La Fontaine Guest House Hermanus

Bergs, Battlefields & Bush

Safari Adventure + 2 more + 3 more

Exploring the history & wildlife of KwaZulu-Natal.

13 days

from £4,750 pp

South Africa Safari Explorer

South Africa's wildlife at its best.

Safari Wildlife & Nature

from £5,850 pp

South Africa Express

Wildlife & Nature Express + 1 more + 2 more

A whistle-stop adventure packed with penguins, wine and wildlife.

10 days

from £3,050 pp

A South African Fortnight

A two-week classic adventure through the best of South Africa.

Classic Safari + 1 more + 2 more

from £3,595 pp

South Africa Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

A seamless South Africa and Mauritius holiday.

Romantic Safari + 2 more + 3 more

from £4,450 pp

Kruger, Canyons & Cape

The perfect South African summer holiday.

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

from £3,995 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in South Africa

Light aircraft whale-watching

Whale watching from sea level is a bit like watching icebergs: there is far more going on under the water than above it. Its only from the air that you get an appreciation of just how huge these creatures are, and where you can enjoy classic images of calves swimming alongside their mothers. Of course, from a light aircraft you can see across a huge expanse of ocean, increasing your chances of spotting whales to a near-certainty in whale season. As well as the whale watching, there’s the sheer thrill of swooping along the stunning coastline and gaining a different and spectacular view of the Whale Coast.

Shark Cage Diving

The waters off the Cape coast are one of the few places in the world that offer the exhilarating, adrenalin-fuelled experience of cage-diving with great white sharks. This takes place just off Dyer Island in Walker Bay, where huge numbers of seals attract these amazing predators to an area of water known as “Shark Alley”. Cage diving is possible on scuba gear and on snorkelling, so no previous diving experience is required. Sharks never attack the cages but do come very close, brushing the cage. They will also peer in, allowing you eye contact with these majestic creatures. The good cage diving outfits will seek to teach you about sharks, and are involved in monitoring and conservation projects, not just of the sharks but of a wide range of other marine wildlife. It’s an amazing experience and one you are unlikely to ever forget.

Boat-based whale watching

Mindful of the potential impact of boat-based whale watching on the whales themselves, permits for this activity are limited to a small number of concessions, each with just one or two boats operating in it. They have to abide by strict regulations, which include not approaching mother and calf pairings, and not approaching within 50 metres of the whales. However, nothing stops the whales from approaching the boats, and being inquisitive creatures, this happens frequently. Very few things compare with the thrill of an eye-to-eye encounter with one of these denizens of the deep, and a boat trip out to see the whales is an essential part of any trip to the Whale Coast. The trips typically last a couple of hours, and during whale season you are pretty much guaranteed to see a significant number of whales. The regulations allow you to do this safe in the knowledge that not only are the whales undisturbed, but also that the local communities have a vested interest in conserving and not exploiting these magnificent creatures.

Kayak Hermanus

With its mountainous backdrop and rugged coastline, the quaint, coastal village of Hermanus offers some of the best land-based whale watching in the world with the arrival of Southern Right Whales into the shelter of Walker Bay. Explore this magnificent coastline up close with your experienced guide, kayaking through the marine reserve enjoying sightings of cape fur seals, penguins, cormorants and other sea birds and marine mammals. From June to November you have the opportunity to view the whales up to 300m away and with minimal noise pollution and no environmental pollution this is one of the most ecologically friendly way to experience the whales.

Hemel en Aarde wine valley

Hemel En Aarde means “Heaven and Earth”, and is an apt description for this beautiful valley just outside Hermanus. Traditionally, the South African wine industry has been dominated by the Winelands region, to the north of Hermanus. But a combination of clay soils and cool breeze make the Hemel En Aarde valley a dead ringer for northern France, and so it produces some truly excellent wines, mainly Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Hamilton Russell estate in particular has produced some truly superb wines, amongst the very best in the country, whilst Bouchard Finlayson is also producing consistently superb wines. There are a number of other estates in the valley, and overall it is a very attractive place, gentle streams framed by towering mountains.