Went kayaking in Hermanus on a warm summer morning, not a cloud in the sky and not a ripple in the water. What an amazing way to start the day. The guides are incredibly knowledgeable and took us on a great paddle. We encountered seals and penguins and various birds. We got up close the seals who were very relaxed. This is really a must do if you are in Hermanus. Its not too physically strenuous but can be harsh on the back if you suffer with problems, as a few people in our group discovered. Book in advance, it was full for weeks. Visited December 2016

Went on a Sea Kayaking trip today with Walker Bay Adventures and we had an awesome time. Rian our Guide was very informative and very patient with us slow coaches. We saw Penguins, Dolphins and Seals. What an amazing experience to witness these incredible sea animals and the beautiful views of Hermanus from the ocean side. Something everyone should do when coming to Hermanus. Visited October 2016

Incredible to be kayaking on the Indian Ocean !! Amazing how stable the kayaks are! Fascinating to learn about the young male seals and their behavior. We were able to get quite close to them ! Just to get away from it all and not think of anything else, was truly refreshing ! Reviewed 16 October 2016

During an unforgettable kayak experience with a very knowledgeable guide, I jumped into the water and lost my GoPro. 100% my own fault since the stick was already broken. The GoPro fell to the bottom of the ocean and I was unable to find it back. For already two months I was traveling through SA and never made a back-up of all the content on the GoPro and very sadly I had to consider it lost forever. However, two months later I received an email that my GoPro was found by divers at the bottom of the ocean. Due to the unbelievable effort of the staff they were able to locate me when I was already back in the Netherlands! The device was still intact and they remembered my face on the pictures from a tour 6 weeks prior. The tour was booked via Walker Bay Manor Guesthouse and they contacted me. I had contact with Herman from Walker Bay Adventures and they arranged sending it to the Netherlands. Yesterday I received the GoPro and I am so incredibly happy to have the device and tons of pictures back. I'm so thankful to the staff, without them this would have never been possible! Visited August 2016

Herman and his team with their bright yellow canoes is synonymous with Walker Bay, Hermanus and Adventure. You don't have to be super fit or extremely athletic to enjoy this excursion. The rowing is at a relaxed pace and there are lots to see and experience during this 2 hour fun exercise. Reviewed 26 March 2016

What a nice experience. Since you kayak in a nature reserve strict regulations apply. You are not allowed to come too close to the whales as you shouldn't disturb them. However, seeing a whale from ca. 300 m being so close on the water in a kayak makes you feel very small. The kayaks are the sit-on-top ones, so you cannot turn-over. But you get major wet due to the waves and from the peddling. Besides the whales our guide also showed us penguins and seals. Particularly the seals were funny. I think you don't need to be very athletic to do this. The experience for the price is just great value for money. Visited October 2015

Thank you Walker Bay Adventures Western Province Vodacom Cup team made history in 2012 by winning the Vodacom Cup for the first time since its inception in 1998. What also makes this victory so special is that the 2012 team had gone unbeaten making it 10 out of 10. Our motto for the season was: "being good people". This for us meant that we had to look hard at ourselves and make sure that we leave an impression on everyone that we had contact with, from our fiercest opponents to the bus driver. It all had to start within the team, respecting each other's background, beliefs and knowing that success for the team meant a better future for the individuals in the team. This drove us through tough times and formed a bond that will always be within WP Vodies 2012. The journey started in Hermanus on 11 February 2012. A group of 30 players got together uncertain about the next few months and what was needed for success. The most important part of the Hermanus Camp was to form friendships, establish strong leaderships, getting the right reason for doing things and start being good people. This is where we got to meet Herman and his team from Walkerbay Adventures. The activities and understanding of the needs for what we wanted to achieve made it a perfect start for us. Hermanus and its people was a great example of good people. Friendly, willing to help and there was always a plan. Walkerbay Adventures put an amazing Camp together. A lot of time and effort went in to helping us and making sure that we could experience the awesome activities in and around Hermanus. This was the first of many visits. Thanks to everyone at Walkerbay Adventures for making an impression on us. WP Vodies 2012.

