Southern Right Whales are the main species of whales visiting the shores of Hermanus near Cape Town, South Africa although Bryde's whales are found in Walker Bay all year and Humpback Whales migrate offshore of the bay during June, July and sometimes as late as August. Whales can be seen between June and as late as December. The best time to see them are between July and October. Hermanus' shallow, sandy coves and warmer, calmer waters provide whales with the ideal environment to start and eventually complete their up to three-year-long reproductive cycles. One of the most popular locations in Hermanus for whale watching is Siever's Point, which is close to where the whales frolic. Hermanus is said to offer the best land-based whale watching in the world, in the season the Southern Right whales can be seen from shore in the area, coming as close as 5m from the rocky shore. Whales are never diurnal, but they can be crepuscular. This means they are most active during twilight hours which are both before sunrise and after sunset. Hermanus is famous for whale-watching, and is considered one of the best two destinations in the world for whale watching. Beaches include Voëlklip Beach and the broad Grotto Beach, overlooking Walker Bay.
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