Things To Do in The Marine, Restaurants in The Marine

10 hotels in Overstrand: Best hotel deals for 2023

When you think of South Africa’s Big Five, you probably imagine lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and water buffalos. In Overstrand, down the coast from Cape Town, the Big Five are all marine creatures. About 1,800 African penguins (also known as jackass penguins for their loud shouts) roost just offshore on rocky Dyer Island, while on much smaller Geyser Island there’s a colony of 60,000 Cape fur seals. Cruising the narrow channel between them are toothy great white sharks looking for their next meal. (If you’re brave, outfitters can lower you down in a cage to see them up close.) Rounding out the Big Five, Southern right whales and bottlenose dolphins can be spotted from shore May to December.

Hermanus Hotels | Places to Stay in Hermanus

Beautiful Hermanus is a South African seaside town that’s a popular whale-watching site. An initial visit to the Old Harbour Museum will acquaint you with the area’s rich fishing history and impress you with a massive exhibit of a whale skeleton. With dozens of area vineyards, Hermanus is a great base for a guided wine tasting tour.