Hi Herman Thank you very much for hosting the fantastic kayaking trip yesterday. I really enjoyed it and although I am a bit stiff today, I am still excited about it! Riaan was a lovely guide , please can you thank him as well. I will advertise Walker Bay Adventures to the SATSA members at any and every opportunity. Baie baie dankie, Herman dit was wonderlik!

Good evening Herman I wanted to take the opportunity to commend you on the 3 tours that we took with you while in Hermanus. They were all excellent and a lot to do with you recruiting people who patently love the whales and that passion comes across. Dave helped Pete take some stunning photos. Thanks very much for the photo. Regards, Andrea.

hanks for the very enjoyable time and it was really one of the highlights of our trip to SA! Thanks also for arranging the shark cage diving, the experience was fantastic. Samuel.

No, thank YOU! It was informative, so much fun, and just all round amazing. Humbling to share awesome creatures' habitat with a guide who not only made me feel totally safe, but taught me a lot too. Thanks for the photo, it was a birthday I will always remember. I will definitely be back, and will also recommend you to everyone I know. Wishing you luck, success and great times. Regards, Rachel. P.S. Perhaps keep some Avomine for the delicate participants :)

Hello Herman, Justin and I would like to thank you and Riaan for an awesome kayaking trip on Saturday last week. You guys are such a great company - you have a great attitude, are friendly and professional. Riaan was extremely knowledgeable about the marine life and was always on the ball as to where penguins/seals were when we were out kayaking and the organisation of the trip from the two of you was perfect. It was really awesome of you to offer us a second trip given the wind and if we had not gone wine tasting (and had sore arms!) we would definitely have joined you! We will be back in Hermanus next year and will come and see you guys again Thank you again - you really made our weekend in Hermanus and it was great meeting you guys.

We had the pleasure of experiencing the Fatbike tour with Dave. As a novice cyclist, I was a little nervous when I saw those monster bikes but soon realised they were pure exhilarating pleasure to ride. The trail was easy enough for a beginner like me and at times challenging enough to satisfy the more experienced cyclist. The spectacular scenery made our tour even more special. The Fatbike tour is a must for everyone and a definite for thrill seekers!.

We went kayaking in the morning at Walkerbay adventures. We were welcomed by Herman And Riaan on a very professional way. We were briefed by Herman and Riaan and then went to the Kayaks. Riaan explained the technique of rowing to us and let us do some stretch exercises before we start to row. It was a fantastic experience with Riaan, sharing his knowledge with us. We were fortunate to see quite a lot of Seals, enjoyed their early morning. We van really recommend Walkerbay Adventures.

I've always wanted to go whale watching in Hermanus and having booked with Walker Bay Adventures, I certainly was not disappointed. I booked online well in advance for their boat trip - the entire process was effortless. On the day, we were greeted with friendly staff and blessed with a gorgeous sunny day. Before we jumped onto their purpose-built catamaran, our guides gave us an informative introduction to the Southern Right whales. Once on the impressive (& immaculate) catamaran we headed out for an experience of a lifetime. Even though we were there during very late season, we saw whales (2 cows with calves!), penguins and even seals. The guides are professional and informative. Snacks and soft drinks are served too (included in price). We were out in the Bay for a good 2-2.5hrs so was excellent value for money.

My husband and I signed up for the monthly special, sea kayak and shark cage diving. Great value The guide was knowledgeable and very friendly. Overall great service and value. They helped us book a few other trips that we will be doing this week with other tour providers. Highly recommend!!

Brilliant start to our holiday! Our guide was brilliant and gave us lots of information during the trip. Suitable for beginners, I'd really recommend this to anyone - a definite must do if your in the area!

Had a blast! Perfect organisation with very good guide (Rian). Small groups and beautiful surroundings. We're lucky to spot some whales and seals.

Had an excellent experience with Herman and guide Rian. Kayaks are very stable and safety seemed a high consideration (on our first day in Hermanus wind and waves let to a cancelled trip). The next day we went out, and it was a fantastic experience. We saw whales and seals as well as dolphins. As you are at sea level you don't really get as good a view as from the cliff top (with the swell we could only see the whales when we were on the top of a wave), but being out on the water in the animal's own environment was very special. There is an element of hard work needed in paddling and you will certainly get very wet, but the group moved at the pace of the slowest and even beginners seemed to cope fine (we have done some kayaking before). The second day we went out Rian was very honest and frank about what it would be like as it was windy with a choppy sea and he said that it would be hard work and uncomfortable paddling into the wind. It was still a great experience, we didn't see whales (it is right at the end of the season and most have gone back to the Antarctic), but we did see penguins, seals and black oystercatchers. Both trips were a fantastic experience with a great guide and a well organised company.

