Seasonality of blue, sei and humpback whales was bimodal. Jul 31, 2014 the remains of a juvenile humpback whale thought to be a female washed up on a beach near the town of amanzimtoti on south africa s eastern coast early this morning. The whales tale is situated in the picturesque town of the bluff. I vanhoe sea safaris is regarded as one the leading boatbased whale watching companies in south africa, we operate just a 2 hour drive from cape town near the whale capital of the world hermanus and launch from the quaint fishing harbour of gansbaai. The war reduced the level of whaling in durban with many of the newer catchers being used by the south african navy as minesweepers while hostilities lasted. The whales migrate along the east coast of south africa through the coastal waters of durban and through to the warmer waters of mozambique and madagascar. Contact us whale watching in south africa hermanus. Durban, largest city of kwazulunatal province and chief seaport of south africa, located on natal bay of the indian ocean. Whale watching umhlanga rocks message board tripadvisor. Beached humpback whale near durban, south africa youtube. A carcass of a humpback whale calf has washed up on kwadukuzas blythedale beach, north of durban, paramedic services said on thursday. The apparent suicide game made news this week with claims that it was heading to south africa. Make your way to south africas 2000km long whale coast for a privileged encounter with the largest mammals on earth.
Blue whale suicide game hits sas shores south africa news. Baleen whales mysticetes are distinctive for having two blowholes and whalebone baleen plates hanging from the roof of the mouth to filter food. While the cape coast receives the most hype, the kzn coast boasts the highest number of sightings. Our photo of the day is two photographs, both of which are of southern right whales taken near hermanus, south africa. As they usually get close to the coasts, seeing them from the mainland is possible in several places, making the western cape of south africa one of the best places in the world for mainland whale watching. Whale watching in south africa southern right charters. Whales washing ashore may be due to ship strike, population dynamics, or an increase in human coverage and reporting. Whale watching south africa humpbacks, southern rights, bryde. For the best whale viewing experience 2hr form cape town, close to hermanus, you find gansbaai, trust the experts operating since 1996. There are at least 28 species of cetaceans seven baleen whales and 21 toothed whales in the gulf of guinea, of which ghanas coast covers 550 km from aflao to axim. It was founded in 1835 on the site of port natal and was named for sir benjamin durban, the governor of the cape colony.
Hermanus is well known for whales, and november is end of season as per above post. By the mid1960s, south africa had depleted their population of fin whales, and subsequently those of sperm and sei whales, and had to resort to hunting the small and lessprofitable minke whale. Beached humpback whale near durban, south africa video. Whale watching tours south africa best whale watching in. Ivanhoe sea safaris pioneered boatbased whale watching in south africa, we worked with respected scientists to set the regulations and rules of approach to ensure the animals flourish with minimal impact. Dolphin watching excursions durban forum tripadvisor. There is a company called advantage tours in durban that runs whale watching trips out of the harbor otherwise if you want more adventure or some of the party scuba dive try agulhas house in umkomaas 50 km south of durban. Dec 25, 2016 south africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching marine wildlife, including whales, whether from land or from boats, with spectacular annual visits from southern right and humpback whales and enormous pods of dolphins yearround. South africa is one of the top 10 locations worldwide for whale watching, with exceptional land and boatbased whale viewing from cape town and the garden route to the wild coast, richards bay and st lucia. Cape town whale watching south africa whale watching. Wed like to go on a dolphinwhale watching excursion.
Hi my husband and i are doing a two week selfdrive tour of kzn in july and will be in umhlango rocks for a couple of days. Dec 24, 2015 a south african beach popular with christmas holidaymakers has been closed until the carcass of a beached whale is removed amid concerns its blood may attract sharks, the city of cape town said. Here is our list of recommended whale watching companies in south africa. South africa is one of the top 10 locations worldwide for whale watching, with exceptional land and boatbased whale viewing from cape town and the garden route to the wild coast, richards bay and st lucia make your way to south africas 2000km long whale coast for a privileged encounter with the largest mammals on earth. Hi, visiting family in november, have been lucky to see dolphins and whales off coast of durban previously but wondered if there is any specific boat trips that go from durban or thereabouts which will take me closer than watching from the. The ocean safari is a trip to snorkel with whale sharks, this is for everyone with no experience necessary. Lucia tours and charters, operating from both richards bay and st. Dead whale closes popular south african beach amid shark.
