In 2022 the Hermanus Whale Festival is Celebrating its 31st year and 29 festival as the oldest and largest festival on the Cape Whale Coast of South Africa
as a tribute to the whales and all marine life – above and below the ocean! Here the star performers are our beloved Southern Right Whales.
This iconic festival has been firmly positioned as an internationally recognized brand that has grown from humble beginnings 31 years ago to attract 100 000 – 160 000 visitors over 3 days per year to the seaside town of Hermanus.
Considering the location of the area as well as the unique habitats both on land and sea, it seemed natural to brand this festival as an ECO-MARINE FESTIVAL, the only one of its kind in the world.
Unfortunately, we had to cancel the 2020 and 2021 festivals due to covid, but we back with a bang in 2022.
The Hermanus Whale Festival brand is enormous as a tourism brand for the Overstrand
2019 Feedback
Economic contribution to the area estimated at a conservative R55 million
- Contribution to the area during the festival (over3 days) is estimated to be R55 million. Accommodation: 90% occupation.
- Checkers & Pick &Pay restocked at 9 am (after opening at 7 am).
- Wimpy, KFC and other food outlets reported their best sales ever.
- Restaurants: 80 % increase from normal activity
- Food Stalls were out of stock by Saturday afternoon and had to get extra supplies from out of town.
Visitors to the festival
- Around 100 000 visitors in 3 days
- Coke Music Stage Rotated more than 20 000 people in 3 days
- Eco marine tent – 50 000 people visiting the Eco-marine tent
- Saturday and Sunday: Treasure Hunt at 12 o’clock saw 2500 kinds each day participating
- Local Talent on Stage plus local crafters saw 45 000 people down at the Old Harbour area in 2 days. [Saturday and Sunday]
- 75+ Busses: There were busses bringing Families, Church and Youth Groups. Also International visitors from UK, Germany, China, Korea, and from the Africa continent. We also saw busses bringing Church and Youth Groups
MARKETING & MEDIA – VALUED AT UP TO 6 MILLION PER YEAR
Television Coverage: – SABC; CCTV, CGTV/ a couple of YouTube movies & interviews
Radio:
- Radio Good Hope 3 days live broadcast from Hermanus – R660 000 (500 000 listeners)
- More than 40 Live interviews and pre-recorded talks. (Leon and Jeanette)
- Radio Stations: Good Hope FM, Heart FM, Radio 702, RSG, Radio Helderberg, Bokradio, 94.0 Hash Tag Radio, Eye Witness News
Digital Media Marketing:
- Facebook Pages, Groups, Share, – 30 days -1.8 million members reach 6 million reach
- Website: 80 000 unique visitors (35-day run-up to the festival plus 10 days after festival), 827 000 page views, 3.4 million hits
Printed Media:
- We got thumbs up from various magazines including but not limited to:
- In-Flight: Open Skies, High Life SA, Sawubona, Cem Air, Mzanzi Travel, Fly Emirates, British Airways, Cabin Ready KLM, SAL
- Travel & Lifestyle: Forbes Private Banking, Ocean, Condé Nast Traveller UK, Country Life, Fresh Living ( Pick& Pay consumer magazine, Edgars Club ( Consumer magazine), Hello Cape Town, Getaway, Decanter, Reise News
- Newspapers: Burger, Cape Argus, Media 24, local newspapers
Hermanus Whale Festival 2022
The festival combines whale watching from shore and sea and an interactive eco-marine tent with live shows, hands-on family fun, street parades, film, music, seafood, and local produce.