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Established in 2004
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Media, Press, Newspaper and Internet articles, features and editorials for and by Percy Tours, Hermanus, near Cape Town, South Africa
2023 Travellers' Choice award on TripAdvisor for Percy Tours in Hermanus
2020 Cert of Excellence - over 7 years of great reviews
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5 years Cert of Excellence on TripAdvisor
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5 years of excellent TripAdvisor reviews
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2017 TripAdvisor Award - Certificate Of Excellence
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Percy Tours 1st ever article about us :-))) in the "Hermanus News" newspaper
Hermanus News / The Village News article - 26th July, 2016
When Percy Heywood tells me that he was hyper-active as a child, I have no problem believing him. “In fact I’m still told that I have too much energy!” he laughs. Fortunately for our town, Percy decided 12 years ago (2004) to expend this boundless energy and uninhibited enthusiasm on promoting Hermanus and surrounding areas, and sharing his passion for this corner of the world with local visitors and overseas tourists.
Percy Tours specialises in organising tailor-made and individualised tours, transfers, activities and accommodation in Hermanus, the Cape Peninsula and the Winelands, as well as the Garden Route and the Karoo. With his fleet of luxury minibuses and chauffeur tour guides on board, Percy devises personalised tour schedules for his clients that may be action-packed and adventurous or chilled-out and relaxed, depending on their needs and wishes.
Whichever way, visitors are assured of personal 1-to-1 attention from Percy and his team. And with his vast knowledge on a range of topics, from the colourful history of Hermanus to the fauna and flora, adventure activities and wine-making, all imparted with his trademark humour, visitors are informed and entertained in a way they’ll never forget and ensures that they return again and again.
Accredited and registered with both the Hermanus and Cape Town Tourism Boards, the Cape Wine Academy and CATHSSETA (the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority), Percy Tours is also the only wine tour operator in Hermanus that has been recommended in the Platter’s Wine Guide for the last 5 years. As the general secretary of HATT, Percy puts the safety of his clients first which is why his business is insured to the highest level and the team is trained in first aid.
It was a long and winding road that led Percy to Hermanus from the UK, where he grew up and attended boarding school before enrolling for business studies. He spent 5 years working in financial services but, as a self-confessed “rebellious rocker”, hung up his sober suits to join the “hedonistic London music industry” as national accounts manager for a large distribution warehouse. “I was very privileged to meet many famous music heroes,” says Percy, who partied with iconic bands such as Nirvana, the Chemical Brothers and Motorhead. Little did he know that another new chapter in his life was about to begin.
Although he’d traveled to Europe and North Africa, Percy only caught the travel bug when he went on a trip to South-East Asia in 1998. “I remember staying in a bamboo hut on a beach in Thailand and feeling like I was on a different planet,” he recalls. “It was so idyllic – I loved the warmth, the sea, the fish, the palm trees – paradise!” Back in London he yearned to return to the warmer regions of the southern hemisphere and convinced a mate in the music industry to accompany him on a back-packing trip to Sydney, Australia.
“We ended up travelling to 16 countries in 16 months, starting by covering about 26 000 km in Australia,” says Percy. Then embarked upon exploring and experiencing countries such as - New Zealand, Samoa, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and Mauritius, before Percy found his way to Southern Africa where he landed in Cape Town and slowly explored the coastline all the way to Durban, before taking a 21 day overland trip through Namibia, Botswana, Vic Falls and Zimbabwe. His last stop before his funds dried up was the Kruger National Park, and he reluctantly returned to London in mid 2001.
“I have always been a huge David Attenborough fan and a natural wildlife enthusiast,” says Percy. “But actually experiencing the natural wonders of mountains, forests, volcanoes, oceans, orangutans, turtles, dolphins, lions and elephants first hand is SO different and life changing than just watching a programme on television - the incredibly diverse African wildlife and gob-smacking scenery is utterly mind-bending and i feel in love with this awe-inspiring part of the world .”
