“Hermanus Pieters se Fonteyn”
Hermanus (originally called Hermanuspietersfontein*, but shortened in 1902 as the name was too long for the postal service), is a town on the southern coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa.
It is a popular holiday location and famous for Southern Right whale watching during the southern winter to spring seasons. Although the Southern Right whale is the most prolific species in the bay, it is not the only one that visits these shores. Whales can be seen from the cliffs all along the coast from as early as June and usually depart in early-December.
They were once hunted in the nearby town of Betty’s Bay, but are now protected to ensure the survival of the species. The Old Harbour Museum contains several exhibitions that explain the whaling industry.
The De Wetshuis Photo Museum houses an exhibition of photos by T. D. Ravenscroft that depicts the history of Hermanus.
Top left: Weekend whale watchers. Top right: The old harbour.
Bottom: Many tour operators do day excursions taking tourists closer to the whales during the whale season. ©CapeTown Travel
* Hermanus Pieters (ca.1778–1837) was a Dutch teacher who arrived in Cape Town in 1815. He was recruited by Dutch-speaking farmers who disliked that English was the only language used in all government schools. He settled in Caledon but taught Dutch to farmers in a wide area around that town, including the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. He often vacationed at the spring (“fontein”) in present-day Hermanus, where he fished and grazed his sheep, the place eventually became known as “Hermanus Pieters se Fonteyn”. He died before the village Hermanuspietersfontein existed. 65 years after his death the postmaster decided to abbreviate the name to Hermanus.