I loved my 1-2 hrs on the ocean with Walker Bay tours in a sea kayak. The guide was knowledgeable, respectful of the whales, and knew just where they would be and how to get a good view without disturbing them. I was worried it would be difficult, but I don't think anyone had too hard of a time. Would definitely recommend!

We did the Sea Kayaking with them and the trip was very nice. Sadly we didn't see any whales but it is not like a zoo where they can not hide. We did see some seals and dolphins tough. I did see whales from the shore before we started kayaking. The owner Herman was really nice and also our guide did very good job, he tried to locate whales but they just didn't feel like showing themselves Overall great trip which I will surely do again if I come back to these parts.

It's hard to express just how exciting this whale watching experience was for myself and my girlfriend. The curiosity of the Southern Right Whales on our trip made for memories that will be cherished and held close to our hearts for the rest our lives.

Truly an amazing experience and well worth it. Great knowledge was shared about the whales and loads of seals in the Walkerbay area. Highly recommended. If you make the trip to Hermanus and the weather is great there is no better way to get to see the whales and marine life up close.

We got up early to go kayaking from the old harbour in Hermanus - well worth it. Herman, the owner, was very friendly and prepared the group for the outing. Our guide was very good, always safety first and gave us great insight into the sea-life in the area. They are very conscious about the whales and adhere to the rules regarding the distance we need to keep from them. Although we didn't get close to whales, we did see them swimming in the distance. The 2 hour trip was fun and not that strenuous - should be manageable for most. Coming back into the harbour was a fun experience dodging the incoming waves. Thanks guys, had a fun morning.

What a great start of the day! Riaan was our guide, he is an enthousiatic guy who loves his job. We had a great time and saw many wales, even one kept swimming with us. ;)

An exciting experience with a good guide and a unique posibility to see the wales. safe and smooth we kayaked on the atlantique ocean. We have seen wales, seals and different seabirds.

I went kayaking for the first time with Walker Bay Adventures in early July. I was a bit nervous, but the guide, Riaan, was really good and there was nothing to worry about. We were lucky and saw many whales breaching. We also saw seals. It was a great way to see the wildlife. Plus, it's fun to be out on the water. I highly recommend this trip!

Went kayaking with my dad early on a Saturday. It was a great experience getting out in the ocean. Got close enough to see many seals playing and tanning in the early morning sun, was even lucky enough to see some dolphins in the distance Riaan was our guide; friendly, professional and had excellent knowledge about the ocean, sea life, the area and information about other local activities. Entire trip took about two hours which was great value for money. Can highly recommend Riaan to anyone wanting to do kayaking in Hermanus.

If one wants to do adventurous thing, this is the one. Very nice place for kayaking, beautiful beach, with all necessary gears and well informed guide and more than 5 km kayaking to the deep sea. Loved it. Best time is to do this kayaking is during whale season or summers.

I did the two hour sea kayaking trip. It was excellent, we saw penguins and got within 10 metres of sea lions. Our guide was a really nice guy and very knowledgable. The highlight for me was the scenery, it's great to get a view back at the coast line with mountains behind. I can highly recommend to anyone!

This is one of the highlights of my recent trip to Cape Town, the weather cleared for me to do a sea kayak with Walker Bay Adventures. The trip was really well organised, and we got to see whales and seals. Both Herman and Riaan were really friendly, and were able to share many details about the sea conditions, the animals. The views from the sea was gorgeous, and it is such an intimate an environmental friendly way to experience the Atlantic Ocean swells, the marine life and really just soak in the sun and surrounds. Do not worry at all about no kayaking experience, as the kayak is really easy, and I would recommend this activity for anyone visiting Hermanus! This is really an excellent activity.

Herman took us Kayaking out of the whale season. He was exceptional; knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.We saw a pod of more than 100 dolphins come right past us, many seals including a seal killing and eating a small shark. It was an excellent morning adventure and Herman was very helpful with local information. Exceptional.

