Hermanus - 2026-09-25

Foggy Coast, Fantastic Whales: Today at Sievers Point

Even with a thick coastal haze hanging over the water, the ocean still knows how to put on a show. Today at Sievers Point, the visibility might have been a bit tricky, but the Southern Right Whales weren't about to let a little fog ruin their afternoon.

Highlights from the Shore

• Atmospheric Conditions: A moody, misty fog rolled in, making it a challenge to spot movement across the water at first glance.

• The Action: Despite the grey backdrop, the whales treated onlookers to a wonderful display, surfacing with powerful blows and showing off their distinct callosities.

• Tail-End Finishes: Patient watchers were rewarded with incredible glimpses of flukes slicing through the choppy sea, proving that bad weather days often yield the most dramatic coastal moments.

There is something uniquely magical about watching these gentle giants emerge from a misty, grey sea—it turns a simple shore sighting into an unforgettable experience.

Hermanus - 2026-09-24

Small Wonders: A Day in Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Nestled in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, Fernkloof Nature Reserve is a world-renowned biodiversity hotspot. While the sweeping mountain vistas and protea-dotted slopes often steal the show, a closer look reveals a miniature universe teeming with life.

The Master of Disguise

The first encounter requires patience. In the dense fynbos, where wiry reeds and restios dominate, movement is subtle. Suddenly, a tiny eye, like a swivel camera lens, focuses. It’s a Dwarf Chameleon, perfectly motionless. Its skin, a mottled mosaic of green, brown, and gold, blends seamlessly with the dry and green foliage.

The chameleon is a master of camouflage, but today, it's shedding its skin. Patches of pale, peeling epidermis cling to its body like old parchment. It's a slow, vulnerable process, but the creature remains still, trusting in its natural disguise.

Slowly, deliberately, it navigates the thin, dry twigs, searching for its next meal. Its prehensile tail grips the stem, and one tiny, clawed foot reaches out with agonizing slowness. In this macro world, every movement is a major event.

A Flash of Jewel-Toned Brilliance

A flash of iridescent color catches the light. It's a Southern Double-collared Sunbird, a brilliant gem-toned visitor.

The male is resplendent in his breeding plumage: a metallic green head and throat, a shimmering blue breast, and a bold, scarlet band across his chest. He is a stark contrast to the muted tones of the chameleon. With a rapid whir of wings, he darts from flower to flower, his long, curved beak probing deep into the blossoms for nectar.

Fernkloof is full of such contrasts—from the slow, silent, and cryptic to the fast, loud, and colorful. It’s a place where taking a single step, and then waiting, reveals the extraordinary in the ordinary. A visit here is not just a hike; it's an immersion into a vibrant, intricate, and endlessly fascinating natural documentary.

Hermanus - 2026-09-24

Public holiday, a time to take a break, but not the whales, passing Sievers Point within a couple of meters, the gentle giants of Walker Bay, Southern right whales

Hermanus - 2026-09-23

The Afternoon Display

Right on cue, the right whales made their presence known, rolling and breaking the surface just offshore.

• The Callous Crescendo: Distinctive white patches of cyprid-encrusted callosities caught the light as massive heads lifted from the swell.

• Surface Action: Individuals moved leisurely, showing broad backs, occasional open-mouth or jaw-line articulations against the chop, and subtle tail-back contours rolling under the grey-blue water.

• Proximity: Viewing from the rocks gave an intimate sense of scale—no boat engine hum, just the heavy blow of mist catching the sea breeze and the deep, organic rhythm of giants resting in the sheltered bay.