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Discover Hermanus in Cape Town

Hermanus is a seaside town southeast of Cape Town, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is known as a whale-watching destination.


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Hermanus is a seaside town southeast of Cape Town, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is known as a whale-watching destination. The Old Harbor Museum is a place that includes the old harbor, the fishermen’s village, and the Whale House Museum. The latter has informational displays and a suspended whale skeleton


1. Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Fernkloof Nature Reserve
Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Fernkloof Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in the Kleinrivier Mountains above Hermanus, Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is 1,800 hectares in area and its altitude ranges from sea level to 842 meters. The reserve harbors a great number of fynbos species. Here is a complete list, many with photos, all species found in the Fernkloof Reserve.


2. Old Harbour Museum

Old Harbour Museum
Old Harbour Museum

The Old Harbour was proclaimed a museum in 1972. The first Curator Mr. Guy Clark had the area cleaned up, neglected since late 1960 when the last fishermen were removed. Cement and stonework were repaired and old fishing boats collected and repaired for outdoor display. Some of the demolished old fishing shacks from early days were rebuilt along the slopes and an indoor Museum was developed in it. In time more shacks were rebuilt. In 1983 the Trustees bought the historic area above the harbor. On it, the rebuilt de Wet’s Huis house a photo collection of the old town and a Whale House was built in 1998.


3. Hermanus Biodiversity Walk

The Hermanus Biodiversity Walk
The Hermanus Biodiversity Walk

The Hermanus Biodiversity Walk between Hermanuspietersfontein and Gearing’s Point was established in 2015. It is a self-guided walk consisting of a number of stone seated information nodes and a series of signs covering many aspects of the natural biodiversity of this section of the Walker Bay coastline.


4. Gearing’ s Point

Gearing' s Point
Gearing’ s Point

Gearing’s Point is one of the centrally located historic sites in Hermanus, situated on the western side of the Old Harbour. This well-known landmark was named after Mr. Sydney Charles Gearing (1856-1924) or, more likely informally refers to the entire Gearing family who holidayed in Hermanus for several years. The family stayed in a small stone cottage near the Old Harbour on a plot that was formally owned by one of the founding families of Hermanus. The history behind Gearing’s Point is that it was used as a lookout for fishermen who were coming into Old Harbour with their catch of the day. Not infrequently, wives and children would also gather anxiously as bad weather, or a serious storm was raging or approaching. Then fears ran high and shouts and cries were heard if one or other of the boats seemed to be damaged or could not be seen at all. There is no record of fishermen’s lives lost in Hermanus, but it occurred often enough to be in the townspeople’s minds every time the boats went out.


5. Walker Bay Nature Reserve

 Walker Bay Nature Reserve
Walker Bay Nature Reserve

Walker Bay Nature Reserve is a nature reserve made up of five areas located on the coast between Hermanus and Cape Agulhas, in the Overberg region in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is administered by CapeNature. The largest area, known as Walker Bay, stretches from the Klein River estuary to De Kelders at Gansbaai. Access to the reserve is via Mierkom or Walker Bay Fishing trail; De Kelders or Uilkraalsmond.