Whale watching in south africa december 23, 2015 south africa is one of the best destinations for watching marine mammals, whether from land or from boats, with spectacular annual visits from southern right and humpback whales and enormous pods of. Blaize lighthouse above your head, so theres that too. The apparent suicide game made news this week with claims that it was heading to south africa. Whales and dolphins of south africa join a whale and dolphin watching tour with oceans africa whales and dolphins cetacea can be divided into two major groups or suborders. A guide to whale watching in south africa flight centre uk. The peak time, when daily sightings are virtually guaranteed, is during september and october. Main season is from may to october, there are halfday tours in the false bay or from gansbaai. Whale watching in hermanus prices, rates and specials of the hermanus whale watchers. Africa is home to some of the best whale and dolphinwatching destinations on earth, from the tip of south africa s cape coast to the straits that wash moroccos northern shores. Best time for whale watching in south africa rhino africa. Youll journey along 170 kilometers of african landscapes, past the false bay, bettys bay and houston. New season of bering sea gold will premiere april 1st on.
We also boast one of the limited whale watching permits allocated country wide. Dolphin species to be found in south africa include bottlenose, humpback, common and dusky dolphins see whales and dolphins of south africa. By the mid1960s, south africa had depleted their population of fin whales, and subsequently those of sperm and sei whales, and had to resort to hunting the small and lessprofitable minke whale. This article gives you the ins and outs of this wonderful season which runs from july till november. Whale watching tours south africa best whale watching in sa. Dolphins are found the year round and dolphin watching tours and charters are available in most coastal areas.
Dates are flexible and customizable for private departures. The whale viewing during the months of july and august vary from year to year with regards to how many. Humpbacks and brydes whales are mostly spotted offshore from boats, but by far the most commonly sighted species, either from land or from a boat, is the southern right whale. Whale trail hermanus, cape whale coast, garden route south africa is undoubtedly one of the most exciting whale watching destinations in the world. Every year, southern right whales take a vacation in cape waters, treating cape town locals to a display of breaching, fluking, spouting, and spyhopping. Whaletrips south africa the best tips for whale watching. We share news and blog articles from across our various wildlife tours and marine big 5 adventures. Peak calving season, and therefore viewing season, is during july and august. While whale watching in hermanus is annually from june till december. Whale watching south africa south africa travel news.
Definitely it is the whales authenticity and the absolute trust they show towards us. However, if it is not quite whale watching season then what you are left with is an important, and coincidentally one of south africas oldest, archaeological excavations instead. Four species are seen along this route, of which southern right whales are the most commonly sighted when they come into mossel bay to calve. The best time to enjoy whale watching in hermanus is between july and november either from land, by boat or from the air. The three types of whales that are most often spotted in south africa are the southern right whale, the humpback whale and the bryde whale. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation like bird watching but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the western cape. Capetourism has a collection of photos of the whales and great white sharks in false bay, cape town, south africa. Aug 26, 20 theres no better place than south africa to witness the. South africa whale watching tour and african safari zicasso. South africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching marine wildlife, including whales, whether from land or from boats, with spectacular annual visits from southern right and humpback whales and enormous pods of dolphins yearround.
Winter in south africa means something very exciting whale season has arrived. The season for whale watching along the east coast is expected to be between june and december, with humpback whales being the stars of the seasons. Find south africa whale stock images in hd and millions of other royaltyfree stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the shutterstock collection. You can download the full, legible version of the infographic as a pdf document for your personal use right here, with our compliments this is a larger, high quality. More than 400,000 people per year watch the southern right whales off south africa. Just a 2 hour drive from cape town to the whale capital of the world hermanus, launching from gansbaai. If you want to experience south africa s incredible marine wildlife for yourself, dont hesitate to get in touch. A south african beach popular with christmas holidaymakers has been closed until the carcass of a beached whale is removed amid concerns its blood may attract sharks, the city of cape town said. The south coast of south africas western cape, now known as the whale route, offers great whale watching by boat and from land. The best time to enjoy whale watching in hermanus is between july and november either from land, by boat or from the air via a scenic flight. We went to see the whales at the peak of south africa s whale season. Yes the big 5, table mountain, and a spectacular flower season, but this month we celebrate the whale season in south africa and the gentle giants of the sea as they grace our coastlines with their presence. Southern right whales, humpback whales, orca and brydes whales can all be seen here between july and december. The prevalence of entanglements is seasonal with the peaks in activity coinciding.
