Introduction to Southern Right Whales and Hermanus The visit to the museum is to familiarise clients with the Southern Right whale, info on their size, length and weight. I tell them the connection/ synergy there is between whales and Hermanus. I speak about the whaling days and what impact it had on them and how it almost led to their demise. The tour then follows the beautiful cliff path in front of town at an elevation of about 15 metres above the ocean. This elevation lends itself to having a great vantage looking out over the bay. What people don’t realise is the depth of the ocean immediately down from the cliffs is about 10 metres. This allows the whales to approach the rocks of the cliffs to pretty much touching distance. Whales are often seen between 50 and 300 metres from the shore line.