Whale Watching in South Africa - All you need to know

Sure, it’s called whale watching, but watching is only the start! You’ll stand in awe, be mesmerized and truly humbled by these giants off the coast of South Africa. And the season has only just started … All you need to do is decide if you want to experience it on land or from a boat.

Numerous Cape Town-based/start safari trips include a stop in Hermanus and/or other great whale-spotting places. If seeing one of these incredible creatures in their natural habitat  is up there on your ‘must see’ list, speak to one of our helpful travel consultants and we’ll get your trip planned.

Whale! by Navin Rajagopalan

Something particular you're looking for? Here's a summary of, and links to, the questions we answer in this blog:

• When is the best time for whale spotting?
• Where is the best places to see whales?
• What is the Hermanus Whale Festival?
• What whales are seen in South Africa?
• What’s the best way to see the whales?
• What are the top tips for spotting whales?
• Who’s the whale crier?
• Is there a doctor on board? Seasickness and whale watching
• What are De Hoop Nature Reserve and The Whale Trail?
• Can you hook me up with good-to-know whale vocab?
• A fabulous tale about a whale

What is the best time to see these giants up close?

You’re in luck. The season for whale watching in South Africa is from June until November. That’s half of the year! Great to know, if you want to include whale watching in your trip to South Africa.

Where is the best place to go whale watching?

Cue: insider info – many a local will tell you that they already blow, breach, fluke, lobtail and spy hop (see our useful 'whale-speak' section) as early as the month of May. This wondrous marine migration is to be witnessed on an almost endless stretch of the South African coastline – from far, far up the Cape West Coast, curling around Cape Point, stretching onwards to the southern tip of Africa, along the spectacular Southern coastline, and heading for the East Coast as far as Mozambique.

In the bay by confluence

There’s no need to travel too far from beautiful Cape Town, as the Cape Whale Route stretches from Cape Town to Cape Agulhas, with Hermanus boasting some of the best whale watching points in the world. Check out our
Accommodated Garden Route Adventure Tour from Cape Town, 3-Day Accommodated Tour of the Garden Route and 6-Day Cape Town, Garden Route & Addo Backpacking Safari as three examples of our many trips that can include whale watching.

The Southern Right Whale is best viewed from Hermanus, especially Walker Bay. This location is known as the top land-based whale watching site in the world. The month of September is peak whale-watching season in this coastal village and it’s no more than a two-hour drive from Cape Town, with delightful coffee shops and popular restaurants dotted along the way.

On the way, stop at Peregrine for the dreamiest coffee milkshake in the whole of the Overberg region, not to mention their freshly baked buttermilk rusks. If your tummy’s rumbling, The Orchard and Houwhoek Farm Stall are the undisputed kings of pies! Their fillings are downright mouth-watering and plentiful. We digress … let’s get back to the beach. 

Orchard Farmstall by FB

A short drive from Hermanus you’ll find the coastal town of Gansbaai – also regarded as a mecca for whale watching – especially boat-based whale watching. Not only will you enter the natural habitat of South Africa’s Marine Big 5 to see whales, but also dolphins, penguins, seals and great white sharks!

What’s this we hear about The Hermanus Whale Festival?

From 27 until 29 September, visitors migrate to this popular eco-marine festival to pay homage to, especially, the Southern Right Wales. It’s been a much-anticipated date on the calendar for the past 28 years and rightfully the largest gathering of humans and mammals on the Cape Whale Coast.

Hermanus Whale Festival by FB

Of course, the whales-day  steal the limelight and the flash lights, but they’re joined on terra firma by talented musicians and entertainers, fantastic food markets and regional wine tastings to ensure both young and old enjoy a whale of a time.

Which whale species will I take pictures and have footage of?

A staggering 37 species of whales migrate from the summer feeding grounds of Antarctica to the warmer waters of South Africa to mate, calve and rear their young in sheltered bays and coves. The most commonly found whales off the coast of South Africa are Humpbacks, Southern Rights and Bryde’s, with sightings of others, like Mikes, Blue whales, Sperm and Killer whales occasionally being reported.