Two years later, with the music industry shaken up by the internet, Percy lost his job in London. At the time he was about to head back to the Cape to attend a wedding with his South African girlfriend. They spent Christmas 2003 in Knysna and, with no job to return to in the UK, Percy decided to hire a car and spent an extra two and a half months exploring the Western Cape. Inspired by the natural beauty of Hermanus while also being fascinated with its marine life, especially the sharks and whales, Percy started thinking of settling in “this marvellous town”.
“It seemed an obvious choice for me to become a Tour Guide and start a tour operation,” he says. “Having lived in the hyper busy world of London and being used to the fast-paced lifestyle of the northern hemisphere, I was inspired by all the nature and open countryside around Hermanus. And I soon realised that there was a huge amount more as I discovered the incredible flora, the fantastic wines and the great photographic opportunities. I think that’s why I can relate so well to the experience of visitors to our region, as I’m able to see it not only through the eyes of a local Hermanus resident but also through the eyes of a first world tourist.”
After that trip, Percy did not waste any more time. He returned to London and within 6 short months he’d sold his flat, car and vast collection of records and was back in Hermanus in September 2004. He bought a house in Sandbaai just a stone’s throw from the sea and invested in his first mini bus. “I realised that renting a car is not an ideal way for tourists to explore the area, as it’s rather difficult to drive on the wrong side of the road with a map on your lap while trying to figure out where you are going - and to also take in all the incredible scenery and amazing sights that the Western Cape has to offer.”
After 12 years as a tour operator in Hermanus, Percy has become a true local and an ambassador for South Africa. “The longer I stayed in this delightful seaside town the more I’ve discovered the incredible amount of tourist attractions and leisure activities on offer. The tourism industry in Hermanus has literally exploded in the last 12 years and I’ve continued to adapt and expand my business to offer many varied, a comprehensive and diverse packages.
“The local municipality has realised the importance of tourism and there have been vast improvements in infrastructure. The town is neat and clean, the blue flag beaches are properly maintained and our heritage buildings are protected. Initiatives such as FynArts and the Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk are great, but our shops, wineries and restaurants need to extend their opening hours during the Tourism seasons to accommodate tourists, and especially at the weekends - as its amazing how many wine tours are simply thrown away on Saturday afternoons and Sundays for example.”
Percy says he also enjoys the entrepreneurial spirit of people in Hermanus and that cooperation and mutual support among the role players is essential. “Everyone is doing a fantastic job,” he says. “We all share the same passion and collectively we are stronger. Bravo to that!”
If there is anything he misses about the UK, Percy says it would be a proper English pub. “And the great variety of international cuisines in London and the English dry wit and silly humour along the lines of Monty Python and the Black Adder, which is quite different to the South African kind of humour.”
But for now he has no plans to go back to the UK. I ask him how difficult it was to adapt to the South African way of life. “Well, it took me a while to get used to the different rules of engagement and certain language peculiarities such as ‘now-now’”, he laughs. “But when i wonder why i am here, I simply get up in the morning, open my patio doors to be greeted by the beautiful mountains and the waves crashing on the shore. That’s when I’m reminded, ‘Aah… that’s why I live in this lovely place’.”
Authored by - Hedda Dreyer at The Hermanus News / The Village News - 26th July, 2016
When Percy Heywood tells me that he was hyper-active as a child, I have no problem believing him. “In fact I’m still told that I have too much energy!” he laughs. Fortunately for our town, Percy decided 12 years ago (2004) to expend this boundless energy and uninhibited enthusiasm on promoting Hermanus and surrounding areas, and sharing his passion for this corner of the world with local visitors and overseas tourists.
Percy Tours specialises in organising tailor-made and individualised tours, transfers, activities and accommodation in Hermanus, the Cape Peninsula and the Winelands, as well as the Garden Route and the Karoo. With his fleet of luxury minibuses and chauffeur tour guides on board, Percy devises personalised tour schedules for his clients that may be action-packed and adventurous or chilled-out and relaxed, depending on their needs and wishes.
