Hermanus. Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art

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

About: Hermanus. Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art

Hermanus is a remarkable place. The most casual of tourists experiences its distinctive flavour, as can be seen in the pleasure and surprise expressed in thousands of comments posted on the websites of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and organisations offering a variety of tourism experiences. Almost without exception the posts refer to unexpected and pleasurable experiences. This book does full justice to the diversity of the town and the region, as it covers destinations from Pringle Bay to Danger Point and inland. The town's main attractions - whales, wine, fynbos and art - feature prominently.

To these we can add at least a few more: harbours; mountain-bike trails; sharks; scenic walks; golf courses; hotels; markets; and glimpses of history. And, although this may not be consciously experienced by the visitor, Hermanus benefits greatly from the administrative competence of what is almost certainly one of the best municipalities in the country. The Hermanus book covers all these aspects in laudable detail and with a fresh eye. The author combines fact with a lyrical feel and offers hints and recommendations, making the book useful as a reference work as well as bedtime reading.

I am sure it will find an enthusiastic audience. Hermanus has so far avoided the fate of many coastal holiday towns, that of becoming so popular that the pressure of numbers destroys the features that made the town popular in the first place. This book offers a wide spectrum of information and insight and gives the reader a clear indication of the aspects of present-day Hermanus that should be regarded as heritage, and preserved. At the same time, it does full justice to modern developments, such as the trend towards ecotourism.

Content: Hermanus. Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art

Preface
Foreword
En route
An overview
People and places
The whales of Walker Bay
The sharks of Walker Bay
The town centre - heart of Hermanus
Cultural highlights
Hermanus on the map
The natural beauty of Hermanus
The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Bibliography
Acknowledgements