Did the sea kayaking trip - Well organized, learned a lot and saw seals and penguins close up. Highlight of our trip.

We went sea kayaking with this company. The trip was well organised with an experienced guide who knew e area well. We were very lucky to spot a pod of dolphins who went round and below us, a special moment. We also saw groups of seals from this more social environment. Wellworth it and definitely recommended.

The best shark experience ever had. We booked a shark cage diving tour with Walkerbay Adventures. They are part of the white shark project and their focus is to give you as much information about white sharks as possible and you will learn a lot about the white sharks. Be prepared of the sea. I have been on a lot of boats - worldwide - but this sea trip was different and a lot of people get seasick. After a few minutes we were lucky, three white sharks were around our boat. 4 people fit in the cage and the cage is tight to the side of the boad. You will get only snorkelling gear and you are alway on the top of the water. It is totally safe - if you keep every part of your body in the cage. The sharks come very close and it is an awesome experience. Even from the boat you can enjoy the sharks as they are at the top and jumping out of the water. They are very fast! It is very interesting and you will have a unique experience and afterwards you will have a different opinion about white sharks. Highly recommended, even if you don't get into the cage!

Don't be scared - this really is an experience never to be forgotten. I'm hopeless at paddling, am a weak swimmer and get sea-sick just looking at the water but I had the most fabulous experience on the Walker Bay sea-kayak trip with my husband and 14 year old daughter. Watched a seal fighting with and eating a sting-ray and, most excitingly, interacted with a couple of juvenile seals who thought all 7 kayaks were there to be swum next to and under, splashing the occupants whenever they could! What a treat. Don't think about it - just do it!

We went mountain biking Saturday. We had the possibility to follow 4 different tracks following the distance - difficulty path you wanted to do. The scenery is beautiful. Sunday we went kayaking and had a great time. Learned plenty of things on the whales and the sea life. What ever you would like to do, just ask Herman, and he will arrange it for you.

I've done this trip several times now and it's always fantastic. My sister in law was over from the UK - so took her. She had an awesome time! Kayaking is such a fun thing to do! We were too early in the season to see whales (but only by about 2 weeks, as they are in the bay now). Saw lots of seals though. They swam around the kayak - amazing! Herman and his staff were as proffessional and organised as ever. Great service - Well done!!

Walker Bay Adventures offer a world-class whale watching adventure tour in Hermanus. I did a sea kayaking tour with them today and had such a good time. The boats are buoyant and comfortable, with clear safety instructions given at the start of the tour. Conditions in Walker Bay were however great and it would have been difficult to capsize. The scenery is fantastic and it was a great 90 minutes on the water. I highly recommend this tour.

My wife and two young children booked a half day kayaking trip with Walker Bay Adventures through our B&B in Hermanus. Herman the owner of Walker Bay Adventures met us at our B&B and we followed him for approximately 20 minutes until we reached the Klein River in nearby Stanford. We then spent a very pleasant 1/2 day kayaking along the river with Herman who proved to be an excellent guide and genuinely pleasant company full stop. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and it proved to be good value for money. Herman himself helped to make it even better due to his relaxed and personable style. Would definitely book again with Herman from Hermanus.

What a way to start the day, sea kayaking around the coast, seeing seals, riding the swell. A great outting at a reasonable price.

wanted to go whale watching and found these guys online. great support when organising by email, friendly welcome with free coffee pre-departure. Fantastic boat, great guide and got to see whales! They do lots more but we were only around for 2 days, but if the rest is as good as the whale watching...

Against a backdrop of the Overburg, standing on the Hermanus cliffs and seeing visiting mothers with their calves playing in the ocean HAS to be a 'must see' in any traveller's itinerary. Listening for the 'whalewatcher's horn' that alerts visitors of a whale sighting and witnessing the sheer exuberance of the baby whales is a joy to watch, FOUR days was just too short.

Going out on the ocean on kyaks was a truly memorable experience and Herman and his team are knowledgeable and professional. We managed the paddling without too much difficulty, although we are not particularly fit and although we did not meet any whales on our trip, we did see seals and many marine birds. This experience should not be missed by anyone visiting Hermanus!