Whichever way, visitors are assured of personal 1-to-1 attention from Percy and his team. And with his vast knowledge on a range of topics, from the colourful history of Hermanus to the fauna and flora, adventure activities and wine-making, all imparted with his trademark humour, visitors are informed and entertained in a way they’ll never forget and ensures that they return again and again.
Accredited and registered with both the Hermanus and Cape Town Tourism Boards, the Cape Wine Academy and CATHSSETA (the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority), Percy Tours is also the only wine tour operator in Hermanus that has been recommended in the Platter’s Wine Guide for the last 5 years. As the general secretary of HATT, Percy puts the safety of his clients first which is why his business is insured to the highest level and the team is trained in first aid.
It was a long and winding road that led Percy to Hermanus from the UK, where he grew up and attended boarding school before enrolling for business studies. He spent 5 years working in financial services but, as a self-confessed “rebellious rocker”, hung up his sober suits to join the “hedonistic London music industry” as national accounts manager for a large distribution warehouse. “I was very privileged to meet many famous music heroes,” says Percy, who partied with iconic bands such as Nirvana, the Chemical Brothers and Motorhead. Little did he know that another new chapter in his life was about to begin.
Although he’d traveled to Europe and North Africa, Percy only caught the travel bug when he went on a trip to South-East Asia in 1998. “I remember staying in a bamboo hut on a beach in Thailand and feeling like I was on a different planet,” he recalls. “It was so idyllic – I loved the warmth, the sea, the fish, the palm trees – paradise!” Back in London he yearned to return to the warmer regions of the southern hemisphere and convinced a mate in the music industry to accompany him on a back-packing trip to Sydney, Australia.
“We ended up travelling to 16 countries in 16 months, starting by covering about 26 000 km in Australia,” says Percy. Then embarked upon exploring and experiencing countries such as - New Zealand, Samoa, Borneo, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and Mauritius, before Percy found his way to Southern Africa where he landed in Cape Town and slowly explored the coastline all the way to Durban, before taking a 21 day overland trip through Namibia, Botswana, Vic Falls and Zimbabwe. His last stop before his funds dried up was the Kruger National Park, and he reluctantly returned to London in mid 2001.
“I have always been a huge David Attenborough fan and a natural wildlife enthusiast,” says Percy. “But actually experiencing the natural wonders of mountains, forests, volcanoes, oceans, orangutans, turtles, dolphins, lions and elephants first hand is SO different and life changing than just watching a programme on television - the incredibly diverse African wildlife and gob-smacking scenery is utterly mind-bending and i feel in love with this awe-inspiring part of the world .”
Two years later, with the music industry shaken up by the internet, Percy lost his job in London. At the time he was about to head back to the Cape to attend a wedding with his South African girlfriend. They spent Christmas 2003 in Knysna and, with no job to return to in the UK, Percy decided to hire a car and spent an extra two and a half months exploring the Western Cape. Inspired by the natural beauty of Hermanus while also being fascinated with its marine life, especially the sharks and whales, Percy started thinking of settling in “this marvellous town”.
“It seemed an obvious choice for me to become a Tour Guide and start a tour operation,” he says. “Having lived in the hyper busy world of London and being used to the fast-paced lifestyle of the northern hemisphere, I was inspired by all the nature and open countryside around Hermanus. And I soon realised that there was a huge amount more as I discovered the incredible flora, the fantastic wines and the great photographic opportunities. I think that’s why I can relate so well to the experience of visitors to our region, as I’m able to see it not only through the eyes of a local Hermanus resident but also through the eyes of a first world tourist.”
