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Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa is twenty minutes drive from Hermanus – home to the best land based whale watching in the world. A 12km of cliff path gives whale watchers great opportunities to view and study the whales that come to this coastline between May and December. There are telescopes beside the Old Harbour Museum and, through these, it is possible to survey the whole of Walker Bay and its whales and dolphins. Sometimes they are only as much as 20m away.

Hermanus has the only Whale Crier in the world. His job is to keep visitors informed as to the whereabouts of the whales as he does his rounds through town. He attracts attention by blowing a kelp horn. Other whale watching spots include Betty's Bay, Kleinmond, De Kelders, Gansbaai, and De Hoop Nature Reserve beyond Struisbaai.

The whales seen most frequently along the Overberg coastal areas are the Southern Right whales. These have been protected internationally since 1935. Other species can be seen occasionally. Southern Right whales can be distinguished from other whales by their V-shaped 'blow' hole and the callosities on their heads. They start arriving in May in order to calf in the shallow water, to raise their young or to mate. Peak whale-spotting time is from August to November, decreasing in December.

For more information go to www.hermanus.co.za. Trips to Hermanus and other surrounding whale-watching areas can easily be arranged for our guests.