Hermanus is widely regarded as one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world, and this full-day tour combines the thrill of seeing Southern Right Whales in Walker Bay with the refined pleasures of wine tasting in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, one of South Africa’s most exciting cool-climate wine regions. Even outside whale season, the dramatic Overberg coastline and outstanding wines make this an unforgettable day.

The journey from Cape Town follows the stunning Clarence Drive, a winding coastal road that hugs the cliffs above False Bay and is regularly cited as one of the most beautiful drives in the Western Cape. Along the way, you may stop at Betty’s Bay to visit the Stony Point penguin colony, a quieter and more intimate alternative to Boulders Beach, where African Penguins nest among the coastal rocks just metres from the boardwalk.

Arriving in Hermanus, you will walk along the famous cliff path that runs above Walker Bay. Between June and November, Southern Right Whales migrate to these sheltered waters to calve, and it is not uncommon to see them breaching, lobtailing, and nursing their young just 20 to 30 metres from shore. Hermanus even has its own whale crier who patrols the cliffs blowing a kelp horn to alert visitors when whales are spotted. Outside whale season, the cliff path still offers magnificent views and excellent birding.

After time in Hermanus, the tour heads inland to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, meaning “Heaven and Earth” in Afrikaans. This narrow valley, sheltered by mountains and cooled by ocean breezes, produces some of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the southern hemisphere. You will visit one or two carefully selected estates, tasting wines in settings of extraordinary natural beauty with views stretching back toward the ocean.

The return journey takes you through the rolling wheat and canola fields of the Overberg, past the Bot River lagoon and over Sir Lowry’s Pass, with sweeping views across the Cape Flats to Table Mountain in the distance. It is a full and rewarding day that showcases a completely different side of the Western Cape.