Ultimate Guide to Whale Watching Hermanus – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Hermanus is a lovely coastal area of South Africa about a 90-minute drive from Cape Town. It is the home of the Southern Right Whales from June to December which is the best time for whale watching in Hermanus South Africa.

The whales migrate from the Antarctic around June for mating and breeding. The area has been recognised by the World Wildlife Fund and Whale Watching Hermanus is one of the 12 best places whale watching destinations in the world.

This region of South africa is also ridiculously beautiful! And there are more animals to see besides whales – African Penguins – and some jawdropping walks and drives.

If you are visiting Western south africa between June and December absolutely add Whale Watching Hermanus to your to-do list.

⇒ In a hurry? Book Your Hermanus Whale Watching Tour Now

Whale Watching Tours & Boat Trips Hermanus

⇒ Book Your Hermanus Whale Watching Tour Now

There are quite a few different options for Whale Watching Tours in Hermanus. The actual Whale Watching part of the tour normally lasts about 2 hours depending on whale sightings.

Whale Watching Tours tend to leave 3 times a day from Hermanus or Gansbaai South Africa. If you are a passionate whale watcher I would stay in Hermanus accommodation and book yourself on 2 or more whale watching tours during your stay.

Like going on safari, every whale watching trip is different so you won’t be getting a repeat performance.

The second option for whale watching in South Africa is being based in Cape Town rather than Hermanus and taking a full-day whale watching tour to Hermanus and back to Cape Town.

If you have limited time in South Africa/Cape Town this is the best option. Having said that, Hermanus and the region are so beautiful that they definitely justify at least one night in the area.

1. Whale Watching Tours – Hermanus Meeting Point

Hermanus New Harbour is the meeting point for these tours. There is quite a bit of parking available on the harbour which is great – and toilet options.

I would recommend aiming to arrive at the Hermanus New Harbour 45 minutes before the kick-off time for your whale watching trip. The reason for this is you will need to find a park and get sorted.

Then tickets need to be collected and there are full information and safety briefing prior to each Hermanus whale watching trip.

This Boat Based Whale Watching Tour takes place on a twin-hull catamaran. There are full commentary and guidance while onboard this whale watching at Hermanus tour.

This whale watching tour in Hermanus even uses a drone which helps find the whales faster.

What you see in terms of whale watchers will, of course, depend on which point in the season you are visiting but you are virtually guaranteed to see whales in Hermanus between June and December (see my point later down about actual guarantees).

There are bathrooms on board and refreshments on this whale watching tour.

Travel Expert Tip: Don’t worry if you’re not at the right place at the right time for whale photos – most of the Hermanus Whale watching boats offer a video/photos that can be purchased after the trip that is filled with shots from their expert photographers with mega photographic gear!

The next option for whale watching in Hermanus is a Marine Big 5 Safari Tour. These tours meet at the Great White House and then head down to the Hermanus Harbour.

This tour covers whale watching but also includes a trip to a shark cage diving vessel to view great white sharks and Dyer Island and Geyser Rock for dolphins and seals. Soup and bread are then provided after the trip.

The Marine Big 5 Safari Tour in Hermanus is more expensive than the boat-based whale watching tour as it covers more. There are two options in terms of cost.

The first is the Marine Big 5 Safari Tour Self Drive where you get yourself to the Great White House.

The second is the Marine Big 5 Safari Tour where you are picked up and dropped back at your accommodation.

⇒ Book Your Hermanus Whale Watching Tour or Safari Now

2. Hermanus Whale Watching Tours – Gansbaai Meeting Point

Gansbaai South Africa is about a 30-minute drive from Hermanus heading south-east. It is also possible to do a 2-hour Whale Watching Boat Based Tour from here which meets at Gansbaai harbor.

It is also possible to do a great value Big 5 Sea Safari from Gansbaai. This tour goes to Walker Bay and it is most likely to see bottlenose dolphins and Bryde’s Whales.

Gansbaai also offers Half-Day White Shark Cage Diving Tours. Each white shark cage takes up to 5 people at a time and 20 minutes is spent in the cage. All diving equipment etc is included.

Should I take a Hermanus Whale Watching tours or a Gansbaai Whale Watching Tours?