During our visit to Hermanus, South Africa, my husband decided to go kayaking with Walker Bay Adventures. The trip was some R300 which is reasonable for a guided kayak trip though the bay of Hermanus. My husband came back, soaked wet, and said he Loved It! - the guide was knowledgeable, and very friendly, and despite the choppy seas, he had a great trip. One thing to note however, the trip is not kayaking with whales, or infact anywhere close, - unlike how it is made out to be, - it is infact a nice kayaking trip out at sea.

When I planned my trip to Hermanus a couple of months back, shark cage diving and whale watching were the 2 must do things on my list. It is on this context that I contacted Walkerbay. The reason, ofcourse were the wonderful reviews that I read on Tripadvisor. I emailed to walkerbay and sent my dates and queries. Within 48 hours I got a detailed response with timings, costs, inclusions etc. That spoke a lot about the responsiveness and customer care that walkerbay provides. If you are keen on Whale watching and Shark Cage Diving; they can organize both the activities for you and schedule to fit the same in a single day, whether permitting ofcourse! The The shark cage diving takes place early in the morning with a 7h30am meeting time in Kleinbaai, 45km from Hermanus. Walkerbay can arrange a pick up and drop back from your hotel also. The activity finishes at midday. The whale watching can be done at 3pm in the afternoon and will finish at around 5pm. If you want to schedule both activities on 2 separate days then you can go for the shark diving on day 1 morning and whale watching on day2 morning. I was slated to take up both the activities in the last week of September in a single day. The Shark Cage diving got cancelled unfortunately because of the choppy sea. I wish i could have experienced it. However the whale watching tour was amazing. I was picked up in a SUV at around 8:30 a.m. from my hotel by Ash and taken to the pre-designated place. The drive to the bay was not more than 15 minutes and I was given a lot of detail on the whale watching experience on way. Ash was very interactive and informative. Post reaching one needs to pay at the counter, sign an indemnity and collect a pass. Then I waited for the briefing with may others. After a bit of a wait, we were told about whales, their behaviour, size, weight etc. Post the detailed briefing session we hopped to the boat and off we went for a super experience. We sailed for about half and hour before we had our first encounter. It was amazing!!! During our trip we went on to see many whales. The great part is, no matter which part of the boat you are in the crew makes sure that everyone gets a view. The boat is rotated so people on all sides can get views. The tour lasts about 2 hours and if you are lucky and visiting in season can spot as many as 8/10 whales. We did!!! While on boat you are offered a bottle of water, some cold drink and a packet of chips. A lot of people were sea-sick and the crew was so very attentive and prompt in providing people with sick bags and water. All in all this is an experience of a lifetime and one should not miss it!!! Thanks to Herman for giving me an experience that will last forever!!!

Kayaking during the whale season was the highlight of our trip to South Africa. The coast is stunning and the best way to see it is to be out on the bay. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the whales, the kelp forests, the local ecosystem. He knew lots of fascinating facts about whales (for example, it takes as much energy for a whale to breach once as we expend in a whole day...). Even if you don't see a whale, it is still worth it!

This was one of our most special experiences in South Afrika! Spectacular location, padling out in the see with the mountains in the background. Seen some dolfins and seals to, really special and the guys that organise all this Herman and..? sorry forgot.. so enthousiastic, full of energy and funny. Thanks guys! Arjan and Irene from Holland.

This is a must do for your trip to this region. The guide is so good with people, sorry I forgot his name! We booked our trip in the harbour and paddled out. It was my partner's first time, and still veery manageable. Well done guys!

A sensasao de ver uma baleia pertinho, saltando, emitindo som e mostrando a calda e realmente inesquecivel. E ainda mais lindo ve-las livres, em seu habitat que e o a mar. Preparem as maquinas pois fotos inesqueciveis serao tiradas.

Dit is een van de hoogtepunten tijdens onze vakantie in Afrika. Gelukkig hadden we zonnig weer, de golven waren best stevig maar eenmaal op zee is dit niet echt hinderlijk. Goeie begeleiding, goed materiaal en de hele trip een veilig gevoel gehad ondanks dat je op open zee bent. Op weinig plaatsen ter wereld kun je ze kort bij de walvissen komen.