South africa is the worlds fifth fastest growing whale watching destination. March is the best time, as the newborn seals gather at the beach in high numbers. One of the most popular whale watch destinations of south africa is hermanus, a small coastal village just 120 kilometres from cape town. West south africa and localities of all photo identification and biopsy. Brydes whale brydes whales are named after the norwegian consul to south africa, john bryde, who helped set up the first whaling station in durban. Whale tail, whale up close, southern right calf jumping. Experience the thrill and the wonder of whale watching along south africa s scenic coast during this whale and wine tasting tour to hermanus. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat, enjoyed by millions of people around the world every year. Hermanus whale watching is renowned for the most prolific whale viewing experience in the world. Yes the big 5, table mountain, and a spectacular flower season, but this month we celebrate the whale season in south africa and the gentle giants of the sea as they grace our coastlines with their. Feb 02, 2016 exploring whale coast, south africa road trips across the world. Everything you need to know about whale watching in south. We specialize in boat based whale watching and we pride ourselves in offering a uniquely personalized service to all our clients.
Whalewatching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay. Whale watching season in hermanus is june to late nov each year. This fishing town is one of the best places in the world for shorebased whale watching, ideal for those who prefer to stay on dry land. Southern right charters whale watching 15,186 views 4. Whale watching in the western cape south africa travel news. Dec 24, 2015 a south african beach popular with christmas holidaymakers has been closed until the carcass of a beached whale is removed amid concerns its blood may attract sharks, the city of cape town said. Whale watching in south africa is so popular that whales have joined the. The route traverses several famous protected areas, including the garden route, tsitsikamma national park, and the transkei. Download southern right whale resting at sea surface, in. Mar 30, 2015 heres our list of top places to go whale watching in south africa, plus the best times of the year to guarantee the most satisfying sightings. The atlantic ocean waters off south africa are home to a diverse range of marine creatures, but finding the best viewing spots requires local knowledge.
The best time for watching the southern right whale in south african waters is from june to november along the cape south coast, although. One year of whale watching in just one infographic. Africas top ten whale and dolphinwatching destinations. As they usually get close to the coasts, seeing them from the mainland is possible in several places, making the western cape of south africa one of the best places in the world for mainland whale watching. Heres what you need to know about whale watching in cape town. There isnt a better time for whale watching in south africa than right now because the southern right whale is busy congregating just off the countrys coastline.
The annual hermanus whale watching season is upon us again. Peak calving season is july and august, but whales can still be seen through september and october. Most sightings happen from july to october and, as the whales tend to. Some of the most common sightings are of mighty southern right whales, making waves as they breach and goof around with their young.
At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off south africa. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and. Hermanus whale watching near cape town, gansbaai in south africa. Whale watching season, boat trips in hermanus, south africa. Dec 25, 2016 south africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching marine wildlife, including whales, whether from land or from boats, with spectacular annual visits from southern right and humpback whales and enormous pods of dolphins yearround. Hermanus whale watching season runs from june to december however, these are wild animals and should the whales change their migration schedule arrive early and leave later we will adjust our schedule accordingly.
