Birthplace of Whales
THERE'S a magnificent coastal road that winds its way to a tranquil place where whales come to calve and cavort in the protected waters of Walker Bay, on the rugged southern coast of South Africa. Here, at the charming town of Hermanus, the Whale Crier trumpets his way through town, announcing the best sightings during the three month whale season between August and October.
From vantage points on sandstone cliffs or from granite rocks on the shore, the visitor is treated to the wonderful antics of these behemoths of the deep. These Southern Right Whales have traveled thousands of miles from Antarctica in an annualpilgrimage to warmer waters to breed and calve. There are selected boat trips to allow one a sea-based experience with the whales, but Hermanus provides one of the finest land-based viewing sites in the world. A powerful telephoto lens is a must to obtain the best possible shots of these whales when they breach, spyhop and lobtail.
During the summer months, bathing in the warm Indian Ocean is superb, and Hermanus boasts some fine hotels and restaurants to make one's stay comfortable and enjoyable. Travelling further eastward, one finds the southern tip of the great African continent at Cape Agulhas - a rugged area of rocks and small beaches, where the lobsters and abalone are huge and succulent.
Its meridian of 20 degrees East is the recognized geographical dividing line of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, although in fact the warm waters of the Indian reach the eastern shores of Cape Town's Peninsula. The original lighthouse, built in 1849, still stands at Agulhas, although a newer unit now warns passing ships of the dangerous rocks and reefs which surround this rocky shoreline.
Inland from Agulhas and Hermanus, tucked away in mountains rich with wild flowers, is the quaint hamlet of Greyton - a haven for artists and those seeking alternative lifestyles or a break from city life. Farmlands in this region are mainly wheat, although there are some famous wine cellars around Hermanus, which should provide a good enough reason to overnight and enjoy the hospitality of this area's inhabitants.