Ein Muss in Hermanus ...wer Wale, Delphine, Pinguine und Seehunde hautnah erleben will. Okay, die Wale waren Ca. 200Meter entfernt. Unser Guide konnte uns viel uber die Tiere erklaren, was sehr interessant war. Fur uns eines der besten Erlebnisse auf unserer Sudafrikareise.

Wir waren Sea Kayaking und wurden gut eingeweist. Wir waren in einer kleinen Gruppe unterwegs und hatten das Gluck nur 200m von Walen entfernt zu paddeln. Der Guide kannte sich gut aus und konnte viel erzahlen.

Uber Walker Bay Adventures haben wir einen Kayak Ausflug und Shark Cage Diving gebucht. Walker Bay Adventures hat uns dann bei einem Shark Cage Diving Anbieter angemeldet, der absolut Top war! Das Kayaken war ebenfalls sehr gut, Es hat viel Spab gemacht und der Guide hat uns sehr viel interessantes erzahlt. Wale haben wir leider nur aus weiter Entfernung gesehen. Es ist aber trotzdem zu empfehlen.

Dieser Ausflug war der Wahnsinn, hat unheimlich viel Spab gemacht mit dem Kayak raus aufs Meer zu fahren. Dann noch Wale direkt neben uns zu sehen war genial, eine Mutter mit ihrem Kalb. :) Wahren der 1 1/2 h wurde uns zudem noch viel uber das Leben der Wale erzahlt... war ein super toller Ausflug, steht ganz oben auf unserer Sudafrikareise.

Walker Bay Adventures ist ein Veranstalter, der eine Lizenz hat, um mit See-Kayaks auf den Ozean zu paddeln. Neben dem besonderen Reiz eines Kayak-Ausfluges auf dem Meer bietet die einzigartige Lage in Hermanus mit der Walker-Bay die Moglichkeit, den Walen, die dort ihre Jungtiere aufziehen, nahe zu kommen. Die Perspektive aus einem kleinen Kayak auf so grobe Tiere ist einmalig! Je nach Wind und Wetter werden mehrmals taglich Kayak-Touren unter fachkundiger Aufsicht und Anleitung angeboten. Die Kayaks sind fur ein oder zwei Personen, das heibt man mub nicht unbedingt alleine gegen Wind und Wellen kampfen. Wir haben unseren Ausflug unglaublich genossen und konnen den Anbieter guten Herzens empfehlen. Die Betreuung war toll, die Ausstattung in gutem Zustand und das Erlebnis mit den Walen einmalig. Ein Tipp am Rande: Man sollte sich gut mit Sonnenschutz eincremen und keine Angst vor (kaltem) Wasser haben. Ein grober Spab!

WOW I have never seen so many whales. what a buzz. Kristin Townsend. Canada The lagoon is incredible and fantastic to see flamingos and fish eagles. Cozzete Billon. France Your guides are very knowledgeable and not only did I have a great time kayaking but I learnt a lot too. Claire. NZ We at the Tourism department would like to thank you for your contribution to our student's enjoyment of their annual tour. With a fairly small budget we were able to fill three days of the tour with all manner of excursions, food and fun. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Once again I would like to thank you for your efforts and your kindness in dealing with us. Ilze Van der Merwe. Northlink College.

