Hermanus Area Profile

Hermanus at a glance

Hermanus lies along Walker Bay on the south coast of the Western Cape, just 115 km southeast of Cape Town.

The area is referred to as the 'Whale capital of the world' and is famous for Southern Right whale watching from July to December. During this time, Walker Bay also becomes home to Humpbacks and Bryde Whales, penguins, cape fur seals, sea-birds, and pods of dolphins. Residents often enjoy a meal and drinks at special restaurants while overlooking these magnificent sea creatures. 

Sandbaai which lies on the coast at the entrance to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is considered as the most recently developed and fastest-growing residential area of Greater Hermanus. The area is also a well-known retirement location. Estates such as Fernkloof Estate and Hemel en Aarde Estate are popular with buyers for their secured living and lifestyle opportunities. 

A brief history of the area
Hermanus, originally called Hermanuspietersfontein, was named after Hermanus Pieters (ca.1778-1837), a teacher who arrived in Cape Town in 1815 to teach Dutch to farmers in Caledon and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

Pieters spent his summer months herding cattle from Caledon down to the coast where he found good grazing and fresh water. Eventually the rest of the farming community followed and it became the new spot for the school holidays. 

Today, Hermanus has over 30 excellent wineries, over 40 top quality restaurants and 100's of activities to keep residents entertained.

Climate
The climate in Hermanus can be classified as warm and temperate with an average of 16.2 °C. February is the warmest month with an average of 19.7 °C, while July has the lowest average temperature of the year - 12.6 °C. The rainfall here averages 577 mm with more rainfall occurring in the winter than in the summer.

Distance from key points (Airport/CBD)
Hermanus is 108km away from the Cape Town International Airport. This journey will take travellers 1-hour and 22 minutes as they enjoy the scenic views that the Western Cape has to offer. 

Schools in the area
Schooling options in Hermanus include Hermanus Primary School, Hermanus High School, Generation Schools Hermanus, Hermanus Waldorf School, Mount Pleasant Primary School, Hermanus Christian Academy, and Curro Hermanus Independent School. Boland College, Overstrand Training Institute (OTI), and Northcliff House College School Hermanus are some of the few tertiary institutions available in the area. 

Medical facilities
Mediclinic Hermanus, Hermanus Daghospitaal, Hermanus Provincial Hospital, as well as the Hermanus Medical Village are some of the great medical facilities available for residents in the area.

Shopping Malls
Residents in Hermanus are spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping. They can visit the Whale Coast Mall, IPIC Shopping Centre Hermanus, Village Square, or even The Carriages Centre, amongst others.

Restaurants
Residents in Hermanus can indulge in scrumptious foods in these fine restaurants: Char'd Grill & Wine Bar, Burgundy Restaurant, Bientang's Cave Restaurant & Wine Bar, Barefoot Cook, Pear Tree Bistro or Fisherman's Cottage.

Special Attractions
Hermanus attracts over 250,000-holiday makers, mainly South Africans who wish to enjoy the town's fabulous scenery, seaside and beaches. The wine valley of Hemel-en-Aarde is much talked about in the area, along with the quaint markets and art galleries. 

Outdoor activities include whale watching, Great White Shark cage diving, horse riding, sandboarding, quad biking, kayaking, micro-lighting and Cessna plane flights, paragliding, golf, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, sailing, scuba diving, surfing, and more.

The Fernkloof Nature Reserve Gardens commemorates the flower season each year by hosting the Hermanus Flower and Fynbos Festival. This festival showcases arrangements of a variety of fynbos- proteas, ericas, bulbs and orchids and educates attendees on the eco-tourism of the Cape Floral Kingdom. 

Make Hermanus your home today!
The laid back area of Hermanus provides a tranquil sanctuary for residents and visitors. If you are interested in owning your own piece of heaven in the Western Cape contact RealNet Hermanus today.