The wonderful thing about the hugely popular seaside town of Hermanus is its proximity to Cape Town. It only takes ninety minutes to be surrounded by the Kleinrivier mountains, overlooking the slightly warmer waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Over the years – at least a decade or so – the burgeoning town has evolved from being a tranquil little seaside village of beach bars and historical bungalows – scattered around the cliffs of a dramatically scenic coastline – and transformed into a bustling borough of nouveau colonies of contemporary villas, trendy cafés, farmer’s markets and elegant restaurants. Surrounded by the Fernkloof Nature Reserve and all of its trails, beautiful beaches, and the great wide expanse of the sea. With that, comes the oceanic wildlife. Southern Right and Humpback Whales migrate to the coast, to breed and calve, between the months of June and November. With peak viewing between August and October. Deemed ‘the whale watching capital of the world’, Hermanus offers the best land-based viewing opportunities of these great giants of the deep blue. Especially from the cliff paths. Orcas, seals, dolphins and all of the magnificent birdlife frequent these shores too.
The journey to Hermanus is just as wonderful. Traversing some of the most magnificent terrain that scenically soothes every aspect of your travelling soul. As you drive the winding coastal road of Clarence Drive, through the rugged wilderness of the Koegelberg Nature Reserve, with the Hottentots Holland mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, it becomes apparent why this route is considered to be one of the most unique in the world. You’ll pass all of the little seaside hamlets on the eastern shores of False Bay. The beautiful villages of Rooi-Els, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, and Kleinmond. Where the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens and the African Penguin Sanctuary rest. The sprawling greens of Arabella Country Estate borders the banks of the lagoon, as you leave the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve behind, and enter the pristine botanical wilderness of the Walker Bay Nature Reserve. Surrounded by the Overberg mountains and the great expanse of the Atlantic
Ocean. You’ve migrated much like the whales do.
A day trip to Hermanus from Cape Town is so much more than just a mandatory tick-off of the itinerary. It’s a journey that meanders through some of the Western Cape’s most exquisite coastal scenery, and a rare opportunity to spot the whales that grace the shoreline. Even outside of whale season, the panoramic ocean views are unparalleled. As the sun begins its descent, the return journey offers another chance to absorb the rugged beauty of Clarence Drive. The green and gold of the landscape basking in the late afternoon light. Labotessa’s doors will be open, apéritif and appetisers awaiting your arrival. Eagerly anticipating the tales of your travels and descriptive stories of your sightings, that you’ll share in your chosen space of sublime indulgence.
Labotessa…A Marvel in the Mother City
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