Whale Watching At Hermanus

The Hermanus Whale Festival is held annually to celebrate the return of the Southern Right whales to the waters of Walker Bay and the arrival of spring each year. In 2009, the festival attracted over 100 000 visitors. Hermanus is arguably the number one whale watching destination in the world.

Hermanus was once a fishing village but the whales have changed that. It has quadrupled in size over the past decade and taken on a Mediterranean feel. Of course it is still a South African town and if you divert your gaze you notice the clientele at the restaurants and boutiques are foreigners or well-to-do local whites, while the buskers and council workers are black. But the picture of prosperity is not all illusion. The tourist dividend - raked in through high council rates and vigilant parking attendants - helps pay for security guards who keep crime rates low. The whales also do their bit in creating thousands of private jobs from curio sellers to shop assistants. So you get the feeling that just by being there you're doing your bit.

In 1992, the first Hermanus Whale Festival was held with modest attendance. Ever since then the festival has grown to attract thousands of visitors each year. Performers of comedy, live music and street theatre bust out their best in Spring each year.

The Hermanus Whale festival provides so much for the local or the traveler to take part in apart from just whale watching. There is food and wine to sample as well as numerous music and comedy acts to see. Hermanus also holds a charity golf day during this time which helps support the community.

The Hermanus Whale Festival is about Whale Watching but also has an emphasis on the environment and environmental protection. It also claims to be the only 'enviro-arts' festival in South Africa. The festival endeavors to bring about awareness of protection of the environment and in particular the marine life.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

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If you'd like more information on whale watching check out an account of a Hermanus whale watch tour.

by: Jessica King

Total views: 4 Word Count: 330 Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 Time: 4:44 AM - 0 comments

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