Just off the N2 near the quiet charm of Bot River, a new destination has opened its doors, inviting lovers of fine whisky and premium wine to indulge in a unique tasting experience. 

Rooiheuwel Manor House, a 1927 Cape Dutch homestead restored by owners Fredine and Josias le Roux, is now home to a newly unveiled tasting room where Room4 Whisky (owned by Fredine and Josias) and Villion Family Wines (owned by Elnette and Kobie Viljoen) have come together to showcase their craftsmanship.

Room4 Whisky began six years ago when the owner of Steampunk Distillery and Fredine's friend asked her if she had ever considered turning the barley from her family’s fifth-generation farm into whisky. 

The conversation planted a seed and now, years later, with help from Steampunk Distillery and a healthy dose of determination, Fredine introduces Room4’s very first release – a Single Grain Whisky matured for three years in ex-red wine barrels.

Distilled at Steampunk, Room4 Whisky represents South Africa’s first known 100% Single Farm Origin Whisky. Despite modestly referring to herself as more of an intern than a distiller, Fredine’s passion lies in sharing the nuances of whisky and distillation with guests: “I love most having people over for tastings. My passion is for people to understand and appreciate the process.” 

Tastings, hosted by appointment for only up to 14 people, offer a personal and educational introduction to Room4’s growing range, including future Single Green Malt and Single Malt expressions.

On the wine side of the tasting room, Villion Family Wines brings over two decades of award-winning expertise. Proprietor and winemaker Kobie Viljoen crafts wines that are a tribute to heritage and terroir. His lineage traces back to Francois Villion, one of the earliest French Huguenot settlers in South Africa. The surname “Villion” eventually changed to “Viljoen”. 

Villion Wines, produced with a philosophy of minimal intervention and site expression, sources grapes from a range of carefully selected vineyards across the Cape South Coast. The result is a range that includes elegant Chardonnays, complex Syrahs, and crisp Sauvignon Blancs, all crafted using spontaneous fermentations and traditional techniques. Their playful lifestyle offerings, such as Die Seerowers and Proelekko sparkling wines, bring a relaxed, joyful edge to their range.

When Kobie found himself looking for a new tasting room for his premium wine selection, the stars aligned. Rooiheuwel Manor, with its historic charm and sweeping views of the Overberg, was the perfect fit. Shared values, a sense of place, and a long-standing friendship with Fredine and Josias made the collaboration feel natural.

Apart from a tasting room, Rooiheuwel Manor House also offers accommodation. Four years after being acquired by Fredine and Josias in 2020, Rooiheuwel Manor House was thoughtfully renovated into four luxury guest units that preserve the building’s historic essence while adding modern comforts. 

Each suite features high ceilings, polished wooden floors, and en-suite bathrooms designed for privacy and indulgence. A spacious veranda overlooks the Bot River winelands, where visitors can sip, swirl, and take in the stillness of the countryside.

Room4 Whisky and Villion Family Wines are available for tasting and purchase at Rooiheuwel Manor House tasting room from Monday to Friday 10:00 – 16:00 and Saturdays from 10:00 – 15:00. Contact Villion on 082 547 5565, or Rooiheuwel/Room4 Whisky on 082 944 4573 for orders, queries, and bookings. Whisky tastings are hosted by appointment only. 

For those wishing to linger longer, Rooiheuwel’s elegantly restored guest suites can be booked at www.booking.com. 

Whether you're a whisky novice, a wine enthusiast, or simply looking for your next rural getaway, Rooiheuwel is waiting to welcome you with open doors and a full glass.

Sharks have ruled our oceans for over 400 million years, keeping marine ecosystems in balance as apex predators. But today, these vital guardians of the sea are disappearing at an alarming rate – primarily because of human activity. When sharks vanish, it creates a dangerous ripple effect, damaging entire ecosystems, threatening fish populations, and even putting human livelihoods at risk.

Enter Shark Town, a powerful new documentary by Hermanus filmmakers Anton Leach and Jasmine Duthie of Rockpool Media, in association with executive producer Wilfred Chivell of Marine Dynamics. Directed by Anton and written and produced by Jasmine, Shark Town tells the story of Gansbaai, once the great white shark capital of the world, and what happened when those iconic predators all but disappeared.

