shark Cage Diving with Great White Sharks and Copper Sharks also known as Bronze Whale Sharks. Sandbaai lies at the entrance of Hemel en Aarde ( Heaven and Earth ). This is a very fast developing area and famous for the many Wine farms you can visit in the Hemel en Aarde Valley. It is also famous and well know as a Whale Watching Destination or Whale Watching Town.
Beaches
Onrus Beach
Sandbaai Beach
Voelklip Beach
Langbaai Beach
Kammabaai Beach
Grotto Beach ( Blue Flag Beach )
History
The name Hermanus originates from the family name "Hermanuspietersfontein". The original name Hermanuspietersfontein was then shortened to Hermanus in 1902 as the name was to long for the postal Service. Hermanuspietersfontein comes from the founder of Hermanus - Hermanus Pieters. He found Hermanus in 1855. Hermanus Pieters was a Dutch Sailor that arrived in Cape Town in 1815. He was appointed by Dutch Farmers who were dissapointed that all the Government schools were only taught in English and none in their home language. Hermanus is also famous for having a Railway Station without a railway line. It is now the Hermanus information Station if you want any Tourism information.Hermanus Pieters decided not to build a Railway, as he felt that the The Village will become to commercial and should remain a fishing village.
Whale Watching in Hermanus
As mentioned above it is famous for Whale Watching. In particular it is very popular to see the Southern Right Whales that visit Walker Bay every June to End of December. The Southern Right Whale is also known as the "Gentle Giants of the Ocean. But these are not the only Whales that visit Walker Bay in Hermanus. You can also see the Humpback Wales that make their journey to Mozambique and can also be seen during the Sardine run. Bryde's Whales are also residence in Walker Bay throughout the year. There is a beautiful cliff path the runs along the sea cliffs in Hermanus and you can see the Wales sometimes for the sea cliffs. The best spot to start this walk is from Gearings Point in Hermanus ( GPS Co Ordinates 34.4219° S, 19.2436° E ) . The Southern Right Whales were once hunted in Betty's Bay and you can go visit the Old Harbour Museum to find out information about the Whaling industry and information of the Whales. Southern Right Whales are now a protected species.
Climate
Hermanus has a warm Summer Mediterranian Climate. Hermanus receives about 520mm or rain per annum and the majority falls in the winter months from June to August in the form of a frontal precipitation. The average midday temperature is 25 degrees in February to 16 degrees in July. Extremely hot weather, 30 degrees and above and under 10 degrees is common in Hermanus.
The strong South Easter also known as the Cape Doctor can also be found in the Summer and Winter Months. In summer the South Easter is prevalent in the late afternoon so if you are planning your Whale Watching trip please take note of the wind as this can cancel some trips due to strong winds and is unsafe to go out. The North Westerly is also common in Summer and Winter.
Floral Diversity
Hermanus has one of the Highest plant diversity in the World and is part of the Cape Florist Region.
Its main vegetation type in the Hermanus area is "Fynbos". Fynbos is a evergreen shrub like plant with small firm leaves. 1474 species of fynbos has been found in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve so far.