Whale watching in south africa is of the best in the world. Sep 18, 2017 whale, whale, whale, what have we here. On this tour, take to the waves with your guide and cruise to the best whale and penguinwatching. This polynesian archipelago is one of the few places in the world that permits swimming with humpback whales, who journey here from antarctica each year to mate and give birth. Whales and dolphins are some of the most spectacular species on the planet, and encountering them in the wild is an enriching and often emotional experience. The whale viewing during the months of july and august vary from year to year with regards to how many whales are. Nov 02, 2017 we went to see the whales at the peak of south africa s whale season. Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa.
The worlds 8 best destinations for whale watching and. Take a look at our photoblog of some of our latest sightings from southern right charters. The high cliffs of the western cape provide an ideal vantage point for the seasonal whale watching of southern right whales and the seaside town of hermanus holds its annual whale festival in september in celebration of all things cetacean. Numerous whale watching trips depart the harbor every few hours in season. Brydes whales can be seen off the south african coast year round, albeit further out. Theres no better place than south africa to witness the seas most awesome creatures in action, and its topnotch restaurants, hotels, and culture round out the experience. Download scientific diagram regions of relevance to west african humpback. Oct 30, 2017 the best time for whale watching in south africa is from june until october, though whale watching season starts as early as may and lasts until november. The allnew season of bering sea gold premieres wednesday, april 1 at 9pm etpt on discovery channel. Hermanus whale watching best close encounters, purpose. Baleen whales mysticetes are distinctive for having two blowholes and whalebone baleen plates hanging from the roof of the mouth to filter food. Whale season stretches from july to november with peak sightings during september and october.
Whale watching blog, south africa dyer island cruises. Relish the rich natural beauty and diversity that south africa has to offer, and enjoy the finest marine viewing experiences. South africa is wellknown as one of the best destinations worldwide for watching whales. Whale watching is an unforgettable experience and visitors travel far. Download 2020 south african music videos download sa videos. Pdf the major causes of large whale entanglement in south africa are static fishing. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet.
Id love to do some whale watching while there but i understand that march isnt a very good time for it. From may to november, pods of whales migrate to warmer waters to mate, calve and rear their young. Oct 24th, 2017 dolphins, photo blog, sightings, whales. Whale watching in hermanus, south africa is the place on the planet to whales up close. Season ends at the north american east coast with still good chances to see. Nothing prepares you for your first whale and the impact that seeing it has upon you. South africa may be known for its big five, but the marine wildlife is just as impressive. South africa s whale season is starting to take off and soon along the west coast you will spot whale pods as they wow spectators with their formidable presence mere metres off the coastline. Download this free photo about southern right whale resting at sea surface, in hermanus, south africa, and discover more than 4 million professional stock photos on freepik discover thousands of free stock photos on freepik. Brydes whales can reach depths of up to 300m while diving and can stay submerged up to a maximum of 20. Hermanus has a glorious coastline and stunning scenery. Hermanus has been recognized by the wwf world wildlife fund as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world.
Hermanus originally called hermanuspietersfontein, but shortened in 1902 as the name was too long for the postal service, is a town on the southern coast of the western cape province of south africa. In season, from june to november, the 65 km whale route along the greater mossel bay coastline is superbly suited to view whales. Occasionally, humpbacks, brydes whales, orcas and various kinds of dolphins can be seen, too. Whale season has started south africa tours ashanti blog. In fact, some parts of southern africa are considered to be the best in the world for landbased whale spotting. Blog whale watching season in south africa hotspots2c. Whale watching south africa humpbacks, southern rights.
