Hermanus Whale-Watching Day Trip from Cape Town: When, Where & How

Hermanus is often called one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching. Every year southern right whales come into Walker Bay to mate and calve, sometimes just metres from the rocks. The season is running now, and September and October are widely seen as the best months. Here is how to make a day of it from Cape Town.

Who this day is for

• Nature lovers who want to see whales without necessarily getting on a boat.
• Families: the cliff path is flat and easy, and kids love spotting the spouts.
• Anyone who gets seasick: in Hermanus you can watch from land.
• Road-trip fans: the coastal drive there is a highlight of the day in its own right.

Best time to go

Whale season runs roughly from June to November, with some whales staying into December. September and October are usually the peak, when the most whales are in the bay. Humpback whales and dolphins are also seen at times.

Weather: calm, sunny days make spotting much easier, as you can see blows and splashes from far away. Choose your day with an eye on the forecast if you can. Mornings are often calmer before the wind picks up.

Sample day itinerary (with approximate drive times)

1. 08:00 Pick-up in Cape Town.
2. approx. 50 min Drive out on the N2 to Gordon's Bay.
3. approx. 30 min Take Clarence Drive (R44), the coastal road hugging the mountains above False Bay, through Rooi-Els and Pringle Bay. Stop at viewpoints along the way; whales are sometimes seen from this road too.
4. approx. 15 min Stony Point, Betty's Bay: an African penguin colony with a boardwalk, usually much quieter than Boulders.
5. approx. 40 min On to Hermanus. Walk part of the cliff path, which runs along the coast from the New Harbour, and stop at lookouts such as Gearing's Point.
6. 12:30 Seafood lunch with a sea view in town or at the Old Harbour.
7. Afternoon Optional: a licensed boat-based whale-watching trip from the New Harbour, or a wine tasting in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley just outside town.
8. approx. 90 min Back to Cape Town via the N2 and Sir Lowry's Pass, arriving around 18:00.

Hermanus is about 120 km from Cape Town. Times are approximate and depend on traffic, stops and weather.

What to book ahead

• Boat-based whale watching: only a few licensed operators can approach the whales by boat, and trips fill up in peak season and depend on sea conditions. Book ahead and keep your plan flexible.
• Lunch at popular sea-view restaurants on weekends and during the whale festival, usually held in late September.
• Wine tastings in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, where some estates ask you to book.
• Shark cage diving (if that's your thing) launches from Gansbaai, further along the coast, and needs an early start and a booking.

Local tips

• Bring binoculars. Whales are often close, but binoculars turn a splash into a tail you can actually see.
• Look for the "blow". Southern rights have a V-shaped spout. Watch for breaching, tail slapping and "sailing", when they hold their tails up in the wind.
• Be patient on the cliff path. Pick a bench and give it 15 minutes; whales surface on their own schedule.
• Bring layers. It is often cooler and windier on the coast than in Cape Town.
• Penguins too: combining Stony Point with Hermanus gives you penguins and whales in one day.

Why a private driver works well for this day

It is roughly three hours of driving in total, and the best part, Clarence Drive, is a road where the driver should be watching the road, not the sea. With a private driver everyone in the car gets the views, you can stop the moment someone spots a whale, and you can switch the plan if the wind picks up on one side of the bay.

Combine it with

Short on time? Our Cape Point and Boulders day trip stays closer to the city, and our 3 days in Cape Town plan shows how to swap a whale day in during season.

Frequently asked questions

Opening hours, fees and road status change. Always check the official site of each attraction before you go. This guide is written by a local private driver service; we are not affiliated with any of the attractions mentioned.