http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , South Africa , Western Cape , Hermanus en-us Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:48:51 +0000 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:48:51 +0000 We are relaxing poolside today but the Arabella Western Cape Resort and Spa is a severe let down right down to the restaurant manager making up today's forecast yesterday so that the day is only passable for the pool.I have figured out the right location in the hotel to make the internet work so we want to wish everyone a Happy New Year 2010 before we drive off to Cape Town. We did not do anyth http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-460486.html All the blurb about Hermanus promises that you can stand on the shore and watch whales do their thing out in the bay... without even needing to leave dry land. We were a little skeptical about this promise when we arrived in town but 20 minutes later after wersquod seen a Southern Right Whale repeatedly throw itself out of the water to the east of town we stood corrected Arriving in the late http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-438121.html Yesterday was shark day. Today it's the penguins' turn and they prove to be better subjects.The group has loved Birkenhead so much that Ngaire our travel agent arranges for a late checkout plus lunch around the pool area. We're thrilled to spend a few extra hours in this beautiful location.The back patio overlooking the ocean has been calling Alan for a little early morning whale watching. Thi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-428784.html Great white sharks. Who wouldn't mind adding them to their life list of wildlife sightings The main reason Alan and I are here in Hermanus is to see them. Oh and to stay at the wonderful Birkenhead House .We wake this morning to the sound of the ocean. Will it be too windy for our great white shark viewing adventure After an omelet breakfast in the dining room we sit on the back patio watchin http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-415452.html Hello AllWe done quite a bit since leaving Cape Town. Our first stop was just outside of Stellenbosch wine country. We stayed 3 nights in a really nice cabin built over a lake. The bird life there was amazing and the lake was filled with large mouth bass. The country side there is beautiful rolling hills of vineyards and the wine estates are done in the most beautiful Cape Dutch architecture http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-408450.html After another animalfilled safari at Madikwe Hills we boarded the small plane that would take us back to Johannesburg and the perils of the Johannesburg Airport. All I can say is don't let a porter get hold of your luggage and don't trust the agents at the South African Airlines counter. Upon returning to the states we discovered that our United VISA card had been compromised . The only pla http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-401836.html A Lemon in ParadiseDec. 27 2008 Agulhas South AfricaldquoWhere ya headedrdquo asked the girl who was probably eight years old.I rolled my eyes and chuckled.She was cute but after her fiftieth question it was getting to be a bit much. I was busy with some last minute fixes on a Land Rover that my girlfriend Sarah and I just bought. I can only do one thing at a time. Sarah thankfully http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-357553.html After seeing the whales last night we sat down for dinner and the chef was happy to cater for my ever whim so I had a super yummy dinner. G really enjoyed his too although I wasnrsquot impressed that Santa will have one less little helper after Grsquos meal G was quick to point out that I could help Rudolf with my red nose from the sun well at least I am not patchy.We then headed back http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-355356.html Dinner last night was lovely as was the restaurant and was amazingly cheap 2 courses each and drinks for less than Grsquos main course in Gleneagles and also almost the same as 2 hot chocolates there.After dinner we headed back for an egu in the bar before going for an early night following our busy day and put a Christmas film on the opening credits were great I didnrsquot see anym http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-355091.html I was due to take guests to the Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve and then on to Simonstown for a boat ride to watch the whales. However when I arrived at their hotel and checked I was informed from the boat operators that there was an 80km per hour gale blowing and any boat trip was out of the question. A few frantic phone calls secured us tickets on the whale watching boat at Hermanus dr http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-352349.html This morning I took the Baz Bus and started moving up the coast. I had one final drive through the winelands. East of the Cape are mountains that have to be passed over to continue East. Past them the area is called Overberg over the mountain. We snaked our way up the mountain having a perfect view down onto George the Strand with itrsquos lovely beach and right around and across False http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-346610.html Thanks for the news from home good to read. I cant believe Obama has been elected excellant news. Anyway on with the blog....We left Stellenbosch at a reasonable hour and headed in the searing heat to Boschendal. We were overwhelmed by the beauty of the place and enjoyed a good few hours in the house gardens and wine tasting experiance. I even found Mr Pritchard's visitors log entry for earli http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-342317.html Robben Island was a really fascinating trip the island has a small village now in which some of the ex political prisoners and ex prison guards now live with their families working on the island and doing the tours. Before the days of apartheid it was also used as a leper colony the hospital is now a primary school and there was also a prison for convicts murderers rapists etc who were co http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-337275.html Him his mate and his matersquos mateHaving checked out of the hotel nicely bundled up against the weather we emerged to find that today was actually quite warm and sunny. We shed a layer or two of clothing and spent the morning in Hermanus waiting for 2pm when our boat would be leaving the new harbour on a whale watching trip. On our way along the sea front we saw our little mammal friends o http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-317239.html Sunnier in HermanusAfter a cold night we awoke to bluer skies and the sight from our bedroom window of a whale just offshore. Today Mark had got his dive with great white sharks booked so he prepared himself for a chilly trip on a boat and a probably even chillier dive. The sea is not warm at this time of year on this part of the coast. Mark left to wait at reception for his lift to Gansbaii http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-317233.html Ever onwards to HermanusWe awoke to a still cold cabin despite the heating being on all night and it was the speediest wersquod ever managed to get the kids dressed After breakfast back at the main building we set of towards Hermanus. The weather on the journey started off cold only 7 degrees C and foggy and then brightened up to bright blue skies and around 15 degrees before then alterna http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-316389.html We woke up super early from our base in Kleinbaii and drove to Betty's Bay to see the penguin colony. We enjoyed the ones in Cape Town so much that we just had to see more. Here was a much different experience as we literally had the place to ourselves.After a windy morning visiting the penguins we headed to Hermanus for lunch and spent the afternoon watching the Southern Right Whales from the s http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-301432.html This will be my first attempt at writing a blog so here we go I love adventure travels and have experienced many interesting activities but I must truly say that the Hermanus area exceeded my expectations ten fold We stayed in a small Hotel Misty Waves Boutique Hotel what a gem of a place we where treated like royalty and this is defiantly one of our best choice for accommodation up to http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-295394.html There be Whales here Friday June 27 Thatrsquos right I said it Whales off the coast of a small town named Hermanus. We were picked up bright and notso early at 1000AM from Cape Grace but didnrsquot manage to meet our driver until about 1030. The drive to Hermanus was stormy it rained most of the way and we stopped at a local coffee shop where we had a yummy pizza and carot cake. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-292846.html As promised here are the rest of my shark diving pics. I'm also not sure if the shark diving video actually uploaded so I'm putting that up again as well. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-279012.html