This tour starts and ends in Cape Town with departures scheduled for on most Sundays, but refer to the online booking calendar.
Check live availability, itinerary, updated rack rates, and specials and book online at:
https://hotspots2c.co.za/tour/hermanus-wandering#live-availability
Swap cityscapes for sweeping seascapes on the 1-Day Hermanus + Whale Coast Wander, a fun day trip that will take you all along South Africa’s legendary Whale Route. From dramatic coastal drives and gentle giants breaching offshore to penguin colonies and floral kingdoms, this scenic escape is a feast for nature lovers, photographers, and dreamers alike.
Whether it’s whale season or not, this journey along the southern coast promises incredible views, unique marine encounters, and charming towns that feel worlds away from city life, all wrapped into one unforgettable adventure.
Rate for the 2025 Season (11 Jan to 14 Dec 2025)
What’s Included
Cape Town Pick-up & Drop-off service (±10km radius from Cape Town CBD)
Transport to tour highlights
Local Tour Guide – English speaking
What’s Excluded
Personal Expenses
Meals & Drinks
Personal Insurance
Flight Tickets
Included Activities
Hermanus Cliff Paths Walk
Harold Porter Waterfall Walk
Meet the Betty’s Bay penguins
Meander along Clarence Drive
Optional Activities
Please note these activities can only be bought on or before the tour directly with the tour operator
Whale Watching Boat Cruise (Subject to availability in whale season (Jun -Nov), payable in advance).
Transport
Van or Mini-coach
Your day begins with a morning pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town or Stellenbosch, as you leave the city behind and head for the windswept shores of the Southern Cape. With the cold Atlantic sparkling to your side and mountain peaks hugging the road, the road trip itself is half the excitement.
Your first destination of this day trip is the quaint coastal town of Hermanus, often hailed as the world’s best land-based whale-watching spot. From July to November, southern right and humpback whales cruise these waters, breaching and playing just beyond the surf. You can watch them from the cliff paths or join an optional boat-based tour. There’s no forgetting your first sight of these majestic marine giants.
Wander the winding seaside walkways bordered by indigenous fynbos and crashing waves. Keep your eyes peeled for marine life, seabirds, and perhaps a pod of dolphins swimming in the distance. If you are travelling out of season, there’s still the option to travel to nearby Gansbaai for an exciting Marine Big 5 Eco Cruise.
After a relaxed lunch in Hermanus, your journey continues along one of South Africa’s most awe-inspiring routes. If time allows, you’ll visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, a peaceful haven in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, which is home to more than 1 600 species of plant life, including proteas and delicate Disa orchids. You might even spot a shy tortoise or the elusive African black duck along the gentle garden trails.
The afternoon brings you to Stony Point Penguin Colony in Betty’s Bay, home to one of the continent’s largest breeding colonies of endangered African penguins. With their comical waddles and curious eyes, these tuxedoed birds are a true delight to watch.
As the day winds down, you’ll be taken on the Clarence Drive coastal road, a 21-kilometre ribbon of pure scenic bliss. This drive hugs the jagged cliffs between the ocean and the Kogelberg Mountains, linking tiny Rooi Els to Gordon’s Bay. Every curve of the road will give you another postcard-worthy view, so don’t put your camera away just yet!
By early evening, you’ll return to Cape Town with a heart full of fresh sea air, memory cards full of photos, and a new appreciation for the beauty of South Africa’s Western Cape Coast.