Stanford is fortunate to be situated in the middle of two coastal towns that have a diverse marine life and extreme activities. Hermanus is renowned for having the best land-based whale watching in the world where Gansbaai, otherwise known as the Big 2 Town, plays host to great white sharks and southern right whales. The coastal towns are only a 15 minute drive in either direction along the R43 from Stanford.
Hermanus is a bustling town that hugs the rocky coastline of Walker Bay. It is the biggest town in the Overberg so tourists can enjoy the many cafes and restaurants while basking in the view. It also has one of the most beautiful wine routes in South Africa, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Days can be spent between watching the Southern right whales from one of the countless vantage points or making your way between the mountainous landscape to discover exquisite local wine.
Gansbaai is east from Stanford and boasts a larger than life attraction. People from across the globe come to this remote coastal town to be face to face with the apex predator of the ocean. Due to a 50 000 strong colony of seals, great white sharks roam the waters around Gansbaai year round that makes it an optimal destination to shark cage dive. An ideal day in Gansbaai could be spent spotting the Marine Big 5 (which includes sharks, penguins, seals, dolphins and whales) then ending the exhilarating sightings off with delicious fish ‘n chips.
Stanford serves as the ideal spot to explore the marine attractions offered by both. After a day of exploration it is then sublime to end the day in the tranquil village of Stanford.
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