Gansbaai, aka 'Shark Town', takes centre stage in this thought-provoking film, which had its pre-screening on 15 June at Road House Theatre at Whale Coast Mall. Presented by renowned conservationist and author Richard Peirce (whose book Orca inspired the film) the documentary unpacks Gansbaai’s evolution into a thriving eco-tourism destination.

When the town’s famous great whites began vanishing due to increasing orca predation, local shark caging diving companies took a hit. But even with this sudden disappearance of great whites in Gansbaai, research has shown that orcas are not the real threat to the global decline of sharks – humans are. Orca killings only account for less than 1%.

Approximately 100 million sharks are killed each year for their fins and livers. Shark Town emphasises that the mass decline in shark populations is driven by humans through overfishing, shark nets, and drumlines – a cruel shark control method still used in KwaZulu-Natal where baited hooks are suspended from floating drums to catch and kill sharks near beaches. It’s indiscriminate and causes immense suffering, often trapping turtles, rays, dolphins, and harmless sharks.

With moving interviews featuring local legends like conservationist Wilfred Chivell, white shark biologist Alison Towner, and shark cage-diving pioneers Kim 'Sharklady' Maclean and Brian McFarlane, Shark Town champions the urgent need to protect sharks in order to save the oceans themselves.

Thanks to conservation efforts, and since the disappearance of great whites in the area, bronze whaler sharks have arrived, bringing new hope for eco-tourism in Gansbaai. 

Shark Town is set to be globally distributed to raise awareness about the dire situation of sharks worldwide. Once the film is released, we will share the link on our Facebook page. 

Time is running out. Removing apex predators like sharks disrupts the entire marine food chain, triggering ripple effects that threaten species such as the critically endangered African penguin and the already dying coral reefs. 

Protecting our oceans is vital – not just for marine life, but for our own survival. To better understand the crucial role that our oceans play, watch the newly released Ocean with David Attenborough.

"To my family, friends and the incredible Hermanus community, thank you for your overwhelming support and kindness during this deeply difficult time following the tragic loss of Anton – my husband, friend, partner, and our talented chef at Fisherman's Cottage. Your love has meant more than words can express." – Nicole and family

Fisherman’s Cottage, located in the heart of the Hermanus CBD, has long been a place where quality, generosity, and heartfelt hospitality come first. This legacy lovingly built by Nicole Verhoogt and her late husband Anton is evident in every detail – from the food to the service, and in the people who help bring it all to life.

Now, with the support of her team, Nicole is honoured to welcome acclaimed chef Michael Broughton to the Fisherman's Cottage kitchen. "His expertise and passion will help us continue to deliver the warm, top-quality dining experience you've come to know and love," she says.

A veteran in the culinary world, Michael brings both skill and soul to the restaurant, helping ensure that Anton’s love for honest, flavourful cooking continues to shine through the restaurant's dishes.

This winter, the team has crafted a menu that speaks to comfort, connection, and flavour. Drawing on the freshest ingredients and a spirit of generosity, the new seasonal offerings invite diners to slow down and savour. Highlights include hand-rolled squid ink pasta with calamari, chorizo and peppers; and crispy fried soft-shelled crab served on egg noodles in a fragrant lime, ginger and coconut broth. 

For those craving a true feast, the signature seafood paella delivers a vibrant medley of fish, prawns, mussels, calamari, chorizo, saffron rice, peppers and peas – all flavoured and cooked to perfection.

The experience doesn’t end with the main course. Whether you're enjoying a glass of wine by the restaurant's indoor fireplace or singing along to the live music that they host on Friday nights, be sure that you stay for one of their desserts such as their warm malva pudding – a sweet, comforting end to a winter evening.

Fisherman’s Cottage remains a space for families, food lovers, and locals to gather. With a dedicated kiddies’ menu and an outdoor jungle gym, younger guests are just as welcome.

Whether you’re popping in for a quiet midweek meal or a weekend celebration, you will be met by familiar faces, heartfelt hospitality, and a variety of quality dishes certain to entice all palates.

Fisherman's Cottage is open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 15:00, and for dinner from Monday to Saturday from 17:30 to 21:00. To make a booking call 028 312 3642 or 082 556 5107. Visit www.fishermanscottage.co.za for more information.

