It’s Whale Season!

Whale Season officially kicks off in South Africa in June and runs until December each year. But nature doesn’t always work to the clock…

It showed this when the long-awaited marine giants rocked up behind the breakers at Die Plaat in De Kelders, in Walker Bay, as early as April this year. They’ve been pretty shy elsewhere, but returned to Walker Bay again recently with reinforcements, lob tailing and breaching for all to see, according to the folks at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, who managed to capture these marine mammals on video.

What it’s all about

The best time to see whales in the Western Cape is June to November, known as Whale Season. That’s because each year at this time Southern Right whales migrate to the coastal waters of the Western Cape to calve and nurse their young. You can often see them only a few metres from the shore, making for great photo opportunities and once-in-a-lifetime experiences – for those visitors who’ve yet to see the beasts.

The Whale Route starts along the south of Cape Town and extends to Durban, passing through many protected areas, such as the Garden Route and Tsitsikamma National Park. The Cape Whale Route stretches for 900 km from Doringbaai on the West Coast to Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park. Viewing sites, to name a few, include Elandsbaai, Saldanha Bay, Yzerfontein, Cape Town, Betty’s Bay, Gansbaai, Cape Agulhas, Struisbaai, Arniston, De Hoop Nature and Marine Reserve, Witsand, Still Bay, Mossel Bay, Victoria Bay, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Robberg Peninsula and many more.

At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off South Africa, but it’s southern right whales, humpback whales, and several coastal dolphin species that are most popular here. You can also see African penguins, Cape fur seals, black oystercatcher birds and other marine life. Humpbacks migrate through here between May and December each year, whereas Bryde’s whales are found slightly further offshore all year round.

Whale Lingo

You’ve probably heard these peculiar terms used in reference to whales and how they move their tails about like Beyonce and her booty on a dance floor before. If, like us, you were lost as to their meaning… read below, where we break it all down so you can impress the family with your new jargon when whale watching this season…

Breaching – when a whale leaps out the water, sometimes twirling around, for play or to loosen skin parasites and other irritations it might have. Breaching is also believed to be a means of communication with other whales and is usually done in sets of between four and six.

Fluking – when the whale raises its tail out of the water as it begins a dive.

Lobtailing – when it pokes its tail out the water, swings it around and then slaps it onto the water’s surface, producing a loud sound to, it is believed, communicate with other whales.

Logging – when the whale merely lies in the water, tail hanging down and part of the head and back exposed.

Spouting / Blowing – when whales blow water out the blowholes near the top of the head. Southern Right Whales have two blowholes, acting as nostrils. When they blow water out their blowholes a distinctive V-shaped cloud of vapour is produced, largely by condensation when warm breath comes into contact with cooler air.

Spyhopping – when the whale pokes its head out of the water, possibly to take a look around.

Hermanus

Hermanus is probably the most popular viewing site during Whale Season in the Cape. It has the world’s only Whale Crier, Wilson Salukazana, who patrols the streets and cliff paths, alerting everyone to the whereabouts of the whales by blowing on his kelp horn. Different horn “codes” refer to different points along the coastline where whales have been spotted. The key to these codes is found on the sandwich board he wears as part of his outfit.

Southern Right Whales come as close as 50 metres to the shore and are known to breach, lobtail, spyhop and court in the waters. This time of year the small seaside town and its B&Bs and guesthouses fill to the brim with keen whale-voyeurs. Book accommodation early to make sure you have several days to glimpse the giants.

WE RECOMMEND: Go on a whale-watching tour that takes you from Cape Town to Hermanus to not only experience this beautiful part of the Cape, but also make the most of Whale Season. Highlights include: the Harbour Museum in Hermanus; whale sightings; scenic Clarens Drive via Betty’s Bay and Pringle Bay; wine tasting and farm stall stop. Contact us for more.

Grootbos Private Game Reserve

The Whale Route area is particularly well known for intimate B&Bs and owner-run guesthouses. For the complete selection of our favourite hotel accommodation from Cape Town to Cape Agulhas on the Whale Route, click here. Be sure to spend a few nights at the five-star Grootbos Private Game Reserve. They were the first to report whales this year so our bet’s with them!

Stay in either the Grootbos Forest Lodge, which has 16 suites embedded in a 1500-year old Milkwood Forest, the Grootbos Garden Lodge, amongst beautiful indigenous fynbos gardens, or the Grootbos Villa, with six elegant suites, private butler, chef and guide, and views of Walker Bay. Accommodation is luxurious and an ideal retreat after a day of activities.

Grootbos is particularly ideal for watching them whales frolic, offering guest three ways to do so: by land, by boat or out of the air. Guests are accompanied by specialised guides on all trips. They also offer horse riding, scenic flights, birding tours, flower safaris, access to beaches and caves, shark cage diving and wine tours.

If you’d like to know more about tours and accommodation along the Garden Route, feel free to contact us, and for general information, click here.