If you want to experience south africas incredible marine wildlife for yourself, dont hesitate to get in touch. You can download the full, legible version of the infographic as a pdf document for your personal use right here, with our compliments this is a larger, high quality. Distribution and seasonal abundance of large cetaceans in the. Whale dolphin watching durban, durban, kwazulunatal. The route traverses several famous protected areas, including the garden route, tsitsikamma national park, and the transkei. Whale watching in south africa will leave you in awe. Whalewatching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay, south of cape town, up as far as st lucia in kwazulunatal on the east coast. A south african beach popular with christmas holidaymakers has been closed until the carcass of a beached whale is removed amid concerns its blood may attract sharks, the city of cape town said. Winter in south africa is an exceptionally special season for wildlife lovers. Planning a whalewatching route south african whalewatching territory runs from doringbaai, south of cape town, all the way east along the coast as far as durban. Whale watching tours south africa best whale watching in sa. For more info on whale watching in mossel bay and south africa, see our newly published section here.
The two men formed the south african whaling company in the same year, and brought two whaling ships to durban from sandefjord in norway. If you are considering visiting kwazulu natal or have already booked your kwazulu natal accommodation, then you are probably keen to see what activities are available and what there is to do in the area. Feb 24, 2018 the hunting and processing of whales in durban started in 1908 and finally ended in 1975. The hunting and processing of whales in durban started in 1908 and finally ended in 1975. Boat based whale watching south africa oceans africa. Yes the big 5, table mountain, and a spectacular flower season, but this month we celebrate the whale season in south africa and the gentle giants of the sea as they grace our coastlines with their presence. South africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching marine wildlife, including whales, whether from land or from boats, with spectacular annual visits from southern right and humpback whales and enormous pods of dolphins yearround. The popular resort town of hermanus has gained worldwide recognition as the worlds foremost land based whale watching destination so if you are planning to visit south africa and want to see the whales, head to hermanus for a front row seat. South africa is wellknown as one of the best destinations worldwide for watching whales. Whaletrips south africa the best tips for whale watching. Southern right whales, humpback whales, orca and brydes whales can all be seen here between july and december. Aug 26, 20 theres no better place than south africa to witness the seas most awesome creatures in action, and its topnotch restaurants, hotels, and culture round out the experience.
We share news and blog articles from across our various wildlife tours and marine big 5 adventures. Whales and dolphins cetacea can be divided into two major groups or suborders. Compilation of footage taken during the 2017 whale season in hermanus, south africa. Hi there welcome back i enjoy video and capturing great moments just wanted to share all footage shot over this past weekend at different times of the day, not more than 400m from the shore crazy. How to best enjoy whale watching in durban oyster box hotel. Hermanus whale watching near cape town, gansbaai in south africa. The fivebedroom mediterraneanstyle guest house has magnificent sights of the sun reflecting off the indian ocean and the sound of waves breaking onto the golden sand. Kwazulu natal whale watching south africa accommodation. The centre of south african whale watching is hermanus at the walker bay, 100 kilometers east of cape town.
By the mid1960s, south africa had depleted their population of fin whales. Whales and dolphins of south africa join a whale and dolphin watching tour with oceans africa. Marine conservation volunteering in africa african. The whale route starts along the south of cape town and extends to durban, 1,200 plus miles of whale watching coastline. They can be viewed from cliffs and beaches, with boat operators offering trips out to. Watching as a humpback whale breaches the ocean surface just a few metres from your research boat is a sight thats sure to take your breath away. The whales tale, durban accommodation south africa. Durban became a borough town in 1854 and was created a city in 1935. Whale watching south africa humpbacks, southern rights.
Samsa means the south african marine authority established in terms. The south coast of south africas western cape, now known as the whale route, offers great whale watching by boat and from land. Boat based whale and dolphin watching charters are available daily in most areas. The high cliffs of the western cape provide an ideal vantage point for the seasonal whale watching of southern right whales and the seaside town of hermanus holds its annual whale festival in september in celebration of all things cetacean. Whale watching and marine big 5 tours in south africa. Southern right whales migrate along the kwazulunatal coastline each year between may and september, seeking out south africa s warm waters to escape the chill of antarctica. South east african coastal migration corridor imma marine. Accommodation and reservations at the whale s tale, in durban.
Whale watching in south africa will leave you in awe videos by ph september 12, 2017, 11. Please kindly note that our company, whale and dolphin tours durban will be closed for this period from the 26th march 2020 until the lockdown is completed. Experience the thrill and the wonder of whale watching along south africa s scenic coast during this whale and wine tasting tour to hermanus. Whale watching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay, south of cape town, up as far as st lucia in kwazulunatal on the east coast. The south african whaling company founded by two norwegians in 1907 processed 106 whales in 08, and within a couple of years there were half a dozen companies competing in durban. The durban whaling industry started in 1907 after the norwegian consul in durban, jacob egeland, together with fellow norwegian johan bryde, raised funds in their home country to start a processing plant. Minke whales continued to be caught and brought to the durban.