Living in the Overberg means waking up each day surrounded by natural beauty, including the region’s rich fynbos landscape. Just 30 minutes from Hermanus, tucked away off the R326, lies Phillipskop Mountain Reserve, a local sanctuary for nature lovers, hikers, and families. 

This private conservation area is the perfect place to explore, recharge, and appreciate the Overberg. To enter, you’ll need a valid conservation permit, which is easily obtainable on their website. The Friends of Phillipskop Annual Conservation Permit offers year-round access and benefits:

Enjoy the reserve every day of the year. You can picnic beside the Lily Pond, visit ancient rock art at the Phillipskop Cave (a recognised Heritage Site), or enjoy bird watching at Candlewood Valley or below Eagle Crags. There are a variety of hiking trails from a relaxing walk to the waterfall or the challenging Three Peaks hike.

Bring the family for a geocache treasure hunt, or use the Plant Spotter Guides to identify rare flora, The fynbos is alive with bird calls, colour, and creatures, and every visit offers something new.

‘Friends of Phillipskop’ and supporters of the reserve’s conservation work also have access to the Sundew Conservation Cabin, a hidden mountain retreat tucked near the top of the Hidden Valley. Sleeping up to 6 people, this off-grid escape offers spectacular views of the Klein River Mountains and Eagle Crags. It’s close enough for a half-day hike, but remote enough to disconnect and enjoy the stillness of nature.

With over 930 plant species identified, Phillipskop is a biodiversity hotspot. It’s home to endemic birds, black eagles, klipspringers, and even the elusive Cape leopard. Your permit directly supports vital conservation work – invasive species removal, research, plant monitoring, and environmental education. By becoming a Friend of Phillipskop, you’re helping preserve an ecosystem for future generations.

Permits allow daily access from 8am to 5pm and are excellent value for money. Options include:

Premium Permit 

For up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 4 children, plus 4 guest day-permits.

Solo and Duo Permits 

Perfect for individuals or couples.

Please note that as a conservation area, no dogs are allowed. For more information visit www.phillipskop.co.za and click on ‘About Us’. 

BY DOMINIQUE PAYNEE

We live in an age of incredible technological progress from artificial intelligence to self-driving cars and personalised medicine. These advances allow us to access detailed information quickly and easily, and their influence reaches into every part of life, including the conservation of wildlife.

In recent years, genomic science has become an important tool in efforts to protect threatened species. A genome is like a biological instruction manual, made up of DNA coded in just four letters: A, T, C and G. These letters are arranged in different sequences, like computer code, to control how living things function. But beyond those basic instructions, the genome holds patterns that reveal a wealth of information about a population’s health, history and ability to adapt.

Wild animals that need conservation help often have small population sizes, limited habitats, and face serious threats from human activity. These pressures leave visible marks in their genetic code. By sequencing and studying these genomes, scientists can uncover critical clues about a population’s viability and resilience – essential information for developing plans to protect them.

At the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, scientists are using genomics to study one of South Africa’s most mysterious marine mammals: the inshore Bryde’s whale. These whales are shy, rarely seen, and live year-round in South African coastal waters. Despite being the country’s only resident baleen whale species, surprisingly we still know little about them… Yet they show many signs of being at risk and in need of conservation.

Genomic research is helping to change that. Even with just a few samples, scientists can learn a lot from the genetic patterns found in whale DNA. The Whale Unit has sequenced and assembled the entire genome of an individual South African Bryde’s whale, thanks to funding from DIPLOMICS through the “1KSA: Decoding South Africa’s Biodiversity" project. This genetic blueprint will be used as a reference for future studies – not just here, but globally.

Early findings are already exciting: South Africa’s inshore Bryde’s whales form a unique genetic group, distinct from other Bryde’s whales in the region. This discovery answers a long-standing question about whether these whales are truly separate from their offshore relatives and it confirms that they are. That uniqueness matters. If these whales are found only in South Africa, they must be recognised as a distinct population and given the protection they need to survive, especially as our oceans change and human impacts (like fishing) continue to grow.

Ultimately, genomics is helping scientists understand how connected this population is to others around the world, how many breeding individuals remain, and how well they can adapt to a changing environment. Piece by piece, we are solving the puzzle of the Bryde’s whale, one genome at a time.

