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✧ WILD HORSES • LAGOON LIFE • WHALE WATCHING • NATURE & WILDLIFE • WINE EXPERIENCES • ADVENTURES • OUR PICKS ✧
Our Picks
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The places we love, return to and recommend to our friends and family.
When we bought MBIZI lagoon house, we didn't just fall in love with the house itself. We fell in love with this entire corner of the Whale Coast — the wild horses wandering through Fisherhaven, the ever-changing light over the lagoon, long lunches overlooking the ocean and the feeling that life somehow slows down here.
This page is not intended to be a complete travel guide. Instead, it is a collection of places, experiences and local favourites that we personally enjoy, have discovered ourselves or have been recommended to us by people who know and love this area.
And yes, if we're completely honest, we've also spent quite a bit of our time here renovating bathrooms, fixing things and working on MBIZI rather than exploring every corner of the region. So this list will continue to grow as we discover new favourites ourselves.
We hope these recommendations help you experience the Whale Coast the way we do — slowly, naturally and with plenty of unforgettable moments along the way.
Angela & Christian ♡
🐋 Whale Watching
Some of the most memorable whale encounters happen in very different ways. Whether you prefer dramatic coastal views, getting closer by boat or simply enjoying lunch overlooking the ocean, these are our favourite ways to experience whale season around Hermanus.
🚤 Whale Watching Tours
While Hermanus is famous for its exceptional land-based whale watching, seeing these magnificent creatures from the water is an experience on a completely different level.
One of our preferred operators is Southern Right Charters, a long-established whale-watching company based in Hermanus. Their tours take guests into Walker Bay during whale season, offering unforgettable encounters with Southern Right Whales, as well as regular sightings of dolphins, seals and seabirds.
What we particularly appreciate is their strong focus on responsible and respectful wildlife viewing, allowing guests to experience these remarkable animals while protecting the marine environment they depend on.
MBIZI Tip: Book your tour as early as possible, especially between August and October when whale season is at its peak. If you're unsure about the weather, choose one of the earlier departures, as sea conditions are often calmer in the morning.
Even if you've already seen whales from the Cliff Path, a boat trip offers a completely different perspective and often becomes one of the highlights of a stay on the Whale Coast.
🌊 Hermanus Cliff Path
The Hermanus Cliff Path is one of our favourite places along the Whale Coast. Stretching for more than 12 kilometres along Walker Bay, it offers spectacular ocean views, dramatic cliffs and some of the best land-based whale watching in the world.
What we love most is that there is no rush. You can walk for ten minutes or several hours, stop whenever something catches your eye and simply enjoy the ever-changing scenery. During whale season, it is not unusual to spot Southern Right Whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds along the way.
For us, it is one of the simplest and most rewarding experiences in Hermanus — just you, the ocean and the possibility that something extraordinary might appear in the water below.
MBIZI Tip: Start your walk early in the morning or a few hours before sunset, when the light is at its most beautiful and the path is usually quieter. One of our favourite sections is between New Harbour and Siever's Point, where you'll find spectacular viewpoints and excellent whale-watching opportunities.
Bring a coffee, take your time and don't focus too much on finding whales. Some of the best moments happen when you're simply enjoying the walk and suddenly spot a blow or a whale surfacing offshore.
🍽️ Bientang's Cave
If we had to choose one place to combine whale watching, great food and an unforgettable setting, Bientang's Cave would be very high on the list.
Built directly into the rocks along the Hermanus coastline, the restaurant offers spectacular views across Walker Bay. During whale season, it is not unusual to spot Southern Right Whales while enjoying lunch or a glass of wine.
For us, it is one of those places that perfectly captures the spirit of the Whale Coast.
MBIZI Tip: Reserve well in advance, especially during whale seasonand school holidays. When booking, ask for a table as close to the ocean as possible. The views are unforgettable and, on the right day, you may even spot whales while enjoying lunch.
Just be aware that during rough seas or high swells, the tables closest to the water can occasionally get a little wet — which, in our opinion, is part of the experience.
🍷 Wine Experiences
These are the wineries we genuinely love — and the ones we recommend to our own friends.
🍇Benguela Cove
Our favourite place for relaxed afternoons, beautiful sunsets and a glass of wine by the water.
One winery we find ourselves returning to again and again is Benguela Cove. Just a short drive from MBIZI lagoon house, it combines award-winning wines with breathtaking views over the lagoon, excellent food and one of the most relaxing atmospheres on the Whale Coast.
