Nestled beneath the wind-swept ridges of the rugged Hottentots Holland Mountains, on the cusp of the South African Western Cape, the city of Hermanus is not only a pretty conglomeration of sleepy local shops and old fishing cottages cum converted accommodations, but also one of the most famed whale spotting destinations on the planet.

Every September visitors flock to this town some 120 kilometres off the majestic Garden Route to join the crowds of the annual Whale Festival, watching the dramatic migration of southern right whales unfold in all its glory; standing atop the blustery cliffs of Hermanus as great tails splash and flounder in the penguin-peppered waters out to sea.

And if you hit town outside of the whale watching season (July to December) then there’s still plenty to do. Yes sir, Hermanus tour guides have oodles of adventure sports up their sleeve—from cage diving with sharks to scuba diving and surfing—while the gorgeous fynbos regions of the Overburg and the wine valleys of the Hemel-en-Aarde also beckon equally!