whale-watching south africa
AttractionsHermanus is home to one of the worlds' six floral kingdoms. While it is not the largest in size, it has amongst the greatest variety of indigenous flora - and together with this comes an equally rich bird life. FrancolinHof borders the Fernkloof Nature Reserve which is situated in this floral kingdom.
Below is a taste of what FrancolinHof, Hermanus and the surrounding areas - which include the Overberg and Whale Coast - have to offer our visitors.
At FrancolinHof The magnificent surroundings provide the ideal backdrop to enjoy bird-watching, sunsets over the bay and even whale-watching in the distance (July-November), from your balcony or patio.
From our garden, you can step directly onto the mountainside and stroll, hike or climb along one of the many popular walking trails. These scenic walks are available for guests at all levels of fitness and provide excellent views of the Hermanus natural environment - so don't forget to bring your camera.
Grotto beach is just a ten-minute walk downhill, and a walk along this Blue Flag beach is a great way to start or end the day.
In Hermanus While famous for its land-based whale-watching, this charming coastal town offers a wide variety of water-based activities including wonderful beaches for swimming and surfing, sea-kayaking, as well as boat-based whale-watching. The stunning Cliff Path winds its way along the rugged coastline between Grotto Beach and the New Harbour (12km) passing many sheltered coves, cosy beaches and interersting rock formations.
Sailing and canoeing are also available on the nearby lagoon where you can also do salt-water fly-fishing. Fresh-water fly-fishing can be done in the nearby Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven-and-Earth) Valley. Deep sea fishing can also be arranged.
Cultural experiences include our own wine-route (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley) featuring wine produced from grapes grown at the southernmost tip of Africa. For an authentic taste of Xhosa tradition and food, take a guided walking tour or have dinner in a traditional restaurant (Siyakhula) in Zwelihle.
Hermanus has many interesting shops and weekly markets which sell local produce and speciality products while other markets sell local arts and crafts. The many restaurants in Hermanus cater for a variety of tastes and budgets. The Hermanus Golf Club has recently upgraded and expanded into a 27-hole course with excellent facilities and some of the fairways have sweeping views of the surroundings. Other more adventurous activities such as horser-riding, paragliding and helicopter rides can also be organised for you.
Short Trips from Hermanus Below are just a few examples of the many short trips from Hermanus that you might like to consider. Some of these take only a few hours, others might take the whole day:
- Cape Agulhus: Southern-most tip of Africa with its lighthouse, and where quad-biking can also be done - Stanford: A small town with a river running through it, where one can do river-boat bird watching. - De Kelders: Klipgat Cave World Heritage Site and lovely beach. - Gansbaai: Boat-based whale-watching and shark-cage diving tours leave form here. - Bredasdorp: Another small town with the Kapula Candle Factory. - Aarabella: Golf Estate and Western Cape Spa. - Klein Rivier Cheese Factory and the Birkehead Brewery.
Accolades
TGCSA Star Grading DirectionsTravel along the N2, through Somerset West – Direct Route (about 1 ˝ hours drive) Go up Sir Lowry’s Pass, pass the turn offs to Elgin & Grabouw, and continue up the Houw Hoek Pass. As you descend the other side you will get to a very sharp hairpin bend corner and soon after that you will begin to see the signs for the turn off to Hermanus - R43. You feed off to the left and cross the N2 on a flyover and you will pass Arabella Golf Estate and Western Cape Spa on your right ….** OR - Scenic Coastal Route (about 2 hours drive) After passing through Somerset West and as you start to approach Sir Lowry’s Pass, you will come to the intersection of the R44. Follow this road which will eventually take you past the Arabella Golf Estate and Western Cape Spa where you join the R43 to Hermanus….** ** About 24 kms after the Arabella Golf Estate you arrive in Hermanus. Follow the signs to Stanford/Gansbaai which will take you through Hermanus – until you reach a large traffic circle (roundabout) – the only one you will come to!! Go ˝ way around the circle (ie keep going straight!) past the Friendly Seven Eleven store on your left, and just as you come to the top of a small rise in the road, you will see 10th Avenue. (One signboard will point right to Grotto Blue Flag Beach and other points to ‘guest house’ left up to the mountain.) Continue straight up 10th Avenue – we are at the very top of the road. DIRECTIONS TO FRANCOLINHOF From the Garden Route 11kms on the Cape Town side of Riviersonderend there is a turn off to the left marked Stanford (R326) - “Hermanus” is very badly marked and only after you have made the turn ! Stay on it until it comes to end (about 40 minutes or 54km later) at an intersection at Stanford. On this road you will pass the Raka wine farm on your left and Kleinrivier Cheese farm a little further on, on your right. Both of these are worth a visit. When the road ends you will be in Stanford. Turn right onto the R43 and travel to Hermanus (about 22kms) - as you enter the built up area the road widens. Go about 2 kms along the road and you will notice that the ‘avenues’ are perpendicular to the road that you are on. FrancolinHof is in 10th Avenue (you enter from the Stanford side at the intersection of 18th Avenue). At 10th Avenue there is a sign pointing left down to Grotto Blue Flag Beach and a ‘guest house’ sign pointing right up towards the mountain. Turn into 10th Avenue – continue to the very top where you will see FrancolinHof. |
FrancolinHof
+27 (0)28 314 0571
+27 (0)28 314 0587