Hermanus Cliff Path & Whale Crier

Walk the 12km cliff path where Southern Right Whales breach metres from shore (June-November). Hermanus is the only town on Earth with an official Whale Crier who blows a kelp horn to announce sightings. Free. Life-changing.

What to do there

3 things to do

1. 1 Walk the World's Best Land-Based Whale Watching Path Adventure · Free

   Whales breach as close as 5 metres from shore - closer than most boats

   At certain viewpoints, whales breach as close as 5 metres from shore. Closer than you'd see from most boats. The 12km Cliff Path offers free access to the world's best land-based whale watching. From June to November, Southern Right Whales arrive in Walker Bay to rest, mate, and give birth. Peak season is September-October. Drive south on Westcliff Road, park at Fick's Pool. Walk the cliff path towards New Harbour for 100m to reach Dreunkrans - one of the prime whale-spotting sites. Park at Fick's Pool, Old Harbour, or Gearing's Point. Walk slowly and scan the water. Look for spouts (whale breaths), tail flukes slapping the water, or the enormous dark shapes just below the surface. Bring binoculars if you have them, but they're not necessary. The whales come THAT close. If whales are not visible at Dreunkrans, continue along the cliff path - there are multiple designated viewing points with informational plaques. The entire 12km path is accessible.

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2. 2 Find the Whale Crier with the Kelp Horn History · Free

   World's only whale crier - blows a kelp horn and wears a whale-tail feather

   The Whale Crier tradition started in 1991 when a visitor remarked that Hermanus whales were 'the best kept secret in the Cape.' By August 1992, the first Whale Crier was blowing his distinctive kelp horn - made from dried kelp, producing a mournful echo across the bay. He wears a whale-tail feather in his cap and carries a sandwich board showing morse code patterns that tell you WHERE the whales have been sighted and HOW MANY. The Whale Crier patrols the coastline from 10am to 4pm, June to December. You'll find him walking along the cliff path or near the Old Harbour. Listen for the kelp horn's mournful call echoing along the coast. When you hear it, follow the sound. Ask the Whale Crier to explain his morse code system - it's brilliantly simple. He'll point you to the best current viewing spots. If you miss him during your walk, check the Old Harbour area between 10am-4pm. Ask locals - everyone knows where the Whale Crier is.

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3. 3 Understand Why These Waters Became a Whale Sanctuary Adventure · Free

   6,000km journey from Antarctica to this sheltered nursery

   Southern Right Whales choose Walker Bay for a very specific reason: the shallow, sheltered waters and nutrient-rich cold Benguela current make this an ideal nursery. The whales migrate from Antarctic feeding grounds (6,000km journey) to rest, mate, and give birth here. Calves born in these waters stay close to shore, protected from predators. The name 'Southern Right' came from whalers who called them the 'right' whales to hunt - they float when dead. Today, they're fully protected, and the population is recovering. From any viewpoint on the cliff path, look out at Walker Bay and toward the horizon where the Atlantic meets colder offshore currents. Read the informational plaques at any viewpoint. If you see a mother with calf, watch how the baby stays alongside - it will nurse up to 600 litres of milk per day and gain 50kg daily. Notice how the whales breach repeatedly - it's not just play; it's communication, barnacle-scraping, and teaching calves survival skills. Visit the Hermanus whale museum (free or small donation) for detailed displays on Southern Right biology and migration patterns.

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