Ivanhoe sea safaris is universally regarded as the leading boatbased whale watching company in south africa, near hermanus and operate from gansbaai harbour. They arrive off the coast of south africa in june and remain until november, where they mate, calve and frolic to the delight of many visitors who come especially to see these giants of the ocean. South africa the best tips for whale watching in south. They are mediumsized, dark grey in colour with a white underbelly. The best time for watching the southern right whale in south african waters is from june to november along the cape south coast, although some will already be as far north as kwazulunatal. The whaleplanner october a whale watching infographic whaletrips. The curious humpback whale can be seen between may to december, moving up along the coast from hermanus to st lucia in kwazulunatal. Jun 19, 2006 the best time for watching the southern right whale in south african waters is from june to november along the cape south coast, although some will already be as far north as kwazulunatal. Season the peak whale watching season along the south african coast is from july through october when the southern right whale is resident along the cape south coast and humpback whales frequent the waters off the elephant coast in kawzulu natal. Whale watching in hermanus with the table bay hotel. Whale watching south africa hermanus, cape whale coast. It is famous for southern right whale watching during the southern winter to spring seasons, and is a popular retirement location, too. Go on a safari in south africa and add right whales and great white sharks to the.
South africa is one of the top 10 locations worldwide for whale watching, with exceptional land and boatbased whale viewing from cape town and the garden route to the wild coast, richards bay and st lucia. Where to whale watch in south africa fodors travel guide. Dec 23, 2015 hermanus is a town on the southern coast of the western cape province of south africa, famous for southern right whale watching during the southern winter and spring. Dead whale closes popular south african beach amid shark. Regions of relevance to west african humpback whales a and. To find out where the whales are, you can call a special hotline or listen out for the towns whale crier, who blows a kelp horn to signal activity in the bay. Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. Outside of whale season there is still a lot to be seen on any marine tour. The best time for whale watching in south africa is from june until october, though whale watching season starts as early as may and lasts until november. The best time for watching the southern right whale along the cape south coast is between june to november, with peak calving season in july and august.
Please be aware that the whale watching season reopens june 2020 indicates. Contact us at whale hermanus to discuss all your whale, whale watching boat trips, activities, tours and accommodation wishes while on holiday in hermanus. Whale watching season is early june to early december in hermanus, south africa. Whale watching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay, south of cape town, up as far as st lucia in kwazulunatal on the east coast. I was more than a little thankful to hear that only 16 permits have been issued allowing operators close to the whales, which means we intrude on these beautiful beasts as little as possible. This south african holiday route hugs the coast through the most crowded parts of this giant whale nursery, where in season you can see up to 20 at play at a time. Southern right whales are the main attraction for whale watchers in south africa from june to november. South africa is one of the best places in the world for whale watching whilst our waters are home to a wealth of resident dolphins, porpoises and whales all year round it is the annual migration of the humpback, brydes and southern right whale in particular, between june and november, that allows us to boast exceptional landbased, and boatbased, whale watching in south africa.
All you need to know about whale watching in south africa. For whale watching at hermanus contact us whales and. You can download the full version of the infographic as a pdf document for your. Blue whale suicide game hits sas shores south africa news. Peak calving season is july and august, but whales can be seen through september and october. The curious humpback whale can be seen between may to december, moving up along the. Whale watching south africa humpbacks, southern rights, bryde. South africas whale season is starting to take off and soon along the west coast you will spot whale pods as they wow spectators with their formidable presence mere metres off the coastline. The whale route starts along the south of cape town and extends to durban, 1,200 plus miles of whale watching coastline. Whale watching in south africa cape whale coast youtube. The centre of south african whale watching is hermanus at the walker bay, 100 kilometers east of cape town. We werent always this lucky whale hunters took a devastating toll on numbers from the 1800s onwards, and as whales with calves were the main targets, the population plummeted. Make your way to south africas 2000km long whale coast for a privileged encounter with the largest mammals on earth. Hermanus is undoubtedly the whale watching capital of the western cape, if not south africa.
Pdf trends and interventions in large whale entanglement along. The best time of the year to do this tour is during the whale season from july to november. Enjoy this video, which serves as a stark reminder of how winter in south africa still beats even a summers day in london. Whales and whale watching in hermanus, south africa cape whale coast. The practice of whaling in south africa gained momentum at the start of the 19th century and ended in 1975. It hosts an annual whale festival to celebrate the returning of the southern right whales to this bay during the calving and mating season.