A Bird’s Eye View on the Overstrand with Aerocam as Hermanus Hibernates ❄️

👋 Good morning, Hermanus!

We told you it would be cold. We weren’t lying.

We’re your go-to weekly newsletter - landing every Thursday with the latest on what’s happening in town, new spots to discover and all things Hermanus.

We’d like to take a moment to thank you for following us - we appreciate our local community and everyone who has been helping to spread the word and getting people subscribed - we can’t do this without you - thank you.

In this week’s edition:

• Our business feature on Aerocam - we catch up with Louis McCarthy on how they are offering a different perspective on the Overberg.

• Our wine of the week

• Local events and restaurant specials worth eating out for

Let’s dive in.

- The Hermanus Scoop Team 🐋

P.S. Congratulations to Rossi’s on celebrating their 40th birthday - an incredible feat in longevity and good food over four decades!

🏡 Property of the Week - Presented by Greeff Properties

Looking for ocean views or a mountainside retreat?

Each week, we spotlight a standout listing that captures the unique charm and lifestyle of the Overberg. From ocean-view escapes to tucked-away treasures, these are the homes that inspire imagination - and maybe even your next move. Brought to you by Greeff Properties, trusted specialists in exceptional real estate across the Overberg.

Refined Bali-Style Living in Prime Sandbaai Location

We are delighted to present this beautifully maintained, Bali-inspired double-storey home, quietly nestled within the sought-after Tambali Village Estate in the coastal town of Hermanus.

From the moment you enter, the home welcomes you with a warm and inviting open-plan layout. The dining and lounge areas flow seamlessly, centred around a stylish gas fireplace - .perfect for cosy winter evenings. The thoughtfully designed kitchen offers ample space for the home chef to prepare meals for family and friends, while the adjacent indoor braai room extends effortlessly to a private outdoor patio, ideal for enjoying balmy summer evenings.

View the property in full here.

🎥 Local Business Spotlight: Aerocam - A New Generation Taking Flight from Hermanus

This week’s local business spotlight is on Aerocam.

There’s something about Hermanus - the ocean, the slow mountains, the sense that the pace of life here makes space for big ideas. For Louis McCarthy, founder of Aerocam, that idea came into focus through a lens high above the ground.

Born in 1999, Louis’ connection to Hermanus began early, when his parents, both serving in the South African Navy, bought their first home in Onrus. After a few years back in naval housing in Simonstown, the McCarthys returned permanently to Onrus in 2015. Louis completed his schooling at Hermanus High, matriculating in 2017, and took a gap year working on farms - an experience that shaped both his work ethic and his outlook.

In 2019, with a head full of ideas and a heart still rooted in the Overberg, he founded Aerocam, a drone services company with a mission to use technology for good.

“Drones, used commercially, reduce waste, improve efficiency, and give us a completely different perspective on the world around us,” says Louis. “For me, that was such a beautiful thing. I knew I had to start a drone company.”

He started out editing footage for other drone operators, then gradually shifted focus - especially after COVID - and began building a fully legal, SACAA-licensed drone business from the ground up. Today, Aerocam operates across South Africa, with its headquarters proudly based in Hermanus. The company delivers advanced drone solutions to industries ranging from construction and infrastructure to agriculture, environmental science, and conservation.

From surveying solar farms and inspecting wind turbines to filming breathtaking aerial footage of farmland, Aerocam’s work is high-tech but grounded in purpose. One of Louis’ personal passions is capturing farms from the air and assisting with erosion prevention and flood planning.

Their latest project showcases the cutting edge of drone tech - an environmental survey using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to digitally “see through” trees and vegetation. This allows consultants to map terrain, model water flow and drainage, and predict flood risk with remarkable accuracy. The result is minimal environmental disruption, quick turnaround times, and detailed insights that support smarter, more sustainable planning.

“Ultimately, it helps us preserve the beautiful area we live in,” Louis explains. “And gives consultants the data they need to plan wisely.”