After that trip, Percy did not waste any more time. He returned to London and within 6 short months he’d sold his flat, car and vast collection of records and was back in Hermanus in September 2004. He bought a house in Sandbaai just a stone’s throw from the sea and invested in his first mini bus. “I realised that renting a car is not an ideal way for tourists to explore the area, as it’s rather difficult to drive on the wrong side of the road with a map on your lap while trying to figure out where you are going - and to also take in all the incredible scenery and amazing sights that the Western Cape has to offer.”
After 12 years as a tour operator in Hermanus, Percy has become a true local and an ambassador for South Africa. “The longer I stayed in this delightful seaside town the more I’ve discovered the incredible amount of tourist attractions and leisure activities on offer. The tourism industry in Hermanus has literally exploded in the last 12 years and I’ve continued to adapt and expand my business to offer many varied, a comprehensive and diverse packages.
“The local municipality has realised the importance of tourism and there have been vast improvements in infrastructure. The town is neat and clean, the blue flag beaches are properly maintained and our heritage buildings are protected. Initiatives such as FynArts and the Hermanus First Fridays Artwalk are great, but our shops, wineries and restaurants need to extend their opening hours during the Tourism seasons to accommodate tourists, and especially at the weekends - as its amazing how many wine tours are simply thrown away on Saturday afternoons and Sundays for example.”
Percy says he also enjoys the entrepreneurial spirit of people in Hermanus and that cooperation and mutual support among the role players is essential. “Everyone is doing a fantastic job,” he says. “We all share the same passion and collectively we are stronger. Bravo to that!”
If there is anything he misses about the UK, Percy says it would be a proper English pub. “And the great variety of international cuisines in London and the English dry wit and silly humour along the lines of Monty Python and the Black Adder, which is quite different to the South African kind of humour.”
But for now he has no plans to go back to the UK. I ask him how difficult it was to adapt to the South African way of life. “Well, it took me a while to get used to the different rules of engagement and certain language peculiarities such as ‘now-now’”, he laughs. “But when i wonder why i am here, I simply get up in the morning, open my patio doors to be greeted by the beautiful mountains and the waves crashing on the shore. That’s when I’m reminded, ‘Aah… that’s why I live in this lovely place’.”
Authored by - Hedda Dreyer at The Hermanus News / The Village News - 26th July, 2016
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Tours, Wineries, Sharks, Whales, Quad Biking, transport and 100s of Activities available via Percy Tours of Hermanus
ON TOUR WITH PERCY
I have seen Hermanus through the eyes of Percy... and it is beautiful....!!
Did you know that proteas are named after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form at will, because they have such a wide variety of shapes?
Did you know that only 4% of Southern Right Whales are born dappled (white or very light grey with darker markings, often mistakenly called albino) and that 98% of them born with this colour variation are male?
Did you know that Walker Bay was named after a British Naval officer and that the reason our cannons point inwards and not out to sea is to show that we are at peace?
Did you know that Hermanus has a minimal magnetic field (due to our sandstone rocks and lack of an electric railway line) and thus every compass in Southern Africa is calibrated here?
Do not feel disheartened if you are not au fait with any of the above, I must confess that I wasn't either until I went on a tour with the delightfully passionate and infinitely knowledgeable Percy Heywood of Percy Tours and Transfers – and I have lived in this slice of heaven for 16 years!
Tourism is vital to the economy and tour operators who are in direct contact with visitors are essentially ambassadors to the area. With this in mind, we are all extremely fortunate that over a decade ago Percy, who hails from England, fell in love with Hermanus and decided to settle here.
“When I first arrived, I was in awe of the beauty of this scenic seaside town with its pumping heart. It is a paradise of excellence and has such incredible diversity. It is in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom and the massive amount of unique flowers and plants is gob-smacking. It is a wonderland for bird enthusiasts with more than 250 bird species, many of whom live here and nowhere else. It is regarded by WWF and Greenpeace as one of the best land-based whale-watching spot in the world. The numbers of marine creatures – whales, sharks, penguins, seals, fish and crustaceans are mind-blowing. Gansbaai, which is just around the corner, is the number one place to cage-dive with sharks on the planet. There are a bucket-load of exciting activities on offer such as kayaking, scuba diving, tree-top canopy rides, scenic flights, quad-biking, sand-boarding and loads more. The award-winning wines produced in the region are spectacular, the restaurants serve up delicious world-class fare and the locals are friendly and hospitable. It is just brilliant!” bubbles passionate Percy.
