01
Birkenhead House
Hermanus
A clifftop house hotel above Voëlklip beach with whales close in the bay in season.
Coast & beach · No. 7 in South Africa
Boutique hotels in Hermanus
Hermanus is the world's best land-based whale-watching spot, with clifftop paths above a bay where southern right whales calve.
Handpicked boutique hotels
Where to stay in Hermanus
02
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Hermanus
Lodges in a fynbos reserve near Gansbaai with views over Walker Bay and a strong conservation focus.
03
The Marine
Hermanus
A grand seaside hotel on the cliffs near the old harbor, with rooms facing Walker Bay.
Every year from July to November, southern right whales gather in Walker Bay, often just yards from the rocks, and the clifftop path through Hermanus offers front-row views. The town also gives access to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley's cool-climate wines, the fynbos reserves of the Overberg and the shark-diving waters of Gansbaai.
Where to stay
The best addresses face the bay; for fynbos and wildlife, the reserves around Gansbaai have luxurious eco-lodges.
Good to know
Hermanus is about 90 minutes from Cape Town along a spectacular coastal road. September and October are the peak months for whales.
Good to know
Questions about Hermanus
How many boutique hotels are there in Hermanus?
We list 3 boutique hotels in Hermanus, including Birkenhead House, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and The Marine.
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