Whether we're stopping by for a long lunch, a wine tasting or simply watching the sun set over the water with a glass of Chardonnay in hand, Benguela Cove never disappoints. It's also one of the easiest wineries to visit, with Uber making the journey effortless if you'd rather leave the car behind.
And because we enjoy their wines so much ourselves, you'll always find a selection of Benguela Cove wines waiting for you in the wine fridge at MBIZI lagoon house.
One of the things we love most about Benguela Cove is that it's so much more than a winery. Beautiful sculptures and contemporary South African art are displayed throughout the estate, inviting you to wander, discover and simply enjoy the surroundings. Comfortable lounge areas overlooking the lagoon make it just as tempting to stay for an afternoon coffee as for a sunset glass of wine.
If you're looking for something even more memorable, Benguela Cove also offers scenic boat cruises across the Bot River Lagoon. Seeing the coastline from the water gives you a completely different perspective—and if you're lucky, you'll even pass the shores near MBIZI lagoon house.
✨ Our Favourite MBIZI Tip: If you're arriving in the afternoon, Benguela Cove is the perfect place to ease into your holiday. Start with a relaxed tasting, enjoy dinner overlooking the water and return to MBIZI just in time for the last colours of sunset across the lagoon.
❤️ For us, Benguela Cove feels a little like an extension of MBIZI itself. It captures everything we love about this part of the Whale Coast—great wine, spectacular scenery, wonderful people and unforgettable sunsets.
🍇Springfontein Wine Estate
A place where remarkable wines, ancient limestone soils and one family's dream come together.
If we had to recommend just one winery for guests looking for something truly unique, Springfontein Wine Estate would always be high on our list.
What makes this place so special isn't just the exceptional wines—it's the remarkable story behind them.
More than 30 years ago, Johst Weber left our hometown of Essen, Germany, to start a completely new life in South Africa. What many people saw as untamed land, he recognised as something extraordinary: ancient limestone soils, a unique cool-climate terroir and a natural spring that still gives the estate its name today. With incredible vision, patience and passion, he and his family transformed it into one of South Africa's most distinctive boutique wine estates.
The rare limestone soils are the secret behind Springfontein's character. They produce elegant wines with remarkable freshness, lively acidity and a beautiful mineral finish that is rarely found anywhere else in South Africa. Every bottle reflects the landscape it comes from.
Although Springfontein is around 50 minutes from MBIZI lagoon house, we believe it's absolutely worth making a day of it. Wander through the vineyards, enjoy an unforgettable lunch, take your time over a relaxed wine tasting and simply soak up the peaceful atmosphere. It's one of those places where time seems to slow down.
Because we genuinely love their wines ourselves, you'll always find a selection of Springfontein wines waiting for you in the wine fridge at MBIZI lagoon house.
✨ Our Favourite MBIZI Tip: Leave MBIZI a little earlier than planned and don't just come for lunch. Take time to explore the estate, stroll through the vineyards and discover why the limestone soils make this region so special. If you're lucky, you'll even catch one of the estate's seasonal experiences on the Klein River.
❤️ For us, Springfontein is far more than a winery. It's a place filled with passion, inspiring people and one of the most beautiful success stories on the Whale Coast.
🍇Private Wine Tours
The most relaxed way to discover the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley at your own pace.
One of our favourite ways to explore the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is on a private wine tour. Your guide collects you directly from MBIZI lagoon house, helps you plan the perfect itinerary and safely brings you home again—so everyone can simply relax and enjoy the day.
Some of our favourite wineries include:
🍷 Hamilton Russell Vineyards
The pioneering estate of the valley, internationally renowned for its elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
⛪ Ataraxia
A peaceful, gallery-like tasting room with spectacular mountain views and a truly unique atmosphere.
🍽️ Creation Wines
Award-winning food and wine pairings in one of the valley's most beautiful vineyard settings.
🥂 Newton Johnson Family Vineyards
Outstanding wines, panoramic views and one of our favourite places for a long, relaxed lunch.
🍇 Bouchard Finlayson
A Hemel-en-Aarde classic, celebrated for elegant Burgundy-inspired wines.
✨ Our Favourite MBIZI Wine Tour: If we had just one day to introduce friends to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, we'd begin at Ataraxia, continue with a relaxed lunch at Creation or Newton Johnson, and finish the afternoon at Hamilton Russell or Bouchard Finlayson before returning to MBIZI.
The perfect ending? Opening one of your favourite bottles on the terrace as the sun disappears behind the mountains and the lagoon turns golden. For us, that's what a perfect wine day on the Whale Coast is all about.
