Dar to Lobito - 27 Jul to 6 Aug . check in by 09.30 at Hyatt Kilimanjaro Hotel. Arrive Lobito Central Station at 10.00
Lobito to Dar- 9 Aug to 24 Aug. Check in by 10.00 at Terminus Hotel Lobito. Arrive Dar Tazara Station.
If Lob to Dar
If Dar-Lob
Hermanus On Audley and Audley Guide to Whales and Conde Nast Traveller and Decanter
Mosselberg on Grotto Beach - 5 room boutique hoel
Harbour House Hotel - Manor House
One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel
Schulphoek Seafront House
Grand Lux Boutique Manor
Thatched House
Boutique Ocean Views
The town is noted for the presence of whales that often swim within sight of the coastline of the town. Although the Southern Right whale is the most prolific species in Hermanus bay, it is not the only species in the area. The whales can be seen from the cliffs all along the coast from as early as June and usually depart in early-December. They were once hunted in the nearby town of Betty's Bay, but are now protected. The Old Harbour Museum contains several exhibitions that explain the local whaling industry, and the De Wetshuis Photo Museum houses an exhibition of photos by T. D. Ravenscroft that depicts the history of Hermanus. The Whale Museum houses a skeleton of a whale and shows an audio-visual presentation of whales and dolphins twice daily. Visitors can watch whales from the cliff-tops, from the air or via boats. Since August 1992, Hermanus has had the world's only whale crier, the first being Pieter Classen 1992-1998, then Wilson Salukazana 1998-2006, and Zolile Baleni since April 2006, who sounds his kelp horn to announce where whales have been sighted.
Joining a boat trip is the best way to get close to the whales — both southern right and resident Bryde’s whales frequent the bay, fluking and spouting right before your eyes. You might also glimpse humpbacks, which sometimes pass by on their way to the east coast, as well as dolphins, sea lions and Cape fur seals. You don’t have to be waterborne to see them, though. Between Hermanus’s New Harbour in the west and Piet-se-Bos in the east, you can follow a 12 km (7.5 mile) coastal path along the clifftops. From this lofty position, you have undisturbed views over the ocean and of any marine life that’s in passing. Viewing benches are spaced strategically along the coast, and you often don’t need binoculars for a clear sighting.
Your stay in Hermanus needn’t have a single focus. You can also join a ‘wine safari’ to the nearby Hemel en Aarde (Heaven on Earth) Valley. Here, the clay-rich soil and high altitude ensures vines thrive, producing wines to rival any of the more prominent Winelands’ exponents, particularly pinot noirs. You travel in an open-sided safari vehicle through mountainous terrain, hopping on and off at different wineries to spend as long as you like sampling (and, perhaps, purchasing) their finest tipples. The area is also winning renown for its food, and you might like to lunch in one of the restaurants that have opened up within the wine estates.
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is a low yield farm, focused on producing premium estate wines. There is so much to see and do when you visit Benguela Cove. With attractions for guests of all ages to enjoy. We have the longest stretch of ocean facing vineyards (2.7km) grown at the lowest altitude above sea level (3m). Our winery is the largest wine producer in the cool-climate Walker Bay region.