Hermanus Whale Cruises has been operating in the Walker Bay area since the first permits for boat based whale watching were granted in 1998.  

The skippers and guides –  all of them registered SATOUR guides – are from the local community of Hawston, and their combined experience enables them to provide the visitor with a vast amount of local information, especially in the area of boat based whale watching. Their knowledge of  local weather and sea conditions is considerable. The whale watching boat which they operate is named "Whale Cruiser".

Hermanus Whale Cruises is operated by the Sandown Bay Fishing Company (Pty) Ltd –  owned by  shareholders who are all from the previously disadvantaged community of  Hawston, an historical fishing village located 12km from Hermanus.  Two of the shareholders, Tom Gelderblom and Phillipus May, are the directors of the company.

The company's future plans include expansion into shark cage diving, transportation of tourists to destinations in the Overberg, as well as operating a guest house, sea food restaurant and abalone farm at Hawston. These activities will provide much needed job opportunities for the local community. A further aim of  the company is the empowerment of women and the youth by means of training and providing the opportunities for them to become successful entrepreneurs in the tourism industry.

A view of Hawston from the mountains overlooking the town

Sunset over the fishing harbour at Hawston

The fishing boats at Hawston harbour