For Hermanus local Ken McLachlan, the printing of his memoir, My Amazing Journey, marks the fulfilment of a long-held dream to write his own book. After 17 years in Hermanus with his wife Cynthia, Ken has become a familiar face in the community. Behind his friendly demeanour lies a lifetime shaped by unexpected events, quiet miracles, and uncanny twists of fate. It has been a journey that has taken him from hardship to healing, and ultimately to the place he now calls home.

Ken’s story begins when he was born in 1943, in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Though the world was beginning to recover, echoes of economic struggle still lingered. His parents, both South African, had moved to what was then Rhodesia in search of opportunity, hoping to escape the harsh realities back home. During his time there, and at the age of 14, Ken met Cynthia, who was 12-years-old, and the two formed a connection that would blossom into a lifelong partnership.

In their early thirties, Ken and Cynthia relocated to South Africa, where Ken took a job as a factory manager. In 2002, they decided to begin a new chapter in Portugal. However, after just three months, Ken realised the move wasn't right for him. He resigned and returned to South Africa, while Cynthia remained behind to continue working in timeshare.

As Ken made his way back to South Africa, uncertain about what lay ahead, he received an unexpected phone call from a former colleague. The colleague invited him to meet with the director of his old company, who needed help with a struggling factory. Ken accepted the offer after the meeting and relocated to Gauteng to take on the new role. That phone call became one of the many “interventions” that redirected the course of his life, and inspired the central theme of his book. Three years later, Cynthia rejoined Ken in South Africa and the couple moved to Port Elizabeth for work, where they remained for the next few years. 

In 2008, when their daughter gave birth two months early, Ken and Cynthia chose to retire and travel to the United States – where their daughter was living – to help care for the baby. Once mom and baby were strong enough, Ken and Cynthia returned to South Africa and bought a small caravan to travel the country in search of a place to settle. They paid a visit to Hermanus where Cynthia's aunt lived, and after staying in Onrus caravan park for a while, decided to move to Hermanus permanently.

Originally written as a legacy for his children and grandchildren to help them understand why life unfolded the way it did, Ken’s book is both deeply personal and universally relatable, highlighting the unexplainable events that shaped his journey. He gave the first copy of the book to his grandson on his 21st birthday in 2023, followed by copies for the rest of the family, who had been eagerly waiting to read it. 

With encouragement from friends and family in Hermanus and beyond, Ken decided to publish more copies which are now available at The Book Cottage in High Street, Hermanus. “My hope is that others who read this book will examine their own lives and appreciate the interventions, blessings and miracles they have experienced,” says Ken. 

In My Amazing Journey, he reminds us that oftentimes, it is the unexpected detours that lead us to exactly where we’re meant to be. 

The annual Stanford Penguin Plunge took place on Saturday 20 June to raise funds for the Rotary Club of Stanford's soup kitchens for the elderly. The first plunge took place 15 years ago and was an initiative by Anton and Tracey Duivestein, who wanted to help raise funds for this Rotary project.

In 2015, the planning and management of the event was handed over to the Rotary Club of Stanford as it had grown into an event too big for just two people to manage. Anton took on the role of King Neptune – a role he still plays today complete with a white wig, a beard and his trusted trident – leading the brave swimmers or ‘penguins’ into the icy Klein River water.

Over the years, the number of penguins has grown tremendously, with canine penguins also taking the plunge. On the banks of the river, the non-swimmers or ‘chickens’ cheered on the penguins creating a wonderful vibe. Local restaurants provided delicious hot soups and freshly baked bread. A local winery provided a pot of steaming hot Glühwein and hot chocolate was also on offer.

The entry fee for the penguins was a monetary donation of their choice which made the event affordable for families, and chickens were requested to make monetary donations should they want any of the refreshments on offer. Each participant also received a penguin-shaped keyring after their plunge.

This annual generosity from the community brings critical warmth and sustenance to those in need during the colder winter months. 

BY DR ROBIN LEE

Fick’s Pool is situated below Marine Drive where the formal houses on the sea side of the road come to an end. The ground drops away quite sharply towards the ocean, and Fick’s Pool comprises a narrow inlet from the open sea to a sheltered cove. This is one of the oldest parts of Hermanus. 