Basically, neither whale watching tour is better – it is more about what you want to see. Hermanus whale watching tours are more likely to see Southern Right Whales and Gansbaai whale watching tours more likely to see Bryde’s Whales.

But hey these animals swim and it’s not that far between the two so you can easily see a mix. Only Gansbaai offers shark cage diving.

My recommendation is if you have time/money to try one tour from each Hermanus and Gansbaai. With tour times it is possible to do one whale watching tour in the morning and one in the afternoon and it is only a 30-minute drive between Hermanus and Gansbaai.

3. Whale Watching Day Trips from Cape Town

The Classic Whale Watching from Cape Town day trip will take you to Hermanus and out on a boat. This trip also includes a wine tasting stop and time permitting a visit to the penguins of Stony Point.

Or combine Whale Watching and Shark Watching on a full-day trip from Cape Town that covers sharks in the morning (seeing them not diving in) and then whales in the afternoon.

If a full day out on a boat is a bit much combine whale watching in the morning with wine tasting in the afternoon on a Whales and Wine Full Day Tour.

This includes the 2-hour boat trip from Hermanus to see whales and then visits three wineries in the area before returning to Cape Town.

If you are keen to go shark diving from Cape Town this Private Shark Diving Tour will get you there – but you will need to pay extra for the actual shark diving. The tour then covers your choice of Stony Point, the Hermanus Cliff Top walk or go wine tasting in the afternoon.

⇒ Book Your Whale Day Trip from Cape Town

12. Whale Watching in Hermanus Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the Best Time to see whales in Hermanus?

Whales don’t have a particular time of day where they show up – it is quite different from being on safari.

The Hermanus Whale Watching tours South Africa generally only operates during normal working hours and there won’t usually be any type of difference in how many whales you see in taking say a morning tour vs an afternoon tour.

The key factor when it comes to the Hermanus Whale route instead tends to be the light if you are keen to take photos. Early morning and late afternoon light is generally always best for photography.

The light in the middle of the day tends to be harsher and thus the photos are not quite as attractive. There is a Hermanus Whale Watching Festival each year – click here for details.

2. When is Whale Watching Season in Hermanus?

The best time to see whales in Hermanus is June through December. The Southern Right whales can arrive as early as April in Hermanus South Africa and stay as late as January but that is not something to count on.

I personally visited Hermanus in late August and had some fantastic whale watching sightings.

3. Am I guaranteed to see Whales on a Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus?

When dealing with nature no tour company will provide a guarantee. Having said that, if you are visiting during peak whale watching season in Hermanus it is very unlikely that you won’t see a whale.

Most tour companies will offer some type of refund or allow you to come back on a later tour if there are no whales during peak season – but do check this ahead of time.

4. When do I need to arrive for my Whale Watching Tour?

Aim to get to where you need to be for your whale watching tour 45 minutes before the trip starts if you are organising your own transport. You will need to figure out the parking etc and where the office is.

Also, most whale watching tours will hold a briefing before the trip begins. Aim to be at the office checking in 30 minutes before the scheduled tour time.

5. What if my Whale Watching Tour gets cancelled due to bad weather?

As weather forecasts are of course forecasts whale watching tour cancellations will only happen on the day. There will be a refund generally.

The best way to deal with this is to make sure you book a whale watching tour for the first day of your time in the area. That way if the whale watching tour has to be cancelled you will be able to go the following day instead etc.

6. Can kids go on the whale watching tours?

There are no age restrictions but of course, adult supervision is expected. Kids under the age of 12 must wear a life jacket at all times during the whale watching tour.

7. Can I see whales from the land?

Yes, you can absolutely do land-based whale watching during peak season. The stunning Hermanus clifftop walk is a great spot for whale watching. Gearings Point has great panoramic views, the Old Harbour has viewing terraces for whale watching and if you have binoculars you may see whales at Dreunkrans, Windsor Bay, De Gang, Siever’s Point, Kwaaiwater as well as Voëlklip and Grotto beaches.

8. What does Whale Watching in Hermanus Cost?

The standard 2-hour whale watching trips in Hermanus are around USD60 – up to USD80 for big 5 trips. Shark Cage Diving is around USD$150.

