Whale watching tops many a bucket list. The ocean holds so many untold secrets and to see such vast creatures in their natural environment – a little glimpse into the magnitude of their world, is for many, a once in a lifetime experience.South Africa is globally recognised as a whale watching hotspot, from both land and the water, with some species residing in the waters here throughout the year, and others journeying across oceans to reach them each year. Whale season in South Africa typically runs from around June to November when the coastline begins to heave with these enormous marine mammals.
The Whales
- Bryde’s whales call South Africa home all year round. They like the warmer, equatorial waters in the area and have brightened up many a day, particularly outside whale season when the sightings are unexpected!
- The whale most commonly associated with the country is the Southern Right. They migrate here annually from Antarctica in order to mate and calve in these more temperate waters. They’re known as the Southern Right whale because they were once considered ‘the right whales to hunt’ due to their desirable meat and high oil content. The name has stuck.
- These two species are joined each year by the Humpback whales, who stop for a bit of a break around the South African coastline before continuing their journey. They demonstrate quite some endurance, with some populations covering 5,000 miles as they move from tropical breeding waters to cooler feeding waters.
- The Minke whale is a less commonly sighted whale in these waters. Your best chance of seeing this small rorqual whale is during whale season but sightings outside that period have been reported and it’s thought that some may be resident throughout the year.
- Another whale that’s seen with far less regularity but can be sighted on occasion is the Sperm whale. Again, the best chance is during peak whale season when they migrate, and if they’re seen it’s usually along the coastlines of the Western or Eastern Cape. It might seem a strange name for a whale, but the sperm whale’s name comes from ‘spermaceti’, a waxy substance found in their head. Whalers incorrectly believed the substance to be sperm. Scientists remain unsure of what its function actually is.
- Blue whales use South African waters as a migratory corridor rather than for breeding or for feeding, and thus can be sighted very occasionally.
- One of the most exciting developments in South African whale watching recently has been the arrival of a pair of Orcas. Promptly named Port and Starboard, South Africans have watched agog as the duo have attacked and driven out the sharks that formerly patrolled the coastline.
It’s possible to see whales from the water on a dedicated boat trip, but in the right place, it can also be done from land. While heading out by boat allows closer proximity to these massive marine mammals, shore-based whale watching expands the experience from a concentrated boat trip to the duration of a stay. It’s also an ideal solution for those who suffer from queasiness out on the water.
One of the finest places for land-based whale watching is Lekkerwater in De Hoop Nature Reserve in South Africa’s Western Cape – around a three hour drive out of Cape Town. This is one of the world’s most important calving grounds for Southern Right Whales and from July to October hundreds of Southern right whales arrive from Antarctica to calve and breed in the calm waters. Positioned alongside the water’s edge, Lekkerwater’s situation means you don’t even need to leave the lodge to indulge in a spot of whale watching, even if they start performing just as you’ve sat down for dinner. These gentle giants come astonishingly close to shore – often within mere metres of the beach. Mothers come to give birth and nurse their calves before tackling the long journey south to their summer feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean. Keep your eyes peeled for plumes of mist as they blow or the distinctive circular footprint they leave as they dive – both are telltale signs, easy to see from shore that they’re in the area. This is whale watching at its most intimate – no boats, no crowds, just the rhythmic soundtrack of waves and whale song.
From the comfort of your beachfront room, you’ll be able to watch as they cavort in the water outside, and you’ll find that every corner of your private deck offers remarkable sea vistas to immerse you in one of nature’s most moving mammal migrations.
If whales are on your wish list, Lekkerwater is an ideal destination, with plenty more to explore between your whale watching endeavours.
