Known as the Cape Whale Coast, the stretch of the Southern Cape between Rooiels and Gansbaai has a lot more to offer than just whales.
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To demonstrate this, tourism businesses in the region came together for the first Cape Whale Coast Mini Indaba at the Marine Hotel in Hermanus on July 4 and 5. It was attended by about 60 tour operators and 40 exhibitors.
Initiated by Charmaine Beukes, owner of Gansbaai’s White Shark Projects, the aim is to create an annual showcase of the expanding and diverse tourism products in the region and to entice tour operators to book their clients for longer than the normal one- or two-day stopover between Cape Town and the Garden Route.
Whales are understandably a major draw-card and enable the region to attract visitors during the winter months when other Western Cape regions suffer a seasonal downturn in visitors. This means this region’s season runs from early June to end April, with some guesthouses reporting 75% average occupancies all year round.
Percy Heywood, Managing Director of Percy Tours, gets many repeat visitors who prefer to stay in Hermanus instead of Cape Town. “Within this small town you have 200 accommodation establishments, 70 restaurants and 30 wineries. There is so much to see and do that people are basing themselves here.”
With 23% unemployment, tourism is the region’s bloodline, says Hermanus Mayor, Nicolette Botha-Guthrie, who formally opened the Mini Indaba. Many exhibitors reported good forward bookings despite the current debacle around SA’s new visa regulations, which bodes well for tourism and employment alike in this region.
What’s new?
- Space Agency
Hermanus is home to the South African National Space Agency’s (SANSA) Space Science facility, which monitors space weather and the Earth’s fluctuating electromagnetic field. They provide free tours every Wednesday at 11h00.
- Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk
On the first Friday evening of each month, visitors can stroll between 12 local art galleries, admire the work of 200 artists and sip wine from local wine farms. There is a different theme and a lucky draw each month. The money is donated to local charities.
- Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary
This non-profit sanctuary for rescued big cats opened in April near Stanford and offers educational tours. It is home to tigers, lions, leopards and caracals rescued from canned hunting farms. Voluntourism and corporate teambuilding are also offered.
- Thephotowalkers.com
Professional photographers give hands-on lessons on location during photographic tours, weekends away and workshops. It is a Responsible Tourism practitioner, as township dwellers are paid to pose for tourists.
- Fatbike Tours
The bicycles have wide soft tyres and are ideal for riding on the dunes and beaches between De Kelders and Hermanus as they don’t damage the environment.
- African Wings Aerial Whale Watching
Guests can view whales from above. African Wings’ record to date is 135 whales in 30 minutes. It offers a full refund in season if whales are not found, something that hasn’t happened in 20 years. Using a Cessna 175, flights last 30 minutes, 45 minutes or one hour.
- African Horse Company
The company offers overnight trails and one- to three-hour outrides on Farm 215, an 800-hectare Fynbos retreat in the Southern Overberg, and in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve. Farm 215 offers exclusive off-the-grid B&B accommodation.
- SA Forest Adventures
Quad-bike trails, a 1.4km treetop zip-line tour and paintballing at Hermanus, white-river rafting, river-tubing and sand-boarding at Kleinmond are on offer. The day package includes the Betty’s Bay penguin colony, sand-boarding, whale-watching, lunch, quad-biking and zip-lining.
- Walker Bay Adventures
Guided sea-kayaking tours and marine education in the Walker Bay Marine Reserve and Klein River lagoon with sightings of Cape Fur Seals, penguins, dolphins, marine birds and whales.
- Cape Nature
Activities include mountain bike trails at Kogelberg; the Walker Bay 4x4 fishing trail; canoeing in the Palmiet River; and hiking trails at Kogelberg, Salmonsdam, De Mond and Walker Bay nature reserves.
