Hermanus
Western Cape

The Old Harbour

The Old Harbour which is just below the town centre is utilised by small boats only.The buildings around the harbour have been converted into restaurants and a fishing museum. The reason for the harbour being moved to its new location is that waves break into the harbour during storms and wash boats that are lying there away. They are then smashed up against the rocks and end up as driftwood. The new harbour has been built to the west of the town and accommodates larger fishing vessels which was not the case with the old harbour.

Hermanus Lagoon

Between Hermanus and Stanford there is a large lagoon known as the Hermanus lagoon. It is navigable for small craft and is good for fishing as well. Fishing depends on whether the mouth of the lagoon is open to the sea or not. When it is the lagoon becomes tidal and many fish enter the lagoon to feed on the prawn beds.

On the banks of the lagoon is a caravan park for those who love camping and the outdoor life. Many people have their own permanent plots in the campsite and store their caravans on site. The lagoon is about 12 kilometres long and has various access points. One of the is Maanskyn baai “ Moonshine Bay.“ which is mainly utilised for sailing regattas.

To the east of the lagoon is “Die Plaat” a large flat rocky area off the coast a couple of kilometres along the beach in the direction of Gansbaai. Its a long walk to get there so many fishermen use by 4 X 4 vehicles to get there. The attraction of this fishing spot are the Galjoen South Africa's national fish, and secondly a fish which is on the endangered list. Its a lovely eating fish and these days can only be caught by anglers ( not boat fishermen) off the beach. It is not allowed to be sold and the catch is also limited to five fish per angler per day with a size restriction as well. Of late the authorities have restricted access od 4 X 4 vehicles to the beach so anybody who wants to fish the Plaat is in for a long walk.

On the northern side of the lagoon there are some very interesting mountain ranges which run the length of the lagoon, sandwiching the lagoon between them and some sand dunes on the coast between the sea and the lagoon.

Hermanus coastline to the west

Whales performing in Walker bay

With the many vantage points around the bay visitors cannot miss the whales which come close in shore. During the season a whale crier is employed to spot the whales and advise tourists t where the best vantage points are.

During the whale season it is often extremely difficult to get into the town due to the many cars blocking the roads in Hermanus. Even with these difficulties the town is worth a visit .

I have found some excellent accommodation for those wanting to wake up close to the whales or spend some time in Hermanus. Check out our Accommodation advert on this page.