Lose your sense of time as you explore the leisurely lifestyle of this coastal region of South Africa with its quaint villages and small towns. The Whale Coast of South Africa runs from Rooiels in the west to Quoin Point in the east, backed by majestic mountains and facing the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. There are plenty of luxury accommodation options in the area and activities for young and old.
The attraction to the aptly named Whale Coast is, of course, the opportunity to catch sight of these magnificent creatures. The Southern Right whales head to this coastline on an annual journey to mate, calve and play with their young in the warmer waters off of Africa. The best place to spot them hopefully breaching but otherwise lolling around with their tails out of the water is between Hermanus and De Kelders. There are also regular sightings of both Humpback and Bryde’s whales in the area and pods of dolphins will trail along your boat when you go for a cruise or out fishing.
Hermanus claims to be the best land based whale watching spot in the world and who are we to argue with them when they have a resident whale crier who blows his characteristic twisted kelp horn whenever he spots a new pod off the coast. Place names such as Buffeljagsbaai (place of the buffalo hunt) and Rhenosterfontein (fountain of the rhino) point to the once abundant herds of game found in the area. Today you are more likely to see bushbuck, duiker and the shy steenbok and possibly the tracks of the Cape Clawless Otter. Activities range from deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, bird watching and paragliding to name just a few. Head to the only inland town along this route, Stanford, it is one of the best-preserved villages in terms of heritage architecture in South Africa and home to a microbrewery, an award-winning cheese maker and numerous vineyards.
Look out for the protected African black oystercatcher on your strolls along the pristine beaches of the region. The small towns of Struisbaai, Arniston, and Agulhas have miles of beautiful white sand beaches and an abundance of fish and bird life. Stand at the end point of the Whale Coast at the most southerly tip of Africa, Cape L’Agulhas; surrounded by the Agulhas National Park with its walking and hiking trails and fabulous sea views. It is worth stopping by the Agulhas lighthouse, this is the second oldest working lighthouse in the country and the only one that was built as an exact replica of the original Egyptian Faro Lighthouse.
Shipwrecks, seafood, sleepy towns, superb wines and Southern Right whales all add up to offer you a superlative destination in the Whale Coast of South Africa. Contact the Southern Africa Travel team today.
The Whale Coast is known for:
Cape Agulhas
Take a trip to the most southerly point of Africa; it is also the meeting point for the warm Indian Ocean and cold Atlantic. A plaque marks the most southerly point so that you can take photographic evidence that you have been here. There are walking trails in the Agulhas National Park and archaeological remains have been found pointing to the existence of ancient peoples in this area.
Shark-cage Diving
Descend into the waters around Gansbaai for an encounter of a lifetime with a Great White shark. You will be safe in the cage but will still need your courage on hand to face these awesome terrifying creatures at such close quarters – a mere arm’s length away.
Whale Festival
Celebrate the return of the Southern Right whales to Walker Bay at the annual Hermanus Whale Festival. Thousands of visitors flock to the town every year to see these magnificent creatures, take part in a Welcome Whales Wave and enjoy the party atmosphere of this vibrant festival.
Off the Beaten Track:
Dive for wrecks
There are several wrecks in the area that can be explored and many highly ranked dive sites. Scuba diving is a great way to get the underwater perspective on the Whale Coast. Contact the scuba diving school before you head out to ascertain the conditions at each dive site.
Take a wine wander
Take a wander through wine country along the Whale Coast. Start the Wine Wander at the Wine Village with one of the largest selections of South African wines on offer and then head onto the wine farms of the region. This is a great way to explore the region with the added benefit of getting to taste world-class wines.
The Klipgat Trail
The Klipgat Trail is a great way to get a feel for the area; it meanders along 7km of coastal cliffs and ends at the Klipgat Cave. Stone artefacts, human remains and bone tools found in the cave point to the existence of early man in this area as far back as 90 000 years ago.
