Boogie with the Right Whales: South Africa’s only Whale Watching and Enviro-Arts Festival begins 28 September
The Hermanus Whale Festival - Africa’s only whale watching and envrio-arts festival, where revellers can dance into the night against the remarkable backdrop of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and Right Whales – takes place in South Africa from 28 September to 1 October: www.whalefestival.co.za
Hermanus – home to the world’s only ‘Whale Crier’- is considered the best land-based location for whale-watching anywhere in the world. Located along the southern coast of South Africa’s unspoilt Western Cape, Hermanus provides a unique opportunity to watch the Southern Right Whales as they migrate from the Antarctic to calve in the shelter of Walker Bay.
The Hermanus Whale Festival coincides with peak-viewing season when visitors can see these astonishing animals just offshore. A record-breaking 172 whale sightings have been recorded in one day. The Town’s Whale Crier blows a huge horn to mark the sighting of a whale.
The Hermanus Whale Festival celebrates its 21st birthday this year and has an unprecedented range of events and performances taking place over the four days, including live music, story telling events, food and wine tasting and an endurance swim. An Eco Tent running throughout the Festival will help visitors improve their knowledge of whales.
Whale-watching and other marine activities are some of South Africa’s best-known and unique offerings. While Hermanus is the most famous place to spot whales, Port Elizabeth, east along the Garden Route, is the focal point for witnessing another natural phenomenon: the Great Sardine Run. Between May and July shoals as great as 7km long, 1.5km wide, 30m deep and containing literally billions of fish, gather offshore in a seasonal reproductive migration. This natural spectacle brings thousands of visitors to watch. For something with a bit more bite, a 40 min journey west from Hermanus to Gansbaai brings those after a real adventure up close and personal with another marine giant with a range of companies offering the chance to cage dive with sharks.
As well as land-based whale watching, visitors can catch sight of the Cape’s famous creatures by air (micro-light tours are a popular option) and sea (both boat cruises and by sea kayak). For those wanting to get away from the crowds there is also the possibility that you may catch a private viewing of whales off shore from horseback as you trot along the deserted Grotto beach 10 mins from the city centre.
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Issued by Kallaway on behalf of South African Tourism
For further information contact:
Website www.southafrica.net
Susannah Glynn at Kallaway
Tel: 020 7221 7883
Email: Susannah.glynn@kallaway.com
Juan Herrada at SA Touris
Tel: +44 20 8971 9350
Email: juan@southafrica.net
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About South Africa
Nearly half a million visitors from the UK are drawn to South Africa each year, lured by its rich history, vibrant contemporary culture, scenic beauty and wildlife. The country’s iconic attractions include Mvezo, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, cosmopolitan Cape Town and the 5.2sq mile Kruger National Park. South Africa was the first country in the world to include Responsible Tourism as part of government policy and for almost 20 years has acted as a major driving force for change in the sector. The visitor to South Africa can expect an unparalleled authentic experience, accommodation which is sustainable as it is stylish and affordable getaways which don’t cost the Earth.
About South African Tourism
South African Tourism is the national tourism agency responsible for the marketing of South Africa as a preferred tourist destination. In the UK it is headed up by Destination Manager Lungi Morrison.
South Africa Tourism at World Travel Market 2012
Visit SAT at Stand AF500 at World Travel Market this year for a chance to meet celebrity adventurer Charley Boorman, discover what the destination’s responsible tourism ethos has to offer visitors and hear from the Minister of Tourism about the organization’s plans for the future.
Other events at the stand will include wine tasting – South Africa provided two of the three official ‘Olympic’ wines at the 2012 Games – and the announcement of the Ubuntu Awards (worth £25,000) which celebrate innovation in tourism marketing.
For more information on WTM and media interviews contact Susannah Glynn at Kallaway (susannah.glynn@kallaway.com; 020 7221 7883)
About Charley Boorman’s South African Adventure
For his latest adventure Charley teamed up with Russ Malkin, seasoned producer/director of Boorman’s previous hit TV series which include epic bike journeys Long Way Down and Long Way Round with Ewan McGregor. The series, to be screened on Channel 5 during autumn 2012, will comprise of four 1hr episodes.
Charley Boorman’s South African Adventure was Commissioned by Channel 5’s Head of Factual Entertainment, Steve Gowans; Executive Producer, Russ Malkin, Charley Boorman and Brendan Kelly; Producer/Director, Russ Malkin; Produced by Big Earth.
To see unseen clips from Charley’s adventure visit the Charley Boorman’s Extreme Frontiers website: www.extremefrontiers.co.uk
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