Whale Watching from Cape Town: Hermanus, Walker Bay and False Bay

Southern right whales visit the Cape coast from about June to November, and the best months are usually August to October. Hermanus, roughly 120 km and about 90 minutes from Cape Town, is the classic place to watch them from the cliffs. By late October and November the season is winding down as mothers and calves start to leave, so if whales are on your list this spring, go soon.

When to go

• Southern right whales come into the sheltered bays of the Cape to mate and calve, usually from about June.
• August to October is generally the peak, when sightings from the shore in Hermanus are close to daily.
• Numbers fall through November as the whales head back south, and by early December most have gone.
• Calm, clear mornings are best, because wind chop makes blows and tail slaps much harder to spot.
• Humpback whales are sometimes seen early in the season, and Bryde's whales live in False Bay all year.
• Whales are wild, so no outing can promise a sighting, but in the peak weeks the odds from the Hermanus cliffs are good.

Hermanus from the shore

• The Hermanus cliff path runs for about 11 to 12 km from the New Harbour towards the Klein River estuary, with benches and lookouts along the way.
• Gearing's Point and the Old Harbour, in the centre of town, are the easiest places to start and look straight out over Walker Bay.
• Siever's Point and the Kwaaiwater lookout further east are quieter, and Kwaaiwater can be reached by car.
• The path is gravel with benches throughout, and some sections have been made suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
• Bring binoculars and a warm layer, as whales can be anywhere from close to the rocks to far out in the bay, and the cliffs are often breezy.

By boat and across Walker Bay

• Walker Bay is a marine protected area, and boat-based whale watching there is limited to a small number of permitted operators.
• Permitted boats may approach whales more closely than other vessels, so a licensed trip is the way to see them from the water.
• Trips leave from Hermanus New Harbour and from the harbours near Gansbaai, and only run when the sea allows, so book ahead and ask how weather cancellations are handled.
• De Kelders, on the far side of Walker Bay near Gansbaai, has low cliffs with good shore-based viewing and fewer people than Hermanus.

Closer to Cape Town: False Bay

• Southern rights also come into False Bay, and Boyes Drive above Muizenberg and Kalk Bay gives elevated views on calm days.
• The Kalk Bay harbour wall and the coastal road between Fish Hoek and Simon's Town are good places to stop and scan the water.
• Seasonal boat trips run from Simon's Town into False Bay for a closer look.
• On the Atlantic side, the viewpoints along Victoria Road between Camps Bay and Llandudno sometimes offer sightings too.
• A False Bay morning combines easily with the penguins at Boulders or a Cape Point day.

The drive and a wine stop

• The direct route follows the N2 over Sir Lowry's Pass and then the R43 into Hermanus, about 90 minutes from the city without traffic.
• Clarence Drive (the R44) follows the coast from Gordon's Bay past Rooi Els, Pringle Bay and Betty's Bay, with the mountains on one side and False Bay on the other.
• The coastal road takes longer, and storm damage and stop-and-go roadworks have affected it in recent years, so check its status before you set off.
• The Hemel-en-Aarde valley, just behind Hermanus, is known for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and makes an easy lunch or tasting stop.
• Creation, on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, is open daily for tastings and food pairings, and Newton Johnson has a tasting room and a restaurant, so book lunch ahead and check current hours.
• A good rhythm is the cliff path in the morning, lunch in the valley, then home along the coast in the afternoon light, with a driver so everyone can taste.

Having it arranged

• Cohen Concierge arranges private chauffeurs, experiences and Cape Winelands days, and is available 24/7.
• Send one message by WhatsApp, phone or the website; every arrangement is quoted first with the full cost shown, and nothing is booked until you approve it.