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At a glance

  • Hermanus offers the best land-based whale watching in the world from June to October
  • Drive the famous Garden Route, past deserted sandy beaches, sheltered lagoons, bush and mountain passes and indigenous forests
  • Hike along the coast to view the Knysna Heads, rock sentinels at the entrance to the Knysna lagoon, or follow the rugged circuit round the Robberg Peninsula
  • Sample some of South Africa’s finest seafood at the upscale restaurants of Plettenberg Bay, or at Knysna’s event-packed oyster festival
  • Escape the crowds at wild and rugged Wilderness or at beautiful Buffalo Bay

Overview

From June to October the clifftops around Hermanus offer the best land-based whale watching in the world, as southern right whales come to raise their calves in the Cape’s coastal waters. Peak calving season is July and August, while the Hermanus Whale Festival runs each year in mid to late September. At some Hermanus hotels, you can even spot whales from your bedroom window.

When to visit

  • January
    27ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    15ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    24mm
    Average Rainfall
    January is the peak of the summer season and a wonderful time to visit the Garden Route and the wider Western Cape region, with long, warm, dry days, clear blue skies and mild evenings. Reliably good weather lends itself to lazy days on the beach or around the pool. In Cape Town, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
  • February
    28ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    15ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    25mm
    Average Rainfall
    As with January, February is the peak of the summer season and tends to be one of the hottest months along the Garden Route, with temperatures in the high 20s. Days are hot and dry with very little to no rainfall, though coastal areas and towns tend to be cooled by the ocean breezes. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town host a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
  • March
    25ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    14ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    35mm
    Average Rainfall
    Temperatures start to cool from the height of the summer season, though days are still warm, sunny and dry. There are a number of events that take place in Cape Town in March. For cycling fans there is the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Cape Epic, while for lovers of music there's the Cape Town Jazz Festival. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. March and April are the peak nesting months for the African penguins at Boulders Beach and Stony Point - a great time to visit as most of the penguins are on the beach. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
  • April
    23ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    12ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    83mm
    Average Rainfall
    April is the Western Cape's best-kept secret. With the winter season just around the corner, the temperatures start to drop and there is increased precipitation, however days are still warm and sunny. Evenings are cooler so an extra layer may be needed. There are significantly fewer tourists, so fewer crowds and queues at popular attractions. March and April are the peak nesting months for the African penguins at Boulders Beach and Stony Point - a great time to visit as most of the penguins are on the beach. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings.
  • May
    20ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    10ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    117mm
    Average Rainfall
    May heralds the end of the summer season and the onset of cooler and wetter weather, however it's still a wonderful time to visit, with mild, mostly sunny days and chilly evenings. Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands hosts the annual Franschhoek Literary Festival, which centres around writers, fine dining and classical music concerts.
  • June
    18ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    9ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    143mm
    Average Rainfall
    The weather can be cool and wet in the Western Cape at this time, with average temperatures around 11°C. Southern right whales start to arrive in the waters off Hermanus to raise their calves. Hermanus is one of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 12 best whale-watching destinations in the world, though whales can in fact be seen off the coast all along the Garden Route, from Hermanus to Plettenberg Bay.
  • July
    17ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    8ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    131mm
    Average Rainfall
    The weather can be cool and wet in the Western Cape at this time, with average temperatures around 11°C. More whales arrive off the coast, offering spectacular land-based whale watching from Hermanus all along the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay. Hermanus is one of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 12 best whale-watching destinations in the world. July also sees Knysna conduct its action-packed Oyster Festival. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
  • August
    18ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    9ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    126mm
    Average Rainfall
    The Western Cape is still chilly this time of the year, especially at night, and rainfall is to be expected. The Table Mountain cable car closes in August for annual maintenance. Outside the city there's spectacular land-based whale watching to be enjoyed from Hermanus all the way through to Plettenberg Bay. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
  • September
    20ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    10ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    70mm
    Average Rainfall
    September heralds the start of spring in the Western Cape. The days are getting warmer though evenings are still cool. September is also mid-whale season, with excellent land-based whale watching available from Hermanus all the way along the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay. September also holds the celebrated Hermanus Whale Festival, which takes place towards the end of the month. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
  • October
    23ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    11ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    55mm
    Average Rainfall
    October offers beautiful mild and sunny days with less rainfall. Excellent land-based whale watching is available from Hermanus all along the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay, with Hermanus being one of the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 12 best whale-watching destinations in the world. Between July and October an unequaled diversity of wildflowers burst into bloom along the coast, giving extra meaning to the term the Garden Route.
  • November
    24ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    13ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    31mm
    Average Rainfall
    November brings an increase in temperature as summertime arrives in the Western Cape. It's also the last month of whale-watching season in Hermanus and along the Garden Route. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings. Popular towns and beauty spots along the Garden Route are humming with activity.
  • December
    25ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    15ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    27mm
    Average Rainfall
    Summer has arrived in the Western Cape with hot sunny days, clear blue skies and little to no rain. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens hosts a series of summer sunset concerts on its magnificent lawns, backed by the natural amphitheatre of Table Mountain's eastern face. There are also various venues across Cape Town and in the nearby Winelands that host pop-up, open-air cinema screenings. Popular towns and beauty spots along the Garden Route are humming with activity.

Accommodation

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