Sep 2010 Whales are without a doubt one of the most mysterious and beautiful creatures in the ocean. Many people travel hundreds of miles in hope of spotting one of these gentle creatures. There are of course many breeds of whales; one of the most interesting is the Southern Right Whale. Hermanus in South Africa is the place to go to spot one of these wonderful giants of the deep.
Hermanus is situated on the stunning South Coast of the Western Cape and is famous for its connection with the Southern Right Whale. Hermanus could in fact be considered the unofficial home of the Southern right Whale, since every year during September, Hermanus hosts it’s annual whale watching festival when the Southern Right Whale arrives in the area for mating season.
The festival is unique in that it celebrates the arrival of the Southern Right Whale’s arrival with singing, dancing and performance. Drama and theatre groups arrive in Hermanus every year to add to the spectacle created by not only the many visitors but also of course the presence of the whales.
Hermanus is considered to be the world’s premier site for watching whales and the many people who flock there in September look forward to catching sight of these intelligent creatures playing in the water. Because the whales in Hermanus do indeed play…they are known to manoeuvre their flukes (tails) to catch the prevailing wind and sail along in the water…just for the fun of it!
Now an endangered species and protected under strict laws, the Southern Right Whale was not always so well respected and was hunted almost into extinction during the eighteen hundreds. In 1937 whale hunting was made illegal and so the precious mammal was saved.
It is not difficult these days should you want to see a Southern Right Whale during the season in Hermanus. The town boasts its own “whale crier” employed to wander the streets and call out the locations of the whales on any given day.
There are some fabulous places to visit in and around Hermanus, it’s noted “Blue Flag” beach is Grotto Beach which is the biggest beach in Hermanus. Voelklip and Kammabaai are also notable places to visit.
The town is riddled with pleasant shops and boutiques with semi-precious stones a speciality. Locals have been processing Mother of Pearl there for many years and this pretty shell is transformed into many lovely items to catch the eye of an interested tourist.
If you’re thinking of heading to Hermanus then remember that this extraordinary place is also fabulous for bird watching, fishing (especially Rock Lobster) and even shark cage diving.
So, in a few short months the whales will be back in one of their favourite haunts, playing and frolicking in the shallow water as is the habit of most whales. Hermanus is waiting for them…and for you too!