❤️ For us the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley isn't about visiting as many wineries as possible. It's about slowing down, discovering places with real character and enjoying every moment along the way. That's why every wine tour feels a little different—and that's exactly how it should be.
🚗 (Day) Trips
Some places are simply worth the journey – these are the day trips we especially love for discovering even more of the beautiful Whale Coast and the Overberg.
🌊 Cape Agulhas & Struisbaai
Standing at the southernmost point of Africa is one of those experiences we think is well worth the journey – especially if you have a little more time to explore the Whale Coast.
The drive to Cape Agulhas takes you through the beautiful Overberg countryside to the famous lighthouse and the geographic southernmost tip of the African continent. Take your time once you arrive and enjoy a walk along the rugged coastline – it is the vastness and wonderfully unspoilt character of this place that make it so special.
Afterwards, continue to nearby Struisbaai, just a few minutes away. This charming coastal village, with its working fishing harbour and seemingly endless white sandy beach, offers a beautiful contrast to the wild coastline of Cape Agulhas.
💙 Our MBIZI Tip: Don’t make Cape Agulhas a quick photo stop – turn it into a proper day trip. Leave in the morning, take your time exploring the lighthouse and coastline, and then enjoy a relaxed lunch and a walk in Struisbaai.
And be sure to look into the water at the harbour: if you’re lucky, you may spot the huge stingrays for which Struisbaai has become famous.
That way, the obligatory photo at Africa’s southernmost point becomes part of a truly memorable day in the Overberg.
🐧 Betty’s Bay & the Penguins of Stony Point
Just around an hour from MBIZI lagoon house, you can visit one of South Africa’s largest colonies of African penguins.
At Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay, wooden boardwalks lead through the protected coastal landscape, allowing you to watch these wonderful birds at surprisingly close range – swimming, sunbathing, nesting or simply waddling between the rocks.
Compared with the famous Boulders Beach near Cape Town, Stony Point usually feels quieter and more natural. And the journey itself is part of the experience: the drive through the Kogelberg region takes you through some of our favourite coastal scenery in the area.
💙 Our MBIZI Tip: Give yourself a little extra time in Betty’s Bay rather than visiting only the penguins.
Combine Stony Point with a visit to the beautiful Harold Porter National Botanical Garden. Here you can walk through indigenous fynbos, surrounded by mountains and small waterfalls, and discover yet another side of this extraordinarily diverse region.
Together, wildlife, coastline and nature make this a wonderfully varied day trip – and a lovely choice whenever you feel like exploring in the direction of Cape Town.
🌿 Stanford – A Relaxed Day in the Overberg
If you feel like spending a wonderfully unhurried day away from the busier coast, take a trip to Stanford.
This charming little village on the Klein River is known for its historic houses, tree-lined streets, small cafés and wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Rather than rushing from one attraction to the next, simply wander through the village, browse the little shops, enjoy a leisurely lunch or take a stroll along the river.
Stanford is particularly lovely for anyone wanting to discover the quieter side of the Overberg – and that is exactly why we enjoy it so much.
💙 Our MBIZI Tip: If you can, plan your Stanford visit for a Saturday. Start the day at the small Stanford Saturday Morning Market, where you can browse local produce, freshly baked treats and all sorts of lovely things from the region.
Afterwards, take your time exploring Stanford, stop somewhere for a relaxed lunch and perhaps finish the day with a boat trip on the Klein River.
It is this combination of market life, village charm and nature that makes Stanford such a lovely and relaxing day trip for us.
From our MBIZI Travel Guide
Discover even more about our favourite places and experiences. Our MBIZI Travel Guide takes you deeper with inspiring stories, helpful insights and plenty of ideas for making the most of your time on the Whale Coast.
Discover the Whale Coast your way
AAfter exploring our personal favourites, return to the tranquillity of MBIZI lagoon house and let the day settle at its own pace.
Whether you've spent it watching whales, tasting local wines, meeting the wild horses or discovering a hidden corner of the coast, MBIZI is the perfect place to come home to — with lagoon views, mountain sunsets and plenty of space to relive the moments that made the day special.
Because the best experiences are even better when you have somewhere beautiful to return to.
MBIZI
lagoon house
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Where wild horses roam and whales return.
Your luxury escape on the Whale Coast
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✉ info@mbizilagoonhouse.com
☎ +27 (0)71 0566202
📍 Fisherhaven, Hermanus,
Whale Coast, South Africa
🌐 www.mbizilagoonhouse.com
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