All, Family, Good to know, Hotspots
Whales have arrived!
Although we are still experiencing certain levels of lockdown as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, it is so good to see nature taking centre stage the past few months with some amazing animal sightings a lot closer to home than one would have expected.
We have also just received our first snow of the winter which funnily enough coincided with the return of the migratory Southern Right Whales to our shores from Antarctica. Maybe it was nature’s way of welcoming these giants back, waving the white flag so to speak that all is still fine along our South African shores for these gentle giants to come and safely calve in our sheltered bays.
Did you know?
Although the Southern Right Whales are spotted along most of our South African coastline, Hermanus is considered one of the best land-based whale-watching destinations in the world.
Whale-watching in Hermanus
Hermanus, along the beautiful shores of Walker Bay, is the official whale-watching capital of Africa. Surrounded by majestic mountains and indigenous fynbos, it is the heart of the whale coast and offers the best land-based whale-watching in the world.
The annual Whale Festival, usually held in September, is highly popular and attracts over 100, 000 visitors. Created to raise awareness and to help protect marine life, the Hermanus Whale Festival is the only enviro-arts festival in South Africa. Although the festival draws top South African musicians, crafters and sports celebrities, the whales are always the star attractions of the event and cause thousands of visitors to return to Hermanus year after year.
In addition to breathtaking whale watching from the cliffs and the boats, Hermanus offers many natural attractions such as mountain walks and bird watching, as well as great surfing spots and plenty of excellent accommodation available.
The art of whale-watching
When looking to sight a Southern Right Whale, the easiest method is to scan the ocean surface for their v-shaped blow or spout – a tall, smoky plume lasting a few seconds. This is the whale breathing out just as it surfaces and one can also confirm this species by their lack of a dorsal fin. If you see a whale thrust high out of the water and fall back with a great splash, you were lucky enough to see a whale breaching.
Averaging around 15 metres in length and up to 60 tonnes in weight, individual whales can be identified year after year by the callosities pattern on their heads, kind of like their fingerprint. In fact, they have strong maternal connections with the locations and gene pools they are born into with females usually returning to their birth spots to calve.
Other activities in Hermanus
If you’re drawn to Hermanus for its whale sightings, there are plenty of reasons for you to stay and explore this quaint, pretty town. For the adventurous types, you can go mountain biking or abseiling, enjoy sea cruises to Dyer and Geyser Islands to see sharks, penguins and seals, take the plunge and go scuba diving, kick up some dirt while quad biking and take in the landscape while horse riding.
For the less adventurous, the smooth bays and tranquil lagoons offer lovely kayaking opportunities or a gentle boat cruise from nearby Stanford if you’re a bird lover. Fernkloof Nature Reserve is popular among hiking and photography enthusiasts, and golfers will be thrilled to discover an award-winning course at the Arabella Country Estate.
There are also many markets, such as the Fernkloof Farmers’ Market, Hermanuspietersfontein Boeremark and Lemm’s Corner Craft Market every Saturday and the Onrus Market once a month.
Wine & Craft Beer Tasting!
The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley behind Hermanus has become famous in its own right with fantastic award-winning wines being produced year after year. This valley is best known for its elegant, cool-climate wines made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, although the Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon also contribute to the valley’s many awards. Estates such as Creation, Newton Johnson, Bouchard Finlayson, Southern Right and many more are waiting to be enjoyed over a slow lunch or dinner.
For craft beer lovers, the nearby Hemel & Aarde Microbrewery and Hermanus Brewery offer award-winning lagers and ales, along with the more established Birkenhead Brewery in Stanford, just east of Hermanus.
Want to discover the beautiful whales of Hermanus?
The Southern Right Whales have arrived so contact us to book a Private Hermanus Whale & Wine tour or possibly we can customise a multi-day tour to this area and include so many more highlights.
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All, Family, Good to know, Wine
Popular activities for kids in the Winelands are strawberry picking and grape juice tastings. However, these are just a few examples of what children can do in this stunning region. Who knew that there are plenty of activities and fun places to visit for the whole family?
I want to bring my kids in the Cape Winelands, what could we get up to?F
Although not in the Winelands, you can certainly start our day at the Two Oceans Aquarium before proceeding to the Winelands, where you can explore the wildlife of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. Then, you can head to the Giraffe House, a wildlife awareness centre that hosts not just giraffes, but a lot of other animal species such as Vervet Monkeys, Meerkat, Crocodiles, Ostriches, parrots, Jackals and many more.
You should also definitely check out the farm of Fairview. This wine estate founded in 1693 organises wine tastings for the parents whilst the children can taste juice and visit the Goat Tower. Make sure to also visit their bakery and try their hand made pastries, baguettes and cakes.