Words by Andre Bothma Sea kayaking may strike the uninitiated as a rather daunting sport requiring extensive skill, muscular strength and a lot of sheer guts. Yet under the guarding eye of an experienced guide, anyone can experience the joys of this fantastic sport. Leisure Boating joined Walker Bay Adventures for a paddle into an ecological VIP zone - the Hermanus whale sanctuary. We meet Walker Bay Adventures' guides Ivan van der Merwe and Kobus van Zyl at the old harbour where an informative briefing and signing of indemnity forms precede our early morning excursion. At 09:30, the sea looks like a mirror and the bright sunshine drenches everything. Under less than perfect ocean conditions, novice paddlers are paired with the more experienced ones, yet this particular morning the weather cooperates beautifully and even those who'd never kayaked before get to go it alone. Our guide points out a seal, totally engrossed in a fight with an octopus. The seal repeatedly slams the squirming creature on the surface, paying scant attention to his human audience. We also spot numerous jellyfish and opportunistic sea birds as we paddle along. The kayaks are really stable; nonetheless, we are kitted out with life jackets - just in case. One quickly gets into sync with your fellow peddler and the brightly coloured two-man kayaks moves along at a swift pace. This activity is well suited for all ages: youngsters, adults and even seniors will enjoy this truly unique experience and the exclusive view of Hermanus' coastline and marine life. Renowned for its whale watching, Hermanus serves as the mating grounds for the southern right whale between the months of May and December. Aptly named due to their propensity to float once killed, the southern right for many years fell prey to the harpoons of whalers. Labelled as the "right" type of whale by human hunters, their numbers dwindled alarmingly, yet stabilized around 3000 to 4000 worldwide once protective legislation had been enacted. After a quick detour into a calm little cove, we once again pass the harbour entrance and head for the little colony of seals relaxing in the sun amid the stirring seaweed. And then we see them. Or more specifically, a monumental rumble rolls across the calmly swaying waters, alerting us to the presence of the largest mammals on earth. It sounds like the rumbling of an elephant's belly - a fifty ton elephant, that is. Due to strict legislative regulations, one is under no circumstances allowed to approach the whales, nor come closer than 300m. A respectful distance of 300m is maintained at all times, giving the mating giants their privacy and ensuring the safety of man and animal alike. Our guide is very knowledgeable about the whales and their mating routines, and we pick up whaling terminology like "spy-hopping" and "breaching". It truly is a sight to behold. Breaching is the term used to describe the whales' spectacular flying jumps, their massive bodies slamming onto the surface of the waves, with seabirds swooping down to peck at the dislodged callosities. These distinguishing growths on the whales' heads are often mistaken for barnacles or other sea life, yet are essentially part of the whale's skin and quite unique to the southern right whale. Another distinguishing trait of the southern right is its V-shaped blow spray, attributed to the placement of the blowholes. The blow is actually a cloud of vapour produced when warm whale breath meets the somewhat cooler ocean air. We are cautioned to retreat should a whale decided to approach us. Although highly unlikely, one errs on the side of caution with animals the size of these! The seals, on the other hand, hold scant potential threat and we sidle up to them for some photos and a closer look. These fellows bask with their webbed feet sticking out above the surface, apparently unfazed by the attention. A stiff breeze brings with it a bit of a swell and our guide decides to call it a day. Hugging the shoreline (and all too soon), we slowly paddle back into the harbour and beach the kayaks. The kayaking trip is rounded off with a midmorning coffee and biscuits, while we wait for the sun to dry our board shorts.

"Everyone in the office today is talking about what a fantastic weekend they had and there is a renewed energy throughout the company." FNB Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the team building event seems to have served the purpose it was meant to. SAFE Your commitment, enthusiasm and hard work in putting together our event in Hermanus really paid off. Thanks for the great day. Brian Sloan.

Just a quick hello, and a HUGE thank you for the weekend, it was very nice, and I only got good feedback. I enjoyed it very much. Will definitely refer all other companies to you. The whale watching was also very nice, we struggled to get some whales, cause they were a little lazy because of the calm water, but we found two eventually which grew to three, and they came to the boat and swam under it, it was beautiful. Only one person in our group got a little seasick twice, but it wasn't that bad. Will attach some photos for you to see. Will chat again later. Once again, thank you, it was a huge success!! Regards Natacha

We had a fantastic time in Hermanus and it was a pleasure meeting you guys. Yesterday in the office, more time was spent chatting and laughing about the weekend than on work! Thanks again very much for all your effort in the planning and putting together of the weekend. We most definitely got a whole lot more than we bargained for... by means of activity as well as comfort!!! I'm sure you'll hear from us again soon, but until then, keep well and everything of the level best to you and your team! SAMANTHA MOSES MARKETING DEPARTMENT ALARIS Medical Systems

Toshiba Winelands would like to thank you, for the memorable event that you have arranged for us. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely and it was done in a very professionally manner. We would recommend you to anyone who would be interested in embarking on an adventure like this. We will hopefully see you again in the near future with the whale watching event, and last but not least we would hope to make use of your services again in future. Yours sincerely Piere Sauerman Product and Sales Manager Toshiba Winelands