Hermanus Distances

Cape Town 107 km 2 hours

Cape Town Airport 78 km 1,5 hours

Calitzdorp 248km 3,5 hours

Franschhoek 59km 1 hour

Stellenbosch 64km 1,25 hours

Somerset West 54 km 1 hour

Cape Agulhas 145 km 2 hours

Swellendam 120 km 2 hours

Knysna 355km 4 hours

Montagu 108km 1,5 hours

Oudtshoorn 281km 4 hours

Robertson 92km 1,5 hours

World cup football 2010

I watched Sky news to see what information was available to football fans and was a little shocked. South Africa was portrayed as a bit of a dump after watching the clips. Cities in South Africa are big and very first world and modern, you will only find Africa in the countryside. It was also reported that there is very little accommodation available etc. Here are a few facts that I am aware of.

Fifa have done their best to tie up all available accommodation but numerous establishments including us opted out of this. You will be able to find accommodation but you might have to search a bit. If you cannot find anything then go through Fifa as they have kept a lot of accommodation on ice to be used through their agents. Check your prices out and compare the prices quoted to the normal seasons pricing. Accommodation is usually of a very high standard throughout the country but during this period there may be chancers.

Distances in South Africa are big. To travel between cities following your team might be problematic because we just don't have the infrastructure to transport these numbers around on top of our normal full internal flights. There will obviously be more flights and transport arranged. I would suggest you make a holiday out of your trip and stay in an area exploring this in between matches and watching away matches on one of the big screens that will be available all over the place. You don't have to stay in Johannesburg or Cape Town, for example, to get to the matches. The outlying areas eg Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Hermanus are not far out about 2 hours by car and there will be buses.

Travel agents that have not signed up with Fifa will have to find out who on the accommodation side etc have not signed up to arrange accommodation.

The quality of food and wine in the South Africa is very high so you will eat and drink well. Half the problem solved.

As I see more I will update

Hermanus kayaking

This is great fun but is obviously weather dependant. To kayak with the whales must just be the cherry on the top for whale and nature lovers. The kayaks leave from the old harbor and follow the coast until they find the whales. Out of whale season they have spotted dolphins, cape otter, penguins, seals, fish obviously and even shark. It is the feeling of being at one with the elements and nature when you are on the water.
The guides are very experienced and they are in radio contact with someone on shore for safety reasons.

Shark cage diving

Shark cage diving costs in the region of R1100 per person and takes abot 4 to 5 hours on the water. You do not have to be a certified diver or have any experience.

How it works is a cage is floated in the water with the open top of the cage on the surface and the bulk of the cage below. You are supplied with a wetsuit which you need, and goggles. Jump into the cage and wait for the shark or sharks. They come right up to the cage and it is advisable to keep your hands and feet in the cage to pevent minor mishaps like losing a leg.

The water is very cold and you only stay in for short periods at a time . Remember to take warm clothes to change into afterwards.

None of the guests that have done shark cage diving have been disappointed, some book to go out again the following day. The only disappointment will be if you don’t see sharks or the weather turns. This can happen but you are usually refundes or arrangements made to take you out the next day etc. These boats are often full in season but if you are in Hermanus for 2 or 3 days you will be able to book a place.

There are about 10 operators who are all pretty professional but we have the one’s that we book with because we prefer their people skills etc.

The bigger sharks seem to prefer our Winter ie June , July. Please don’t think you won’t see big sharks at other times of the year or define big.

The boats usually leave from Kleinbaai which is about a 40 min drive from Hermanus and they leave according to the time which can be early.

The reasons for shark cage diving differ enormously, Andrenalin junkie, jaws movie or just facing their fears are some we have heard.