From Fairview website
How can I raise awareness amongst my kids about South African wildlife while exploring the Cape Winelands?
Take one of the guided tours at the Cheetah Outreach, an education and community-based programme created to raise awareness of the plight of the cheetah and to campaign for its survival. You could also visit Drakenstein Lion Park, a lion rescue centre which is also home to the new Chimp Haven. This facility has been built to house the chimps that have been displaced by the closure of Tygerberg Zoo. If you want to see all the big cats at the same time, visit the BigCats Park at Vredenheim, that hosts brown and white lions, leopards and Bengal tigers.
Where could my kids discover reptiles and smaller animals in the Winelands?
We also recommend visiting Eagle Encounters, a wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, education and eco-tourism centre. Also make sure you visit Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm, a kid-friendly destination near Cape Town offering prime viewing of crocodiles. Take one of the guided tours that depart every 45 minutes. The crocodile farm is home to over a 1000 crocodiles and is opened 9 til 5, 7 days a week. Visit the Butterfly World to find a magical world of tropical butterflies. You will soon realise that this is not just a butterfly park, but that that it’s a sanctuary for exotic animals. They have reptiles, exotic birds and other small animals.
Is there any other hidden gems for kids in the Cape Winelands?
We can visit Vergenoegd Wine Estate to watch the morning “duck parade”. During this parade, the Vergenoegd farm utilises 1070 running ducks to assist in the control of the snail and pest population in the vineyards. They have a basic research and breeding programme to keep the ducks productive, healthy and happy. Take a tour of the duck pens and the breeding room with one of their friendly duck herders. Enjoy the parade with a glass of Runner Duck wine from 09:00-10:00am on week days to see how they perform their eco-friendly duties of chemical-free pest control.
Any good markets my kids could enjoy?
Also visit a choice of Saturday and/or Sunday farmers markets in Stellenbosch. The Slowfood market takes its inspiration from the Slow food Movement. Their aim is to bring all food sourced, grown, raised, harvested, caught and preserved by the producers themselves. Root 44 market is, as the name suggests, situated on the Route 44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset. This market has many food stands and is all about family fun. Furthermore, the market offers funky live entertainment, craft and homeware stalls. The Blaauwklippen Family Market is one of South Africa’s oldest markets, dating back to 1682. The market is situated on the slopes of Stellenbosch mountain, surrounded by vineyards. This market offers plenty of activities for children, including a bouncing castle, pony rides, trampolines and more.
Finally, how can I end a beautiful day in the Winelands with my kids ?
Another must-visit with your children is the DelVera agri-village, a true paradise where children can play on the lawns and run around, they can feed and pet the donkeys, ride a go-kart, ride a bike on the kids bicycle trail and horseback riding. Visit one of the boutique shops with arts & crafts, restaurants and cafés. From DelVera, you can also go for a hike in the stunning surrounding area. Every month (September – April), the Dirtopia team organises a full-moon hike. On top of the Klapmutskop, enjoy a picnic while watching the sunset and then see the full moon rise.
From Delvera Agri-village website
Now that you know more about places and activities for kids in the Cape Winelands, click here for our Private Cape Town tours.
Some of our Reviews
Excellent outing – highly recommended
Reviewed April 22, 2014
5 of 5 stars
“On a recent trip to South Africa we had the good fortune of booking a day trip with David. He was polite, knowledgeable and contributed a wealth of knowledge about the destinations we visited. In fact we had such a great day out with him that we booked surfing lessons with him the next day, and he managed to get the whole lot of us to stand up on the board (not an easy task).
He was excellent company – a sentiment shared by our entire group, in fact each of the children enjoyed his company so much that they all wrote in their travel diary about “how much fun they had with David” and how nice he is.
Absolutely 5+++++ stars. Wish him the very best, and if we ever have the good fortune to go back we’ll hope to tour with him again! Cheers!”
Caroline, Toronto, Canada
Simply amazing tour company with fantastic customer service!
Reviewed February 13, 2018
5 of 5 stars
“My family and I (husband plus two kids) had a fantastic experience with David and his team at African Blue Tours. We booked several day trips with them and each one was better than the next. Our tour guide Duncan was great, very knowledgeable, patient with us and with our young girls and attentive. Duncan answered all our questions on South Africa, on its history and everything in-between. When it came time to taste wines during our wine tours, he took the girls outside to feed the goats while my husband and I enjoyed just a little bit of the wine tasting g uninterrupted. All this to say, very attentive, and customer oriented.
Last but certainly not least, the booking was easy and David was very responsive. It was easy to communicate and to get suggestions on different activities to better plan and maximize our time in Capetown. A wonderful and memorable visit. Thank you David and Duncan.”
Daniele Nyirandutiye, Antananarivo, Madagascar
