Hermanus. Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art, by Beth Hunt

Hermanus. Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art, by Beth Hunt. Penguin Random House South Africa. Imprint: Travel & Heritage. ISBN 9781775845478 / ISBN 978-1-77-584547-8. Cape Town, South Africa 2017

Hermanus. Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art, by Beth Hunt. Set on the cliffs, between the mountains and the sea, in an environment of exceptional beauty lies the fabled whale capital of the world, Hermanus.

It is to this Western Cape shoreline that the southern right whales make their annual migration from Antarctica - a unique attraction that has placed the seaside town on the international tourist map. Visitors come from across the globe to experience a sighting of these magnificent mammals as well as to enjoy the scenic biodiversity, which creates the tapestry of this Overberg landscape at the tip of Africa. Hermanus, with its Mediterranean climate and seasonal champagne air, is sometimes called the 'Riviera of the South'. It started out in the mid-1800s as a quiet fishing village, built on a rocky escarpment alongside an ocean teeming with marine life. Today it's a different story. The changing tides of time, population growth and progress have turned the town into one of South Africa's most popular tourism hotspots. Rich in natural splendour, Hermanus also attracts those seeking a quality and creative lifestyle. The charm and appeal of Hermanus have not ceased to captivate new settlers since its establishment more than 150 years ago, and the village that once was has since grown into a thriving and vibrant metropolis of the region. In the past, famous South African writers and artists, such as Jan Rabie, Uys Krige, Marjorie Wallace, Cecil Higgs and Gregoire Boonzaier have made their homes here. The once-controversial South African author Stuart Cloete and his American wife, Tiny, settled on a farm in the area of Stanford near Hermanus. Cloete's first novel, Turning Wheels, published in 1937, was banned in South Africa because of its commentary on the Great Trek. Nowadays, Hermanus residents also include a coterie of homeowners who leave the European winters to spend summers here. They are known as 'swallows' and their numbers make up a substantial 'flock'. With the start of the winter season, the local residents celebrate the return of the whales to Walker Bay, as well as the arrival of tourists who come to meet and greet these denizens of the deep. Throughout the year, Hermanus draws weekenders from Cape Town and other surrounding areas to spend a relaxing interlude at this seaside resort, far from the fast tempo of city living and the routine of daily life. Both Christmas and Easter vacations are peak seasons and a time of year when the town is full to the brim with visitors. There is no doubt that this locale nestled in the Overberg is high on the list of the most desirable places to visit in South Africa. In 1889, 500 people lived in a cluster of fishermen's cottages in what was then known as Hermanuspietersfontein. A hundred years later, in 1989, approximately 7,500 people inhabited this 12-kilometre crescent (now known as Hermanus) between the mountains and the sea. By 1992 the population figure stood at almost 13,000. In 2010 the population of Hermanus exceeded 40,000. By 2016 this figure increased to approximately 90,000. After Cape Town, Hermanus is reputed to be the fastest-growing town in the Western Cape. [...]

This is an excerpt from Hermanus. Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art, by Beth Hunt.

Title: Hermanus
Subtitle: Whales, wine, Fynbos, art
Author: Beth Hunt
Photography: Johann Kruger; Kobus Kruger
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Travel & Heritage
ISBN 9781775845478 / ISBN 978-1-77-584547-8
Cape Town, South Africa 2017
Hardcover, 27 x 22 cm, 200 cm, throughout colour photographs and images, 1 map