He was originally a national accounts manager in the sales and marketing world of corporate High Street in London and he knew that with his extensive sales and marketing knowledge, he would be able to successfully market both Hermanus and the Western Cape to the world. And so Percy Tours and Transfers was born, with the mandate to craft designer tours of Hermanus and the Western Cape to suit the individual needs of clients – and it is a dazzling success.
Percy and his vivacious associate, Tanya Malan, both have their CATHSSETA-approved national certificates in Tourism Guiding in the Western Cape. With their fleet of luxury mini buses, extensive knowledge, friendly and engaging personalities, keenness to go above and beyond, willingness to adapt and deep love for what they do, it is no surprise that Percy Tours and Transfers is continually voted first place on Trip Advisor and that they have a plethora of happy clients around the world who enthuse about their phenomenal experiences and who regularly return for more.
Percy really is a one-in-a million kind of person – his effervescent personality, cheeky humour and ardour for our country is contagious. I must say that I do agree with one of his recent clients who wrote on Trip Advisor, 'Percy for President'. He is a marvelous ambassador, and we are really lucky to have him.
If you are a visitor to Hermanus or even a local, please give Percy a call and let him show you our magnificent town through his eyes, it is a beautiful sight to see!
For more information visit Percy Tours at - www.percytours.com - or - call / WhatsApp on 0027 72 062 8500
“When pondering "passion for Hermanus" the first name I think of is Percy Heywood. He vibrantly lives out his passion for the beauty of our environment and the diversity of our people. Percy gives memories to locals and tourists alike, to treasure forever.” – Alderman and former Mayor of Hermanus, Nicolette Botha-Guthrie
Authored by Leigh Bouwer, Editor at Whale Talk magazine - September 2016
I have seen Hermanus through the eyes of Percy... and it is beautiful....!!
Did you know that proteas are named after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form at will, because they have such a wide variety of shapes?
Did you know that only 4% of Southern Right Whales are born dappled (white or very light grey with darker markings, often mistakenly called albino) and that 98% of them born with this colour variation are male?
Did you know that Walker Bay was named after a British Naval officer and that the reason our cannons point inwards and not out to sea is to show that we are at peace?
Did you know that Hermanus has a minimal magnetic field (due to our sandstone rocks and lack of an electric railway line) and thus every compass in Southern Africa is calibrated here?
Do not feel disheartened if you are not au fait with any of the above, I must confess that I wasn't either until I went on a tour with the delightfully passionate and infinitely knowledgeable Percy Heywood of Percy Tours and Transfers – and I have lived in this slice of heaven for 16 years!
Tourism is vital to the economy and tour operators who are in direct contact with visitors are essentially ambassadors to the area. With this in mind, we are all extremely fortunate that over a decade ago Percy, who hails from England, fell in love with Hermanus and decided to settle here.
“When I first arrived, I was in awe of the beauty of this scenic seaside town with its pumping heart. It is a paradise of excellence and has such incredible diversity. It is in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom and the massive amount of unique flowers and plants is gob-smacking. It is a wonderland for bird enthusiasts with more than 250 bird species, many of whom live here and nowhere else. It is regarded by WWF and Greenpeace as one of the best land-based whale-watching spot in the world. The numbers of marine creatures – whales, sharks, penguins, seals, fish and crustaceans are mind-blowing. Gansbaai, which is just around the corner, is the number one place to cage-dive with sharks on the planet. There are a bucket-load of exciting activities on offer such as kayaking, scuba diving, tree-top canopy rides, scenic flights, quad-biking, sand-boarding and loads more. The award-winning wines produced in the region are spectacular, the restaurants serve up delicious world-class fare and the locals are friendly and hospitable. It is just brilliant!” bubbles passionate Percy.
