Hermanus (originally called Hermanuspietersfontein , but shortened in 1902 as the name was too long for the postal service, Afrikaans: ['ɦæːrmɑːnəs] ), is a town on the southern coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa . It is known for Southern Right whale watching during the southern winter to spring seasons, and is a popular retirement location.
21-610: Hermanus Pieters (ca.1778–1837) was a Dutch teacher who arrived in Cpt in 1815. He was recruited by Dutch-speaking farmers who disliked that English was the only language used in all government schools. He settled in Caledon , but taught Dutch to farmers in a wide area around that town, including the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. He often vacationed at the spring ("fontein") in present-day Hermanus, where he fished and grazed his sheep,
42-715: A certain amount of stock farming . The town is locally well known for the Caledon Spa and Casino and for its rolling hills and yellow canola fields in spring . The town has a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Temperatures are modified by its close proximity to the South Atlantic Ocean , just over the Klein River Mountains to the south. The place was originally known in Dutch as Bad agter de Berg (Bath Behind
63-473: A spot where people can dive amongst the great white sharks . It is also notable that Hermanus still boasts a historic railway station building without a railway line. The founders of the town decided not to lay any tracks as this would have made Hermanus more commercial and felt that Hermanus needed to stay a small fisherman's village. To this day the locals still refer to it as "the village." The town of Vermont borders Hermanus to its east. Sandbaai lies on
84-434: A whale and shows an audio-visual presentation of whales and dolphins twice daily. Visitors can watch whales from the cliff-tops, from the air or via boats. Since August 1992, Hermanus has had the world's only whale crier, the first being Pieter Classen 1992-1998, then Wilson Salukazana 1998-2006, and Zolile Baleni since April 2006, who sounds his kelp horn to announce where whales have been sighted. In 2005, Zakes Mda wrote
105-619: Is a town in the Overberg region in the Western Cape province of South Africa, located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) east of Cape Town next to mineral-rich hot springs. As of 2011 it had a population of 13,020. It is located in, and the seat of, the Theewaterskloof Local Municipality . The town continues to be inhabited by Khoikhoi communities who, before the arrival of colonizing forces, were
126-634: Is classified as having a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen ). It receives roughly 520 mm of rain per annum, the majority of which falls during the winter months of June to August in the form of frontal precipitation. Average midday temperatures range from 25 °C in February to 16 °C in July. Extremes above 30 °C and under 10 °C are not uncommon. Summer and Winter months are characterised by strong south-easterly and north-westerly winds respectively. The Space Science Directorate of
147-560: Is in the Cape Floristic Region and thus has one of the highest plant diversity levels in the world. The principal vegetation type of this region is fynbos , a mixture of evergreen shrub-like plants with small firm leaves. In the local Fernkloof Nature Reserve , 1,474 plant species have thus far been collected and identified. Over 100 varieties of bird species reside in the Greater Hermanus area. Species such as
168-512: Is one of those commemorated on the war memorial. Hermanus lies along Walker Bay on the south coast of the Western Cape . It is located about 115 km southeast of Cape Town and is connected to the Mother City by the R43 highway (or coastal R44 scenic route) and N2 motorway. The R43 continues to Cape Agulhas , the most southerly point of Africa. Hermanus is 40 km from Gansbaai ,
189-1000: The South African National Space Agency , previously the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO), is a research facility of the National Research Foundation and forms part of the worldwide network which monitors variations of the Earth's magnetic field . Grotto Beach is the largest beach in Hermanus and has also been proclaimed a blue Flag beach . Blue flag beaches meet international environment, safety and management criteria. Other beaches with Blue Flag status include Voëlklip , Onrus , Kammabaai , Langbaai, and Hawston . The rugged coastline also hosts many other smaller beaches, coves and tidal pools. Hermanus
210-699: The Eco-Marine Village. Residents and visitors celebrate the migration of Southern Right Whales and other marine wildlife with ocean-themed activities and exhibitions, emphasizing education and environmentally responsible adventures and activities. Prior to this main whale festival, a Kalfiefees (or Calf Festival) is held, to welcome the first whales (usually in August). Both festivals are characterized by food and craft stalls, environmental presentations, and South African drama productions. Caledon, Western Cape Caledon , originally named Swartberg ,
