While Hermanus is probably the most popular base for viewing the whales (they have a whale crier who signals when whales have been spotted), I opted for the tranquility of Grootbos Private Nature Reserve a two hour drive from Cape Town. And while I came for the whales, I was surprised to learn that this was prime blooming season for the fnybos.
Cape Town weather is capricious – at one moment achingly beautiful and the next rainy and dreary. On those stunningly beautiful days it’s near impossible to justify being indoors. So, a cloudy, winter weekend was the perfect excuse to indulge in activities that had been on my Cape Town to do list but that I hadn’t managed to get around to during previous visits.