African wings, southern right charters and dyer island cruises in the overberg. Hermanus whale watching best close encounters, purpose. Sep 18, 2017 whale, whale, whale, what have we here. These 23 hour boat based whale watching charters are available from plettenberg bay, knysna, hermanus, gansbaai and durban. Snorkel with whale sharks shark cage diving in south africa. How to spend 2 days in durban how to spend 1 day in durban how to spend 3 days on the garden route how to spend 3 days in johannesburg how to spend 3. The practice of whaling in south africa gained momentum at the start of the 19th century and ended in 1975. Humpbacks and brydes whales are mostly spotted offshore from boats, but by far the most commonly sighted species, either from land or from a boat, is the southern right whale.
Catch histories of the migration stream at durban are markedly different to those of. Aug 01, 2014 umhlangas distinctive whale bone pier is the worlds most beautiful, say proud tourism experts, from left, peter rose, chairman of umhlanga tourism, briony smith, tkzn manager for africa and the. Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa. The east coast of south africa is utilised by humpback whales megaptera. At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off south africa, and is. For people who have not snorkeled then you can just hold onto the boat when in the water and watch the whale shark go by. Following our south african presidents call for a national lockdown. Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the western cape. Where to whale watch in south africa fodors travel guide. Whaledolphin watchingdurban is at wilsons wharf online. Accommodation and reservations at the whales tale, in durban. Experience the thrill and the wonder of whale watching along south africas scenic coast during this whale and wine tasting tour to hermanus. Southern right charters offers boatbased whale watching tours from the new harbour in hermanus, the capital of. Contact us ivanhoe sea safaris, south africas oldest boat based whale watching and eco marine tour operator since 1996.
Only a 2 hour drive from cape town transport options are available, dyer island cruises offers our guests the potential to see more marine wildlife in one trip, than anywhere else in the country. Brush up on your lingo, and watch several different types of whales showing off their breaching. The company bought an exfactory ship called the empire victory in 1949. As long as you are comfortable in the water and can snorkel, then this is easy and safe. Yes the big 5, table mountain, and a spectacular flower season, but this month we celebrate the whale season in south africa and the gentle giants of the sea as they grace our coastlines with their. A stretch of golden sandy beaches as far as the eye can see, all year round warm indian ocean, sunny clear. From this mediterranean styled guest house you will be awakened to the magnificent sight of the sun reflecting on the indian ocean, with waves breaking onto the golden sands, boats and ships will be passing by and you may see the early morning surfers riding the waves alongside the dolphins while you enjoy your breakfast.
The peak time, when daily sightings are virtually guaranteed, is during september and october. The best whale show ever, durban south africa, epic. Whalewatching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay, south of cape town, up as far as. The best time for whale watching in south africa is during our winter months from july to november. Cetacean strandings in ghana appear to be becoming more common. The whale s tale is situated in the picturesque town of the bluff. Whales and dolphins of south africa join a whale and dolphin watching tour with oceans africa whales and dolphins cetacea can be divided into two major groups or suborders. Whale and dolphin watching durban posted in interactive advantage tours was succesful in obtaning the boatbasedwhaledolphin watching governmental permit in durban were here now to be an asset to this city. Whaling in durban stopped in 1975 but older residents wont have any problem remembering those days and, in particular, the very bad smells which wafted from the whaling stations on the seaward side of the bluff and made the lives of people living nearby a misery. They can be viewed from cliffs and beaches, with boat operators offering trips out to sea for an even closer encounter. Jun 19, 2006 planning a whale watching route south african whale watching territory runs from doringbaai, south of cape town, all the way east along the coast as far as durban.
From this mediterranean styled guest house you will be awakened to the magnificent sight of the sun reflecting on the indian ocean, with waves breaking onto the golden sands, boats and ships will be passing by and you may see the early morning surfers riding the waves alongside the dolphins while you enjoy your. Thousands of whales were slaughtered whilst the whaling station was in operation. Explore our growing selection of things to do in kwazulu natal, or view the events that are taking place in kwazulu natal during your stay, or. Whale and dolphin watching durban showme south africa. Volunteer at a marine conservation project in south africa study whales, dolphins and inspire local communities about the marine environment.
Youll journey along 170 kilometers of african landscapes, past the false bay, bettys bay and houston. At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off south africa. Minke whales continued to be caught and brought to the durban whaling station. The whales tale durban south africa accommodations. South africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching marine wildlife, especially whales. The remains of a juvenile humpback whale thought to be a female washed up on a beach near the town of amanzimtoti on south africas eastern coast early this morning. Whale oil rendered from the blubber was the most important product in those days, but just about every fragment of the huge creatures was used up in one way or. After the safety briefing and launch you should remain dry. Whale watching blog, south africa dyer island cruises. Distribution and seasonal abundance of large cetaceans in the durban whaling grounds off kwazulunatal, south africa, 19721975.
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