231-849: The Mountain). A bath house was built in 1797 and a village called Swartberg sprang up, which was later renamed Caledon in honor of the Irish peer Du Pre Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon (1777–1839), the first British governor of the Cape (1806–11). The writer Peter Dreyer was born in Caledon at the Caledon Baths Hotel in 1939. Rhodesian government minister P. K. van der Byl retired to Caledon and subsequently died there, in Fairfield. His father, anti-Apartheid politician P. V. van der Byl ,
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#1732766284107252-621: The Orange-breasted Sunbird, the Cape Sugarbird, Victorin's Warbler, and other rare animals, make Hermanus a destination for bird enthusiasts. The town is noted for the presence of whales that often swim within sight of the coastline of the town. Although the Southern Right whale is the most prolific species in Hermanus bay, it is not the only species in the area. The whales can be seen from the cliffs all along
273-545: The coast at the entrance to the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley. It is the most recently developed and fastest-growing residential area of Greater Hermanus. Zwelihle, designated a "black" area by the apartheid era government, is a residential area that consists mainly of shacks. Following the COVID-19 pandemic the town has emerged as a popular destination for very wealthy South Africans to move to. Hermanus
294-486: The coast from as early as June and usually depart in early-December. They were once hunted in the nearby town of Betty's Bay , but are now protected. The Old Harbour Museum contains several exhibitions that explain the local whaling industry, and the De Wetshuis Photo Museum houses an exhibition of photos by T. D. Ravenscroft that depicts the history of Hermanus. The Whale Museum houses a skeleton of
315-683: The first developer of the area Arthur Youlden. Betty's Bay contains the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden as well as an African penguin colony in the Betty's Bay Marine Protected Area , which is one of the two Penguin colonies in the area of the Western Cape . The colony is situated in the Kogelberg and Stony Point Nature Reserve. When the former whaling station was closed, the endemic and endangered Southern African penguins started breeding here. Due to
336-466: The novel The Whale Caller in which the Whale Crier of Hermanus is the main character, a man who gets enthralled by a southern right whale he names Sharisha. The book was adapted into a 2016 movie by the same name. Hermanus hosts an annual Hermanus Whale Festival at the end of September, to celebrate the calving and mating season. Eco-Tourism is the main theme of the Hermanus whale festival with
357-481: The place eventually became known as “Hermanus Pieters se Fonteyn”. He died before the village Hermanuspietersfontein existed. 65 years after his death the postmaster decided to abbreviate the name to Hermanus. The parents of Roger Bushell , leader of the "Great Escape" (the escape by Allied airmen from Stalag Luft III in World War II), retired in Hermanus after World War II, and are buried there. Bushell's name
378-416: The town's economy due to its popularity with holiday makers from across the Western Cape and Cape Town in particular. During colonial times Betty's Bay was allegedly a favourite place for runaway slaves, and in 1912 Betty's Bay became a formal whaling station running up until the 1930s. Remains of the whaling station can still be seen at Stony Point. Bettys Bay is named after Betty Youlden, daughter of
399-411: The town's location on the south-western coast and surrounding mountainous geography it receives near constant wind and ample rain throughout the year, With south-easterly winds bringing the occasional thunderstorm from the warmer eastern coast in summer, while winter brings persistent North-westerly to occasional Southerly frontal rain, sometimes hail, which can be very heavy at times. Betty's Bay has
420-682: The wealthiest on this land. Caledon is situated on the N2 national route , 113 kilometres (70 mi) by road from central Cape Town. At Caledon the N2 is met by the R316 from Arniston and Bredasdorp , and the R320 from Hermanus . It is also located on the Overberg branch railway line , 141 kilometres (88 mi) by rail from Cape Town station . The Caledon district is primarily an agricultural region. Most agricultural activities involve grain production with
441-474: Was born in Caledon in 1889. Betty%27s Bay Betty's Bay is a small holiday town situated on the Overberg coast of South Africa 's Western Cape province. It is located 100 km from Cape Town beneath the Kogelberg Mountains on the scenic R44 ocean drive between Pringle Bay and Kleinmond . This village stretches over 13 km along the coast. Tourism plays a large role in
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