20^th-24^th September 2013

One day to go! The Two Oceans Hermanus Whale Festival: South Africa’s Enviro-arts festival is upon us, 22 years old and still going strong.

All is a buzz – with the local radio & media sponsor 94.5 Kfm already giving us updates and event showcasing over the radio waves. As the cold front moves in, everyone is asking ‘what will the weather be like’ – but all is not lost, with a great line-up of events the weather should not dampen spirits and forecast’s show that good weather will be with us by mid-weekend.

It will be best to do as many indoor activities over the next two days, and leave all the outdoor adventures for late Saturday onwards. Outdoor adventures to mention but a few this year will include: zip-lining over the famous Old harbour, Kayak and explore the wildlife of Walker Bay, unforgettable boat based whale watching, treasure hunts & horse and cart rides for all ages.

Sporting events include the Old Harbour open water swim, the Whale Festival ‘Famous’ half marathon; the beautiful Cliff Path night run & then the scenic but enduring Mountain Bike Classic. Add an array of music, arts & craft to the above and Hermanus will definitely be the place to be this weekend!

With all the fun, let’s not forget the marine life of Walker Bay, make sure you visit the Marine Endangered Species Expo at Gearing’s Point, whilst there, this look-out point is famed for being one of the best land based whale watching spots in the world, make sure to scan the ocean’s surface and try to spot the majestic southern right whale.

The Hermanus Whale Festival is known as an enviro-arts festival, with a strong environmental focus. This focus is all the easier when visitors to the festival see the beautiful mammals who are the focus of the festival frolicking and playing along the coastline. The incredible sight of a whale jumping up out of the water often is the reminder one needs of the importance of taking care of our environment.Every year, around the beginning of June the Southern right whales return to the South African Coastline for their mating and calving season. For those living and holidaying on the Western Cape coastline in the Overberg region, this is a spectacular time where whale sightings are a common occurrence.Watching a whale and her little calf breach and play in the Atlantic Ocean is a blessing in itself, with nature providing Hermanus with the highlight of this annual show.

If after embracing the Marine Expo tent and partaking in whale watching you feel the need for more marine interaction head down to the New Harbour for an adventurous boat based whale watching experience.

Once you have had your fill of whales (if that is possible), take the kids to watch the dissecting of a shark and learn about the underwater world of Hermanus at the South African Shark Conservancy, follow the painted ‘blue shark fins’ and flags down to the water’s edge in the Old Harbour to find their lab.

The Hermanus Whale Festival is an established tradition in the area, attracting over 100 thousand people to the area annually. Stay up to date with where the whales are this weekend: Hermanus Whale Watching. Get your hands on the festival line-up in the Hermanus times or visit www.whalefestival.co.za so you don’t miss out on a moment of the fun!