It’s exactly the kind of forward-thinking, problem-solving work Hermanus is becoming known for - a blend of respect for the natural world and a hunger to find better ways to live in it.

At just 25 years old, Louis is part of a new generation of Hermanus locals using creativity, curiosity, and clean technology to make a real impact - not just here at home, but across South Africa and beyond.

From the slopes of the Kleinrivier Mountains to the data-rich skies above Greater Amman, Aerocam is proof that big ideas can take off in small towns - especially when there’s someone like Louis at the controls.

A perfect day in Hermanus?

I’d start with a hike in Fernkloof - the view from the top is incredible, stretching across Hermanus and the bay all the way to Gansbaai. Great for a picnic too.

For lunch or dinner, I would…

Go for Char’d (best burgers and steaks) or Burgundy - both are standout spots in a town full of great restaurants.

You can’t visit Hermanus without exploring:

The Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Valley. The scenery is stunning and the wines are world-class. Creation Wines is a personal favourite - amazing wine and food.

To finish the day? 

A bottle of Kaalvoet Meisie from Hermanuspietersfontein, followed by a sunset at Harder Bay in Onrus, camping chair out, watching the sun drop over the ocean. If you're into snorkeling, it’s one of the best spots around - full of natural beauty underwater.

Learn more about the work Louis is doing at Aerocam here.

🍷 Wine of the Week

We’ve teamed up with a few mysterious ghost writers who know their way around a wine glass. Each week, they’ll be sharing a local wine review straight from the heart of the valley.

What’s in your Glass (10.07.2025) 

MOMENTO BOTRIVER Grenache Noir 2022 (100% Grenache)

Momento Wines is spearheaded by Marlise Niemann, who started the brand in 2013 and has been making wine in the Overberg for more than a decade already.

Now based at Anysbos farm next door to Gabrielskloof - where she spent four years alongside the likes of Crystallum and Thorne & Daughters - Marelise is becoming increasingly known as the champion of Grenache noir.

Marelise’s fascination with Grenache was stirred by her time in the Priorat region in Spain, where, along with Eben Sadie, she was inspired by how the old vine fruit was produced in such a fresh and vibrant way. She returned to South Africa determined seek out old vine Grenache.

We were looking to open a wines that spoke to our lazy Sunday afternoon mood and that shouts “COMFORT”. This 2022 vintage hit the spot as it oozes with understated complexity. 

On the nose there is a lot happening. It starts off by showing an abundance of red fruit – think cherries and cranberries. This is followed by more savoury flavours – think earthiness. Finally, there is a subtle yet integrated floral note that brightens up the wine.

On the palate, the wine holds great tension but has started to uncoil nicely. The oak integration is perfectly poised (Marlise used older French Oak barrels for this wine), giving the wine the perfect support. The wine has elegance and length without compromising on substance.

If Grenache is your thing, Marlise and her Momento Wines, are an ABSOLUTE MUST for your wine cellar!

93/100

📆 What’s On in Hermanus

July kicks off in strong fashion with a lot to get busy with this month:

Curro Winter Gift Market 🎁
🗓 4 - 19 July 📍 Curro Hermanus - Join us at The Gift Market at Curro Hermanus, where exhibitors from all over will come together to create an unforgettable shopping experience for Hermanus and the surrounding areas. More information here.

Friday | Hermanus Animal Welfare Society Cake & Tea🐶🐱
🗓 Friday, 11 July · 10:00 📍 Hermanus Golf Club - A morning filled with great cakes, bubbly, tea or coffee and friends. Guest Speaker. Les Aupiais. Former Carte Blanche presenter & journalist. Sample the best from Hermanus Home Bakers. Raffles and mystery prizes! Limited seats. R350.00 per person. Please book by emailing [email protected] or whatsapp Mellissa on 0733649661

Saturday | Hermanus ParkRun 🏃 
🗓 Saturday, 12 July · 08:00 📍 Hermanus Forest, Camphill Road, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley - Start your weekend with a scenic 5km trail run (or walk). Free to join - just register online at parkrun.co.za.

