Cape Town - They have penguins and sharks, dolphins and seals. But the main stars this weekend are, of course, the whales. The rush to the whale coast is on, as the 23rd annual Two Oceans Hermanus Whale Festival starts on Friday.
The conditions are perfect – sunny skies, minimal wind, and no rain. Known as the best land-based whale watching destination, the town is expecting thousands of visitors to arrive between Friday and Monday. The town will brim over with activities for all tastes in all age groups.
Leon Theron, festival chief executive, says last year brought in 112 000 people over the four days. Throughout this period university students are hired to conduct surveys with visitors. In their most conservative estimates – based on a day-tripper spending R50, and someone spending R500 for the four days – the festival brought at least R30 million into the seaside town.
Theron confirms that 48 percent of visitors were from other parts of the Western Cape, while 11 000 were international tourists.
The reason it’s such a success is because for more than two decades, the festival has stuck to it’s principles of combining environmental awareness with the arts. He says this year the Marine Village is even bigger than ever. The village will host an eco-film fest, children’s educational interactive areas, and a marine showcase.
The showcase includes displays by CapeNature, Western Cape Conservation, and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, among others. There will be beach and cliff path clean-ups, but for those with more adventurous spirits, shark feeding and shark cage diving.
Friday sees musical performances by Jeremy Olivier and Goodluck. There are also plays being staged, and horse and cart rides around the small town.
On Saturday morning a selection of vintage cars will parade through the streets of Hermanus before gathering at the Hermanus Primary School. Organisers of the 13th Whales n Wheels Classic Car Show are expecting about 250 classic and vintage cars – from the early 1920s to the 1980s – belonging to motoring enthusiasts from across the Western Cape.
But it’s not just all fun and games. There is a big focus on environmental conservation and responsible tourism.
With all the activities, however, there is one group of stars that dwarfs the rest. It keeps people coming back each year.
“I think it’s the beauty of our biggest asset: the southern right whales. There is a whole mix of things for people to do, but it’s the beauty of seeing the whales frolicking in the bay that keeps people amazed,” says Theron.
Everything is ready to welcome thousands of visitors today. And according to Theron, about six or seven whales have been waiting around in the bay since Thursday morning.
Cape Argus