You are here: Home Historical Info Places of Interest “Oom Otto” die storie van Sopiesklip in Hermanus

Cape Whale Coast History

hermanus history header

This gorgeous seaside town has a proud history dating back to the early 1800s when a man by the name of Hermanus Pieters followed a path etched into the ground by a herd of elephants. Hermanus Pieters was a traveling teacher and Sheppard who growing tired of his locality, made the decision to pack up and try somewhere new. He wandered south of Caledon along the elephant trail and ended up next to the sea where he discovered a fresh spring. Hermanus Pieters decided to set up camps here because of this spring and the fine grazing the land provided for his livestock. This beautiful setting became known as Hermanuspietersfontein (directly translated as Hermanus Pieters Fountain).

2024 Annual Southern Right Whale Survey Results

The annual southern right whale count occurred in September 2024 between Nature's Valley and Muizenberg. These numbers compare to the past 43 years results—if extreme cycles continue, we can expect fewer southern right whales along our coast next year.

Show Details

The secret life inside a whaling logbook

"The whale stamps and other drawings might be considered folk art today But at the time, they were just part of the documentation required for a commercial venture. Keeping the log was a job, but they were on those ships 24 hours a day for months and even years at a time"

Show Details