Guide to whale watching in South Africa

South Africa is one of the best places in the world to see whales.

There are many places here where you can spot the impressive mammals. Get right up close and enjoy the spectacular scene when the wild whales swim right in front of you. Whale watching is a unique experience which you’ll never forget.

Here is our guide to whale watching in South Africa.

What is whale watching?

Just as you can go on safari on dry land in South Africa’s national parks, you can also go on safari off the coast and look for marine animals such as whales and dolphins.

When you go whale watching, you look out for wild whales in the open sea.

There are two types of whale watching: land-based and water-based.

Land-based whale watching

As the name suggests, land-based whale watching takes place on land.

Position yourself high on South Africa’s scenic cliffs and enjoy the view over the beautiful sea as you look out for the wild animals.

There are countless whale spots along the southern coast of South Africa. One of the really good places to see whales is in Hermanus, south of Cape Town, which is known as the whale capital. There is even a “whale crier” here, who in the high season blows a horn when the whales are spotted off the coast. Go for a walk along the coast where the whales come right into the bay during the high season. Sit yourself down on one of the many benches and experience the giant animal right up close.

Water-based whale watching

If you’d like to get even closer, and almost feel the spray from these giants of the ocean, you can go on an exciting whale watching trip on the water. Out on a boat, you’re in with an even greater chance of spotting the whales.

In whale season, the boats head out to sea several times a day in search of the whales. On the boat trip, you’ll often learn about the whales from a guide who also knows exactly what to look out for when spotting whales.

How do you spot whales?

It’s no secret that it’s a privilege to be able to see whales right up close. And if you know what to look out for, there’s an even greater chance of getting lucky.

4 things to keep an eye out for

When the whales blow: Keep an eye – and an ear – out for the huge animals blowing and breathing through their blowholes, sending small fountains up into the air.

When the whales breach: Look forward to watching the big whales emerging from water and hitting the surface again with a big splash. Whales can generally breach three to eight times in a row. The whales’ jump is thought to be a means of communication, exercise for the animals or to remove of the parasites that live on them.

When whales slap their tails: You may also experience the loud sound it makes when the whales slap their big tails against the water. The whales’ slapping of their tails is also believed to be a method they use to communicate.

When the whales come spying: Just as we humans want to know what’s going on around us, whales are equally curious and want to stay informed. So, notice when the whales rise vertically out of the sea with their head and body – roughly up to where the flippers hit the surface of the water. Then you know that the whales are acting as “spies”, keeping an eye on the environment around them.

When is the best time to go whale watching in South Africa?

The best time to go whale watching in South Africa is between June and November. These months might be high season, but there is never any guarantee of seeing whales. The whale season reaches its absolute peak around August-October, when your chances of seeing whales are greatest.

From June to November, the whales make their way from the cold waters of Antarctica to the warmer waters of South Africa to mate, calve and raise their young. With the whales close to the coast, there’s a higher probability of spotting these magnificent animals.

Which whale species might you see?

It’s possible to experience several different species of whales off the coast of South Africa, but it’s typically the southern right whale that you’ll see. However, there is also a chance of seeing the humpback whale and the Bryde’s whale.

The southern right whale is so named from the time when people went whaling. Back then, the right whales were seen as the “right” whales to catch, as they came right in to the coast and at the same time tended to float when they were dead.

If you’re lucky, you’ll also have the opportunity to spot killer whales and dolphins on your whale watching excursion.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller