| -> | | | | During September, particularly, whales seem to be |
| Cape Town whale watching is a much-anticipated | | | | at their maximum concentration, with family |
| occupation for our family every year. Nothing | | | | groups putting on spectacular displays all over the |
| compares to the thrill of spotting these immense | | | | ocean. |
| creatures as they breach and spy hop in the | | | | Where? Hermanus: Whale Hot Spot #1 |
| ocean. | | | | This small Overberg town a little more than an |
| All the more reason then to make the most of | | | | hour's drive from Cape Town is known as the |
| every opportunity and ensure that very little time | | | | top land-based whale watching spot in Southern |
| is wasted. | | | | Africa. It even plays host to a Whale Festival |
| What brings Southern Right Whales to the Cape, | | | | every September. A couple of factors contribute |
| and why for only a limited season? | | | | to its justifiable fame, |
| Southern Right Whales spend the greatest part of | | | | - Firstly, the town is built along the coast of |
| their time in the icy waters of the Southern | | | | Walker Bay, which offers exactly the calm habitat |
| Ocean near Antarctica. This is where the strong, | | | | that whales seek for their temporary home. |
| cold current upwellings produce the large quantities | | | | - Secondly, much of the town is built along the |
| of zooplankton on which the whales feed. | | | | rocky cliffs of the Bay which form a natural |
| However, during winter the Southern Ocean is a | | | | amphitheatre round the ocean, thereby offering |
| pretty inhospitable place even for the mighty | | | | grandstand seats to watchers without being |
| whale. So the whales migrate north each year to | | | | forced to take to the sea. |
| calve and then raise their young in warmer, more | | | | Of course if you want to take to the sea, there |
| sheltered waters before returning to the | | | | are licensed boat-based operators who will be only |
| Southern Ocean in summer. | | | | too delighted to oblige you. |
| When is the Best Time to Whale Watch in and | | | | Where? False Bay: Whale Hot Spot #2 |
| around Cape Town? | | | | This wide shallow bay, home to Cape Town |
| Whales start arriving in Cape Town waters as | | | | suburbs such as Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, |
| early as May and can remain here until November. | | | | Fishhoek and Simonstown, is similarly well placed |
| However, there is no questioning the fact that | | | | for casual land-based whale watching. All the |
| August, September and early October offer the | | | | suburbs along its length offer elevated slopes ideal |
| easiest pickings when to comes to whale sightings. | | | | for keeping a vigilant eye on activity at sea level. |