Hermanus and Gansbaai

Tailor-made Hermanus and Gansbaai Holidays

Experience the roaring euphoria of the Western Cape’s renowned Whale Coast in the towns of Hermanus and Gansbaai. Both offer phenomenal front row views when it comes to marine life and wildlife experiences. Giant whales surfacing just metres from the cliff’s edge bring floods of spellbinding thrills. Fast moving copper sharks circling your boat serve up heart-thumping rushes of adrenalin. And cantering by horse along pearly beaches will see you leave nothing but hoof prints in the sand.

From May to December, southern right whales come so close to the shore that viewing from land is just as special as viewing from water. Sea captains will take you out to meet Geyser Rock’s 50,000 strong sociable colony of fur seals and sail you across scenic waters in search of playful pods of bow riding dolphins. It’s in these coastal towns that you’ll find a community supporting, protecting and conserving the Marine Big Five – sharks, whales, dolphins, penguins and seals.

The people you meet will be marine biologists, seasoned fishermen and guardians of gentle giants. Regulars and newcomers are embraced like long lost friends and at lively Saturday markets expect to chat with everyone from the local skipper to the shark expert. There’s a much-loved seasonal tradition in Hermanus too; hearing the whale crier blowing his kelp horn to let everyone know when the Kings of the Deep are close by.

Our knowledge of this area, coupled with skilled guides on the ground, will be at the heart and soul of your experiences. By championing their efforts to keep coastal biodiversity hotspots thriving, we’ll connect you to nature on an unforgettable journey.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

Laura Preston

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Having travelled extensively through Africa, Laura has a wealth of experience. She is passionate about Tanzania’s diversity from the quiet wilds of Ruaha that feel completely private to the silvery sands of Zanzibar and Stone Town’s spice-laced streets. In South Africa, she sought out the best views over Table Mountain, cocktail in hand, as well as the lesser-visited Kruger conservancies for more exclusive safaris. But her favourite place in the world has to be the Serengeti for its wide-open plains and incredible game that epitomise that feeling of Africa.
Wayne Howarth

Head Safari Guide at Kariega Game Reserve

Wayne loves being outdoors and has spent most of his life between the family farm and working on Private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape. He has been guiding at Kariega for 12 years. His qualifications include Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) Level 2, Advance Rifle Handling, Skippers Licence Category R and first aid. One of his career highlights was becoming a finalist in the 2021 Safari Guide of the Year competition.
Rupesh Kassen

Founder and guide of Eat Like A Local

Rupesh Kassen abandoned his decade-long career in banking to move to East Africa, where he trained and worked as a chef. He later became immersed in South Africa’s food scene and worked as a food critic before setting up Eat Like A Local in Cape Town. Rupesh now offers guided food tours to showcase the city and its diverse culture and history through food.
Fundi Ziqubu

Sommelier

Fundi was born in Durban and fell in love with wine when it was introduced to her by a few Capetonian friends. On discovering her passion she got the chance to study wine with the department of tourism in collaboration with the Sommeliers Academy. Being appointed sommelier at Lanzerac was a career highlight and in 2019 Fundi was named most up-and-coming wine steward by the Distell Inter-Hotel challenge.
Ntobeko Ntshingila

Duty Manager at Three Tree Hill Lodge

Ntobeko has been part of the Three Trees family for 13 years and describes it as a lovely journey with lots of room for growth and experience. She has her own family, including a daughter of 18, and a son, aged three. She lives in a nearby village with her parents, four siblings and three nephews. When not spending time with her family she manages her broiler chicken business, which brings her extra income.
Cheryl Blackburn

Owner and guide, Three Tree Hill Lodge

Being born in the Kruger National Park instilled in Cheryl a love of nature and wildlife. Having lived and worked as a guide in the Kruger reserve, and also in Botswana, she eventually got the opportunity to run her own lodge, with her growing family, in the lush KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg region. She still finds time to guide guests on foot, tracking white rhino in the neighbouring Spioenkop Game Reserve.