Whale watching day trips from Cape Town will vary around the USD$150 mark depending on the activities included.

9. What types of whales will I see in Hermanus?

The most common type of whale in the Hermanus area is the Southern Right Whale. However, you may well encounter other types of whales such as humpbacks, Bryde’s whales, seals, dolphins and lots of birds.

10. Is it possible to see Sharks in Hermanus?

Sharks are rare in the Hermanus area. They are more common in Kleinbaai which is about 50km from Hermanus. It is possible to book tours there to go Shark Cage Diving. 

⇒ Another fantastic place to see whales is in the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick Canada. Check out my post on Whale Watching St Andrews – a How-to Guide. 

11. Is Whale Watching in Hermanus safe?

Hermanus is considered a safe tourist destination but there is still the usual level of petty theft etc. Do be careful after dark – don’t walk alone and don’t walk alone on the lovely clifftop path (more of that later).

I did go for a run at sunset on the clifftop path and felt safe as there were quite a few people out patrolling the path. Usual levels of travel caution apply.

12. What else is there to do in Hermanus?

Hermanus also has several wineries and offers a safari-style Hop on Hop off Wine Hoppers Bus.  Don’t miss the stunning Hermanus Cliff Path Walk – particularly at sunset – amazing for photos.

For some land-based animals check out the Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary. If you’re in the area on a Saturday check out the Hermanus Country Market.

And make sure you allow enough time to really enjoy driving the coastal road and making stops – it is just so stunning.

Expert Travel Trip: Visit the lovely Stony Point Penguin Colony in Betty’s Bay. Betty’s Bay is about a 40-minute drive west from Hermanus. There are loads and loads of African Penguins – more than you can see.

A boardwalk has been erected so you can walk amongst them so to speak. Penguins will be literally less than 1 meter away from you. It is also a stunning area – don’t miss it.

How to Get To Hermanus South Africa

Hermanus is about a 90-minute drive from Cape Town. The closest airport to Hermanus is Cape Town  – which covers both international and domestic flights.

⇒ Flights to Cape Town

Hiring a car is the best way to get around the Cape. The roads are good and clearly signed and the distances are quite large.

Hermanus has very limited public transport and not a lot in terms of taxis. Plus, some of the best things to do are to go for drives so a car is kind of essential.

⇒ Book Your Hire Car

Where to Stay in Hermanus: Whale Rock Luxury Lodge

This was my kind of boutique hotel! Whale Rock Luxury Lodge is on quite a large half-hectare premise in Hermanus. There are basically two main Villas.

I stayed in the newer villa at Whale Rock Luxury Lodge which opened in 2017 and loved it. It felt like staying in someone’s lovely house. Possible because it is kind of a huge house.

The ground level at Whale Rock has big comfortable sofas and living rooms plus a kitchen – and even better an honesty bar. There are a nice sized pool and sun loungers.

My room at Whale Rock Luxury Lodge was on the first floor and it was so lovely – and huge. It was a Walker Bay Suite. Whale Rock Luxury Lodge also owns the wonderful Wedgeview House in stellenbosch where I stayed – read my review here.

The owner’s wife is a former interior designer and you can absolutely see that. The design is lovely – really Scandinavian style comfort.

There is a second pool on the property and breakfast is served in a lovely glassed-in area. There is a fresh buffet available and then a hot breakfast as well which was fantastic.

As if all that wasn’t enough the Whale Rock Luxury Lodge is literally walking distance from the Hermanus New Harbour – as well as walking distance from the lovely Hermanus Cliff Top Walk.

Whale Rock Lodge also offers light lunch but it does not offer dinner. I walked down to the Harbour and had a fantastic seafood dinner at Harbour Rock Restaurant – or visit here before or after whale watching.

⇒ Read reviews of Whale Rock Luxury Lodge on TripAdvisor ⇒ Book Now

Who Paid for What with this Post

Whale Rock Luxury Lodge was kind enough to host my accommodation and breakfast – thank you! I covered the cost of my hire car, my whale tours, getting to and from South Africa and everything else. As always my opinions are my own no matter how much I paid for or didn’t.

This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click through on most of them and make a purchase I will receive a small commission. This will not increase the amount that you pay. I just wanted to make sure that you knew this.

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