In 1854, while Hermanuspietersfontein was still the official name of the area, the first 12 sites for houses just above Fick’s Pool were put up for sale by the Municipality at £1.4 shillings each. In the early 1930s a concrete wall was built across the opening of the cove, creating a tidal swimming pool. Waves break with considerable force into the pool and scour out sand and water that has stood for too long. As a result, swimming in the pool is a very refreshing experience. 

Who was Mr Fick?

There are two different theories of how Fick’s Pool came into existence and who it was named after. Some accounts attribute it to Mr JJ Fick, who was the principal of the only government school in Hermanus during the 1920s and early 1930s. Known as the ‘Klipskool’, it was situated at the foot of ‘Klipkop’, which we now know as Hoy’s Koppie. Mr JJ Fick lived in a house on one of the sites above the inlet, then named the ‘gat’.

It was the time of the Great Depression and times were tough economically. There was little money available to provide entertainment for pupils during weekends and holidays, and not much to do in the town itself, except hanging around the Old Harbour, then known as ‘Visbaai’, watching the fishermen and getting into bad habits.

Mr Fick petitioned the Council to create a swimming pool in front of his house, which involved considerable blasting of the rocky cliffs, and the removal of a large pointed rock that would have been in the middle of the pool. Later, the concrete wall was built and basic wooden changing facilities were added. These were painted white and were erected on the north side of the pool. 

It seemed a good thing to name the pool after the man who had motivated its construction and so ‘Fick’s Pool’ came into existence, probably in 1933. It was an immediate hit with school children.

The other Mr Fick

The second explanation is more prosaic, but contains more verifiable data. According to Mr ‘Lampie’ Fick, another family with the name of Fick had been living in the Caledon area since at least the 1870s. Documents exist proving that his ancestor Josias Servaas Fick served as Field Cornet for the Caledon ward from 1870 to 1885. 

There is further documentary evidence that on 16 August 1889 an erf (plot) in Hermanus, adjacent to the 12 previously sold, was granted on a quitrent basis to the same Josias Fick. The erf extended from the northern end of the pool, across Marine Drive (which had not yet been built) and all the way to Church Street. 

Josias began to spend more time at this holiday home and got into the habit of going for a morning swim each day. He apparently also successfully persuaded others to join him and soon people were referring to ‘Fick se Gat’. This was later changed to the socially more acceptable ‘Fick se Poel’ and then anglicised into ‘Fick’s Pool’.

Either way, by the mid-1930s young people were enjoying themselves at Fick’s Pool. The best written description I can find refers to Fick’s Pool in the 1940s. It was written in 2003 by Una Graven, a grandchild of Christiaan Warrington, and is part of a contribution she made to SJ du Toit’s Hermanus Stories III: When we were approaching our teenage years.

When we were approaching our teenage years, Fikkie’s Pool was our summer haunt. The beaches of Voëlklip and the New Beach, as we called the Grotto Beach then, were out of our reach as none of us had any means of transport… Fikkie’s Pool was where it all happened – splashing in the tidal pool, being frightened when the high tide swept over the retaining wall, clambering over the large rocks and spreading a towel on the warm stone to lie for hours with the glow of sun on your back. 

It was giggling and gossiping and taking shy peeks at the opposite sex. It was showing off and innocent flirting with the exciting uncertainties of romance. It was where the boys challenged each other to what seemed to us then, death-defying dives from the top of the cliff just outside the sea wall of the pool… Fikkie’s Pool was an idyll.

Fick’s Pool: the site of tragedy

A story linked to Fick’s Pool concerns the death of a member of the original settler family, the Warringtons. On a New Year’s Day in the late 1920s Joe Warrington persuaded Skipper van Dyk, Tommy Montgomery and a couple of other men to go after a school of sardines just off Fick’s Pool. 

Unfortunately, a whale became interested in the boat and eventually capsized it. Arderne Tredgold describes the events in this way:

Joe Warrington was fishing, as the custom was, with his lines tied to his big toes. He was thrown out of the boat, the lines must have twisted round his feet so that he could not swim and he was drowned. The others managed to cling to the boat. They were not very far from the shore but it would have been dangerous to swim to the rocks with the waves breaking over them. 

They shouted for help but most of the village was resting after New Year’s celebrations, and one or two who did hear them thought that someone was playing a New Year joke. The men were eventually rescued but Joe Warrington’s body was washed up some days later near the  harbour. His feet had been severed by his lines.