Hermanus & Route 62, South Africa

Luxury boutique hotels and lodges in Hermanus & on Route 62

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Hermanus and the Route 62 are two of the more famous attractions on the Southern Cape Coast, a bountiful area of gentle rolling green pastures, vineyards and unspoilt coast between the Cape Winelands in the west and the Garden Route to the east. Hermanus and the Southern Cape boasts some of the finest land-based whale watching in the world with plenty of sightings of Southern Right whales between July and December (peaking in August and September), when the Southern Right whales come right into the bays to give birth. At that time, enthralling sightings are a daily occurrence with spectacular breaches and other acrobatics.

Some visitors hurtle straight through to the Garden Route on the N2 highway but we recommend turning off either to take the scenic coastal road to Hermanus, Gansbaai or Arniston for at least two nights or the scenic Route 62 country road which meanders through charming villages such as Robertson, Swellendam and Montagu.

The cosmopolitan fishing village and resort of Hermanus offers all year round charm with stunning sandy beaches, coastal walking trails, some of the finest wine estates in South Africa, beautiful fynbos vegetation and spring flowers. The more adventurous can even experience shark cage diving amongst the sharks at nearby Gansbaai.

One hour to the east lies the picturesque fishing village of Arniston, with its warm sandy beaches and turquoise blue seas. Visit the cave at Waenhuiskrans, the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas or one of South Africa’s prettiest reserves, De Hoop Nature Reserve.

Inland lies the picturesque town of Swellendam with its majestic oak trees, lovely gardens and well-preserved Cape Dutch architecture. Route 62 is the world’s longest wine route, and offers a scenic alternative to the N2 highway. Route 62 meanders past wine estates and attractive country towns to the dramatic rugged moutain passes of the Little Karoo.

When to visit Hermanus & How to get there
Travel to Hermanus and the Route 62 is easy. Hermanus is only 1½ hours from Cape Town with Gansbaai and Stanford being a little further. The Route 62 begins at Worcester, only an hour away. It continues all the way to Outsdoorn in the Little Karoo approx 4½ hours drive from Cape Town. Swellendam is just off the Route 62 approx 2-2½ hours drive.

When to visit depends on why you are coming! If you want to see Southern Right whales in Hermanus bay, come between July and November and preferably between August and October when their numbers are at a peak. However if you are attracted by the general beauty of the area, the beaches and the country then the summer months of November to March are perfect. Please note that this is a winter rainfall area so Hermanus gets its wet weather between May and October.

Please look at our Why Visit pages for more on Hermanus and Route 62 including whale watching.