What makes the Southern Right Whale the big attraction?

Easily answerable when you check out these measurements and character traits:

• Size: 50 ft (15.25 m)
• Weight: 70 tonnes (63.5 m tonnes)
• Group name: Pod
• Protection status: Endangered
• Females produce calves on average once every three years
• Southern Right calves drink almost 600 litres of milk per day while sucking
• They were the first of the large whales to be protected in 1935
• Southern Rights dive to a maximum depth of about 300 metres
• Finally, their lifespan is estimated between 70 – 100 years

​Southern Right Whale by Bernard DUPONT

Another interesting titbit: These mammals elicit a loud, bellowing, grunting sound. It can carry up to two kilometres away. This wondrous sound is especially heard during night-time, so no, it’s not your father-in-law turning in his sleep.

Will I get to see Humpback Whales?

Pods of humpback whales choose to migrate down the west coast of Africa to eventually settle in the same waters as the Southern Rights between May and November. They will eventually make their way to the feeding and breeding grounds off Mozambique and Angola – but not until you’ve captured wonderful footage of them in their natural oceanic habitat.

Humpback Whale by Robbie Shade

Now for some humpback facts:

• Before heading for South African shores for breeding purposes, humpbacks feed on krill during the Antarctic summer
• A new-born whale calf can measure up to six metres long and weigh two tonnes after a gestation period of 11 to 12 months
• These humpbacks almost completely forego eating during the mating months. So no cravings whatsoever! They will live off the vast amount of fat stores they built up during feeding season
• The only known predator of humpies are killer whales, who injure the calves or the weak humpbacks in large pods

What other whales will I see in South Africa?

Third on the list are Bryde's whales, found offshore in False Bay. Pronounced “Brood-ess”, the Bryde’s Whale resembles quite a number of other whale species’ outward appearance, which often leads to misidentification, but for three prominent ridges on the rostrum.

Mom and baby by Bernard DUPONT

They’re known for spectacular feeding behaviours, which involve lunging, mouths agape, through schools of fish and krill. The female of the species will nurse their calves for six months … with no paternal influence! Once the weaning period is over, the mother leaves the calf to fend for itself. “You’re on your own buddy!”

What’s the best way to see the whales?

You’re spoilt for choice here. If you’re not a fan of bobbing about on the sea, you can see them from the cliffs of Hermanus. There’s a great cliff path to follow. In fact, there are plenty of high cliffs around there, so if you've got a good pair of binoculars you can do some worthwhile whale watching just sitting on the grass terraces or opt to spot them from your table at one of the many local eateries.

Harbour Rock by FB

If looking for whales makes you peckish, grab a bite at Harbour Rock. You may be lucky and see the whales in the bay while you enjoy their fresher-than-fresh fish and chips. If you’re wanting to be right on the bay, while eating delectable food, you can try Bientang’s Cave.

Wanting to get a little closer – without disturbing these magnificent animals, remember they’re wild animals and it’s their turf? There are numerous operators who offer trips out of both Hermanus and Gansbaai.

Kayaking by Rolf Kleef

If you’re adventurous and fit, you can opt to go on a guided kayak trip and you may be lucky to see whales frolicking in the bay on your trip, remembering that, by law, you are not allowed to come within 300 m of a whale. If they decide to come close to the kayaks, you move away.

If you’re more inclined to sit back and watch, go on a boat cruise. They are offered out of the harbour in both Hermanus in Gansbaai.

What are the top tips for spotting whales?

1. When looking for the whales out on the ocean, try and identify white patches – these white patches are waves breaking over the bodies of massive mammals
2. Keeping the white patch in sight, a fin might make a brief appearance. The whale is on a roll people! Seriously, they literally roll
3. A massive splash, even if it’s out of the corner of your eye, could be whales breaching. Focus on that spot for a moment. You are sure to be rewarded

Who’s the whale crier?

