When it comes to whale-watching, the rugged cliffs of the bustling Overberg town of Hermanus are pretty much the best place in the world to spot these watery giants from the shore.

From the end of July until late November, scores of southern right whales visit the sheltered waters of Walker Bay to mate and calve before heading back to the feeding grounds of the Southern Ocean, their watery — and aerial — antics amusing the thousands of tourists who visit the town to enjoy the annual spectacle.

The excellent accommodation, range of activities, numerous good restaurants and sheer scenic beauty of the area have done much to attract visitors to the town, but when it comes down to it, Hermanus simply has geography to thank for its status as the best land-based whale watching site in the world.

The precipitous cliffs on the town's seafront ensure that just a few metres offshore the water is deep enough for the whales to come near enough for a closer view. Whether it’s the calm waters or the southern right whale's well-documented curiosity that brings them closer in, whales often come within spitting distance of the shore.

The town has done much to ensure tourists get an unforgettable view of the annual visitors and the famous cliff-top path, which runs for 12 kilometres from the 'New' Harbour all the way to the 'blue flag' Grotto beach, provides an unobstructed view of Walker Bay and the whales.

To get up close and personal with these ocean wanderers, a whale-watching boat trip is an absolute must. The trips don't come cheap, but the chance to get within 50 metres of the whales at water-level is simply unforgettable. Make sure you go with a licensed operator though, as there are only a few boats in the area with valid permits to approach the whales, and there are hefty fines for both owners and passengers of boats breaking the rules.

Doing it in style
Whale watching is one thing, but doing it in style is completely another, and for style in Hermanus there is simply only one place to be: The Marine Hotel.

Perched majestically on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, this sprawling colonial mansion dates back to the turn of the last century and combines some of the best whale watching in town with unmatched style and service. As part of the renowned Liz McGrath Collection — which also includes the Cellars-Hohenort in Cape Town, and The Plettenberg in Plettenberg Bay — and a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux, it is quite simply the place to stay if you want to watch whales in style.

Although the Marine Hotel offers the last word in luxury in the grand old tradition of seaside hotels, the hotel has certainly kept up with the times. Chintzy 'Biggie Best' florals thankfully went out a few years ago — Liz McGrath has a hand in the décor of every room and changes the look of each regularly — to be replaced with a tasteful blend of seaside colours and original artworks which gives each room a home-from-home feel.

Although there are rooms with partial or no sea views for travellers on a bit of a budget, the real trump card of The Marine is its unparalleled views over Walker Bay where fortunate guests can even watch the whales from the king-size beds.

Dinner with a view also comes standard at The Marine, where the magnificent sea views from tables in 'The Pavilion' complement the understated elegance of the hotel's signature restaurant. During whale season expect your dinner conversation to be interrupted by excited 'oohs' and 'aahs' from fellow diners as the whales provide the evening's entertainment out in the bay. For a more relaxed, contemporary feel, The Seafood at The Marine is a chic, modern restaurant where you can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen serving up the best seafood Walker Bay has to offer.

A good walk along the cliff-top path should work off some of that indulgence, but for those in need of total relaxation, the hotel also offers a range of treatments at the Carchele Spa. For the ultimate detox experience enjoy a sea salt scrub or body massage right next to the sea at the hotel’s tidal pool.

Heaven & Earth
An exfoliating scrub may be heaven on earth for some, but to enjoy the real thing you only need only head a few kilometres inland to the 'Hemel en Aarde' (Heaven & Earth) valley, where the cooling sea breezes provide some of the best terroir in the country for growing the notoriously fickle pinot noir grapes.

The valley produces some of the best 'pinot' wines in the country, such as Bouchard Finlayson's Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, while the chardonnay from nearby Hamilton Russell is also regarded as some of the best in SA. At R175 a bottle I should hope so!

If you're into your flora as well as fauna, then the nearby Fernkloof Nature Reserve is well worth a visit for its wonderful variety of fynbos, as is the Harold Porter Botanical Garden near Kleinmond. Although some areas were severely damaged by flooding in April 2005 — when the Garden received 20 percent of its annual rainfall in one day — the garden has wonderful formal and informal displays of the indigenous fynbos, as well as a number of interesting environmental exhibits.