Hermanus comes to life during the annual Whale Festival in September. It is the best time to see and celebrate the southern right whales, as they make their yearly pilgrimage to the waters of Walker Bay in the Western Cape.
The Marine Hotel, located on Hermanus’ famous Cliff Path, will be hosting its inaugural ‘Whale Week from Monday 23 September to Saturday 28 September 2019. Daily events include talks, a movie screening and exhibition that are all open to the public.
The five-star luxury hotel boasts one of the ultimate locations for whale watching during whale season – often directly from the comfort of its sea-view bedrooms.
Hermanus whale crier Thembinkosi ‘Bravo‘ Sabazile will kick off the Whale Week proceedings. Dudley Coetzee, Executive Mayor of Overstrand, will cut the ribbon on the hotel’s new Whale Bell, which whale-watchers can sound to alert others to a sighting.
With summer approaching, The Marine Hotel will be running a ‘gintails’ special for the entire whale-watching season. There’ll also be a pop-up dining experience with Chef Farrel Hirsch of the Greenhouse at Constantia’s Cellars-Hohenort hotel.
Whale crier Thembinkosi ‘Bravo’ Sabazile. Image: Martin Etsebeth.
Check out and diarise these events for Whale Week 2019:
The Whale Crier Talk – Complimentary
The official Whale Crier of Hermanus gives a presentation and demonstration of how to blow a kelp horn, used to alert festival-goers to whale sightings.
- Date: Monday 23 September
- Time: 3pm
- Venue: The Pavilion at The Marine
- Scones & Tea available for R50 pp.
- Booking essential for space and catering.
Whale Bell Ribbon Cutting – Complimentary
Mayor of Overstrand cuts the ribbon to launch the Whale Bell and officially kicks off Whale Week at The Marine Hotel.
- Date: Monday 23 September
- Time: 4pm
- Venue: Outside the Sun Lounge at The Marine, on the greens in front of the hotel.
- No booking required.
Marine Biologist Dr Els Vermeulen Talk – Complimentary
A talk by Marine Biologist, Els Vermeulen about marine life, conservation and the ‘Adopt a Whale’ programme.
- Date: Tuesday 24 September
- Time: 3pm
- Venue: The Pavilion at The Marine
- Mini High Tea available for R100 pp.
- Booking essential for space and catering.
A quadricolour nudibanch. Image: Lisa Beasley.
Divers Keri Muller and Helen Walne Talk and Exhibition – Complimentary
A talk and exhibition of underwater photography by free diver Keri Muller of Simple Intrigue.
- Date: Wednesday 25 September
- Time: 3pm
- Venue: The Pavilion at The Marine
- Canapés and wine with Creation Wines will be served after the talk, R95 pp.
- Booking essential for space and catering.
Mini High Tea and Complimentary G&T’s with Hendricks Gin
- Date: Thursday 26 September
- Time: 4pm – 6pm
- Venue: The Pavilion at The Marine
- Mini High Tea available for R100 pp. Includes a complimentary G&T by Hendricks Gin.
- Booking essential for space and catering.
Screening of Tidal Documentary – Complimentary
- Date: Friday 27 September
- Time: 6.30pm
- Venue: Pool Courtyard & Terrace Room
- Canapés and wine with Creation Wines will be served after the screening, R95 pp.
- Booking essential for space and catering.
Greenhouse’s Chef Hirsch and the Pork XO
Greenhouse pop-up restaurant with Chef Farrel Hirsch
Greenhouse award-wining restaurant at The Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia, will be hosting an exceptional pop-up at The Marine with a Tasting Menu including wine paring featuring award-winning Hemel-en-Aarde vineyards; Creation, Bouchard Finlayson, & Hamilton Russell Vineyards.
- Date: Saturday 28 September
- Time: 6.30pm
- Venue: The Pavilion at The Marine
- Price: R 975 pp. Includes 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing.
- Each guest will also receive a Molton Brown gift.
- Booking essential for space and catering.
For bookings, email [email protected] or call 0283131000.
Images supplied
