Get collected directly from your hotel in the majestic Cape Town, and travel to Hermanus along the scenic coastal beauty of Clarence Drive. Your first stop will be at Stoney Point, in Betty’s Bay, at one of two dedicated land based African penguin breeding colonies.
A refreshment stop will take place in Kleinmond before we make our way to Hermanus, to the Heart of Abalone. After a short explanation on Abalone, otherwise known as perlemoen in SA , you will boot up and take a walking tour to see abalone up close in their natural and farmed environment.. This is followed by an optional abalone tasting. Lunch will follow at Harbour Rock, overlooking the Hermanus new harbour before we board the whale watching cruise in Walker Bay, Hermanus. The cruise will take approximately an 2 – 2½ hour’s. We will then travel back to Cape Town via the N2 over Sir Lowry’s Pass, passing the historical towns of Elgin and Grabouw.
The Whale and Abalone Tour starts at 08h00 when you are picked up from your city hotel in a 2016 Ford Tourneo minibus that seats 7 guests. Ian, the owner operator will be your driver/guide for the day. We head out of the city along the N2 and take the beautiful scenic route along Clarence Drive to Stoney Point at Betty’s Bay. Here at you will see one of the only two land based African penguin breeding colonies, with the other being Boulders Beach on the opposite side of False Bay. The abandoned Whaling Station site where 300 whales were once killed annually for their oil (from 1917 – 1930) now gives birth to new life as penguins naturally selected breeding ground. After experiencing the sighting of African penguins, we go to Kleinmond for a refreshing cup of coffee or tea. A half an hours drive later we arrive in Hermanus, arguably the best land-based whale watching location in the world.
We visit Heart of Abalone where we will be provided the opportunity to see how Abagold, a working abalone farm operates. This rock-clinging sea snail is traditionally known for their great taste. Also known by it’s Afrikaans name “perlemoen” referring to it’s mother-of-pearl shell. Learn about the life cycle of this interesting sea snail, the challenges of the farming process, as well as the culture and history of this unique molluscs for South Africans and Chinese. Once the farm walk through is completed, we remove our boots that we were provided with and can now partake in the tasting of this delicasy. The tasting is for your own account and you will be spoilt with a delicious presentation of 3 ways in which abalone can be prepared. After this rare taster we head off to Harbour Rock restaurant.
The beauty of Harbour Rock restaurant is that it is situated on a cliff and overlooks Hermanus harbour from where we will embark on our whale watching cruise. The extensive highly acclaimed menu will for sure satisfy your taste buds. From mussels to mutton, you will be spoilt for choice. Acclaimed by locals and tourists alike, this is a restaurant that draws people back to Hermanus time and again.
After lunch the highlight of the tour begins. We board Miroshca, the purpose-built catamaran from where we will experience the beauty of the oceans majestic mammals in Walker Bay. Whale watching is only offered from June to November when these huge creatures visits the waters of the Cape.