He was originally a national accounts manager in the sales and marketing world of corporate High Street in London and he knew that with his extensive sales and marketing knowledge, he would be able to successfully market both Hermanus and the Western Cape to the world. And so Percy Tours and Transfers was born, with the mandate to craft designer tours of Hermanus and the Western Cape to suit the individual needs of clients – and it is a dazzling success.
Percy and his vivacious associate, Tanya Malan, both have their CATHSSETA-approved national certificates in Tourism Guiding in the Western Cape. With their fleet of luxury mini buses, extensive knowledge, friendly and engaging personalities, keenness to go above and beyond, willingness to adapt and deep love for what they do, it is no surprise that Percy Tours and Transfers is continually voted first place on Trip Advisor and that they have a plethora of happy clients around the world who enthuse about their phenomenal experiences and who regularly return for more.
Percy really is a one-in-a million kind of person – his effervescent personality, cheeky humour and ardour for our country is contagious. I must say that I do agree with one of his recent clients who wrote on Trip Advisor, 'Percy for President'. He is a marvelous ambassador, and we are really lucky to have him.
If you are a visitor to Hermanus or even a local, please give Percy a call and let him show you our magnificent town through his eyes, it is a beautiful sight to see!
For more information visit Percy Tours at - www.percytours.com - or - call / WhatsApp on 0027 72 062 8500
“When pondering "passion for Hermanus" the first name I think of is Percy Heywood. He vibrantly lives out his passion for the beauty of our environment and the diversity of our people. Percy gives memories to locals and tourists alike, to treasure forever.” – Alderman and former Mayor of Hermanus, Nicolette Botha-Guthrie
Authored by Leigh Bouwer, Editor at Whale Talk magazine - September 2016
Great White Shark and Copper Shark in Hermanus, Gansbaai, near Cape Town, South Africa, magazine article
Great White Shark and Copper Shark in Hermanus, Gansbaai, near Cape Town, South Africa, magazine article
Great White Shark and Copper Shark in Hermanus, Gansbaai, near Cape Town, South Africa, magazine article
Whales and Whale Watching in Hermanus, South Africa
Wines of Hermanus article in Hermanus Whale Talk magazine
Whale watching in Hermanus article in Whale Talk magazine in Hermanus
Percy Tours of Hermanus celebrated, in 2017, over 14 years of conducting tours, activities and adventures of Hermanus, Cape Town and the Western Cape
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Wine and Food Festival of Hermanus designated Transfers company - with Percy Tours
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Hermanus Tourism Indaba August 2016
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Hermanus On Tour 2015 Durban Tourism Indaba
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Local Hermanus based Tour Operators, Tour Guides and Tourism Transport companies show their solidarity and utmost excellence to customer services
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Percy Tours of Hermanus is number ONE for Tours, Activities and Day Trips in Hermanus on TripAdvisor
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2014 Winner of Excellence on TripAdvisor
2013 Winner of Excellence on TripAdvisor
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Percy Tours in 2020 John Platter SA Wine Book
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WINE TOURS of Hermanus and the Cape Winelands - CLICK HERE
For the 14th year in a row, we are honoured that the influential John Platter Wine book of South Africa, has listed us, as the ONLY Wine Tour Guides in Hermanus that John Platter recommends; check us out on page 674 of the new 2024 book - or by checking out John Platters website - http://www.wineonaplatter.com/blog/page/1219
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Percy Tours of Hermanus celebrated, in 2024, over 20 years of conducting tours, activities and adventures of Hermanus, Cape Town and the Western Cape
Wine Tours of Hermanus, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and beyond.... conducted by Percy Tours
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