It’s whale season in the Western Cape and time to explore the Cape Whale Route. Between May and December Southern Right Whales come so close to the Cape shoreline that visitors can watch whales from their hotels.
Southern Right Whale
Most of the whales seen in the area are Southern Right Whales although other less commonly seen whales include Bryde’s Whales, Humpback Whales and Killer Whales (Orca).
The town of Hermanus employs a “whale crier” to walk through the town announcing where whales have been seen. Boat-based whale-watching is also a popular tourist attraction in a number of other coastal towns in South Africa, such as Plettenberg Bay.
Many visitors to Cape Town think that the whales only visit the Hermanus area, but there are ample viewing spots in less than 30 minutes from Cape Town Central. On the Muizenberg to Simon’s Town area of the coast you can sit on the balcony of your guest house and watch a whales play. Anad the Cape West Coast offers ample opportunities to watch whales.
If you are keen on whale watching, the best thing to do is to book a whale weekend and ensure you get to see these giants of the sea – a spectacular sight that many folk only dream of experiencing.