At this stage, we take great pleasure to inform you that you most certainly have friends is high places! When going a-whale watching in the Hermanus region, look and listen out for the whale crier standing close to the cliffs.

Alternatively, shark spotters on Boyes Drive in the Cape Peninsula provide the visitor with real-time updates. Let’s not forget the delightful dolphins which are to be found in the colder waters on the western side of the Peninsula, and bottlenose, common and humpback dolphins on the eastern (False Bay) side.

Is there a doctor on board? Seasickness and whale watching

Anyone got a spare brown paper bag? It’s handy to know that if you go on a boat-based whale-watching tour, there’s a good chance of receiving your colours in sea sickness.

You may need a raincoat by Willem van Valkenberg

Check-in beforehand at a pharmacy otherwise the pastry section of your morning’s buffet breakfast will, repeatedly, pay rather unwelcome visits.

You mean you haven’t paid a visit to De Hoop Nature Reserve yet?

There aren’t many reserves that offer as complete an outdoor experience as De Hoop – the ocean, sand dunes, a floral avalanche of fynbos and the picturesque Potberg Mountains. As for whale watching, the fidelity of the females to safe feeding and calving habitats brings these mammals in increasing numbers to the De Hoop region. The mother passes these instincts onto her calves which results in visitors being able to view this transient population of literally hundreds of whales that visit De Hoop shores annually.

De Hoop Nature Reserve by Axel Hecht

Have you ever been on a whale trail?

Since 2002, this five-day Whale Hiking trail must be one of South Africa’s brightest gems. It is truly an unforgettable experience and so popular that you’d have to book at least two years in advance! The Whale Trail itself spans over 55 kilometres (25 miles) from Potberg to Koppie Alleen (Solitary Hill) with five overnight stops. This leg warmer combines both mountain and coastal walking, predominantly through the aforementioned De Hoop Nature Reserve. It’s simply mind-blowing.

Can you hook me up with good-to-know whale vocab?

BREACHING

Breaching is leaping or twirling whales, believed to be either communication, playfulness or to help with skin irritations.

Wheeeeee by Ilse Orsel on Unsplash

LOBTAILING

Lobtailing is tail vertically out of the water whilst the rest of the whale is submerged, followed by a resounding slap on the water's surface

FLUKING

Fluking is like lobtailing – tail out of the water, but this time it is the start of a dive

SPYHOPPING

Just as it sounds, the whale lifts its head out of the water, perhaps to look around

BLOWING OR SPOUTING

Blowing or spouting is the action of blowing water from their blowholes at the tops of their heads. Southern right whales have two blowholes

Blowing by Nestor Galina

LOGGING

Logging is lying in the water with its head and back exposed, tail submerged.

Why don’t we wrap it up with a good ol’ whale tale?

Actually, it happened quite recently. So, here’s one of the more ‘unorthodox’ whale encounters on our local shores, this one in Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape.

A chap by the name of Rainer Schimpf was diving off the coast with a documentary crew trying to film the sardine run when a breaching whale reached the surface, its mouth wide open.

"It got dark and I felt some pressure on my hip," Schimpf explained. "Once I felt the pressure I instantly knew a whale had gripped me."

Schimpf took the encounter in his stride, despite the fact that the only thing between him and the whale’s massive jaws was a wetsuit. Schimpf said he immediately held his breath, anticipating that the whale would dive below the surface. The whale then turned and opened its mouth, freeing Schimpf.

"It happened extremely fast. From being on the surface and observing something, I became the inside man and suddenly was inside a whale," he added. "I'm sure it was a surprise for the whale as well."

Though the experience may seem harrowing, Schimpf managed to crack a joke about his encounter: "I don't think I had a whale of a time. I now have the inside knowledge of a whale which nobody else has."

Local witnesses were adamant in pointing out that the encounter was not an attack, guessing the whale likely thought Schimpf was a dolphin.

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So there you have it, everything you need to know about whales. Now all you need to do is book your trip -our lovely travel consultants are ready and waiting.