Saturday | Hermanus Country Market 🌿 
🗓 Saturday, 12 July · 09:00 - 14:00 📍 Hermanus Cricket Club - Artisan stalls, live music, food, fresh produce and a family-friendly vibe - a staple Saturday outing for locals and visitors alike.

Saturday | Springboks at SkyBar 🏉 
🗓 Saturday, 12 July · 17:10 📍 SkyBar - Watch the men in green and gold tackle Italy in the last test with the best backdrop you could hope for.

Sunday | Solo and Duo Piano Music 🎶 
🗓 Sunday, 13 July · 15:30 📍 Hermanus Civic Auditorium - Gerhard Joubert and Leo Gevisser will perform solo and duo works by Schoenberg, Bach, Fauré, Catlin Smith, Rameau, Franck, Van Wyk, Grieg, Debussy and Glass. The afternoon promises to be a highlight on the OAK calendar. Tickets are R220 and available from René du Plooy, Secretary, on 082 940 4238 or at [email protected].

🌬️🌦️ Hermanus Weather Update: 10 - 16 July

This week promises a little bit of everything: skies that shift moods like a theatre curtain, rain that drums its rhythm on rooftops, and sunshine that feels like a reward. Whether you’re ducking between raindrops, lingering over a late breakfast, or braving the bracing coastal air - the forecast has you covered. Here’s what the week ahead looks like.

⸻

Thursday 10 July
Thick cloud cover and cool air. ☁️ Expect a high of 15°C and a low of 11°C. Winds come in steady at 7 m/s with just 0.8 mm of rain - a drizzle at most. Ideal for errands in your coziest hoodie.

Friday 11 July
A rainy sandwich day - showers bookending the sun. 🌦️ About 5.7 mm of rain falls early and late, with a brighter patch mid-afternoon. Max 14°C, low 9°C, and windier at 14 m/s. Perfect conditions for warm pastries and a good local browse.

Saturday 12 July
Finally, the break we’ve been waiting for! ☀️ Sunshine dominates with zero rain forecast. High of 14°C and a chilly low of 6°C. Winds gentle at 5 m/s. Time to get outdoors - the cliff paths are calling.

Sunday 13 July
Sunny with scattered clouds and minimal moisture - only 0.3 mm of rain. 🌤️ Another great day for being out and about. High of 15°C, low of 6°C, and winds around 8 m/s. Layers recommended!

Monday 14 July
Clouds creep back with some light rain - about 2 mm. 🌧️ Temperatures from 14°C to 8°C, with calmer winds (5 m/s). A good day for low-key productivity and hot mugs of tea.

Tuesday 15 July
A calm, gentle winter’s day. 🌤️ Expect a dry morning with a few clouds later. Only 0.1 mm of rain, highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Barely a breeze at 3 m/s - rare stillness this time of year.

Wednesday 16 July
Golden skies return. ☀️ Bright and dry from sunrise to sunset with temperatures from 15°C to 6°C. Winds tick up slightly to 6 m/s but nothing to worry about. Great for afternoon wanderings.

So whatever your week holds - rainboots or reef walks, slow sips or salty air - let the forecast guide your plans, not define them. Winter in Hermanus has its own kind of wonder: quiet streets, sharp skies, and the thrill of sun breaking through just when you need it most. Here’s to embracing every shift in the weather, and finding the magic in the in-between.

🍕 Restaurant Specials:

Here are some of the best deals from all over town for you to enjoy during the coming week:

Spotted in the Overberg: Photo of the Week

Each week, we feature one special snap submitted by someone who calls this place home. From misty morning walks to playful pups on the beach - we want to see what you see.

And here’s the perk: every featured photographer gets a free flat white on us - in partnership with Molo Coffee. So send in your best shot to [email protected], and you might just sip your way to local fame.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Scoop!

Stay warm, stay dry, stay curious, and we’ll catch you next week!

- The Hermanus Scoop Team 🐋

P.S. Got a story, sighting, or scoop to share? Drop us an email at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you.