Overview

Hermanus is a coastal town on the southern shore of the Overberg, perched on cliffs above Walker Bay and widely regarded as one of the world's finest destinations for land-based whale watching. What was once a quiet fishing village is now a well-developed tourist town, drawing visitors particularly during the southern right whale season between June and November. Its cliff path, running several kilometres above the sea, remains the town's defining public space.

Map Design and Paper

The map is an original creation by our design studio at Africa Map Art. Data for this map has been compiled from various up-to-date sources including from the OpenStreetMap contributors. The map is available in four styles and on the following two paper options and canvas: a high quality 210gsm heavyweight coated paper with a matte finish, which achieves excellent colour and resolution and is perfect for framing;  a 260gsm photo paper with a smooth satin finish;  and a 350gsm strengthened canvas. All of the options are shipped in a cardboard tube for protection. The canvas is unstretched and unframed.

We welcome personalisation and customisation requests, such as highlighting of specific buildings or features, adjusting the colour scheme, or the addition of text and images.  Please contact us for a quote.

History

Hermanus began as an informal fishing camp in the early nineteenth century, named after Hermanus Pieters, a Stellenbosch teacher who regularly camped by the lagoon there. Its remote location beyond the Houw Hoek mountains slowed formal development until improved road access allowed it to grow as a health resort and holiday destination. The town spread as a coastal ribbon along the cliffs, with residential streets stepping back and upward from the sea in a pattern shaped by the topography of the bay.