Hermanus claims to be the best location in the world for whale watching from the land so it's no wonder they decided to start the Hermanus Whale Festival. The festival is held annually around the time that the Southern Right whales return to Walkers Bay each year. Over 100,000 tourists came to the festival in 2009 to see these majestic creatures in action.
Hermanus was once a fishing village but the whales have changed that. It has quadrupled in size over the past decade and taken on a Mediterranean feel. Of course it is still a South African town and if you divert your gaze you notice the clientele at the restaurants and boutiques are foreigners or well-to-do local whites, while the buskers and council workers are black. But the picture of prosperity is not all illusion. The tourist dividend - raked in through high council rates and vigilant parking attendants - helps pay for security guards who keep crime rates low. The whales also do their bit in creating thousands of private jobs from curio sellers to shop assistants. So you get the feeling that just by being there you're doing your bit.
In 1992, the first Hermanus Whale Festival was held with modest attendance. Ever since then the festival has grown to attract thousands of visitors each year. Performers of comedy, live music and street theatre bust out their best in Spring each year.
The Hermanus Whale festival provides so much for the local or the traveler to take part in apart from just whale watching. There is food and wine to sample as well as numerous music and comedy acts to see. Hermanus also holds a charity golf day during this time which helps support the community.
The Hermanus Whale Festival is about Whale Watching but also has an emphasis on the environment and environmental protection. It also claims to be the only 'enviro-arts' festival in South Africa. The festival endeavors to bring about awareness of protection of the environment and in particular the marine life.
Hermanus was once a fishing village but the whales have changed that. It has quadrupled in size over the past decade and taken on a Mediterranean feel. Of course it is still a South African town and if you divert your gaze you notice the clientele at the restaurants and boutiques are foreigners or well-to-do local whites, while the buskers and council workers are black. But the picture of prosperity is not all illusion. The tourist dividend - raked in through high council rates and vigilant parking attendants - helps pay for security guards who keep crime rates low. The whales also do their bit in creating thousands of private jobs from curio sellers to shop assistants. So you get the feeling that just by being there you're doing your bit.
In 1992, the first Hermanus Whale Festival was held with modest attendance. Ever since then the festival has grown to attract thousands of visitors each year. Performers of comedy, live music and street theatre bust out their best in Spring each year.
The Hermanus Whale festival provides so much for the local or the traveler to take part in apart from just whale watching. There is food and wine to sample as well as numerous music and comedy acts to see. Hermanus also holds a charity golf day during this time which helps support the community.
The Hermanus Whale Festival is about Whale Watching but also has an emphasis on the environment and environmental protection. It also claims to be the only 'enviro-arts' festival in South Africa. The festival endeavors to bring about awareness of protection of the environment and in particular the marine life.
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For more information on whale watching read this personal account of a whale watching tours at Hermanus.
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