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Whale calving travel info Every year Southern Right Whales nurture their calves in Walker Bay until they are ready for the considerable journey to the krill-rich feeding grounds of southern Antarctic waters.
Hermanus is the hub of Walker Bay, boasting the best shore-based whale-watching in the world, just two hours drive from Cape Town. This quaint coastal town comes alive during the whale season, which reaches its peak during the whale festival (23-26 September). Here you can enjoy an arts and crafts market, guided walks to the whales, great food and wine, sporting and environmental activities as well as art exhibitions. For children, there are plenty of fun shows, stalls and activities. The town employs a 'whale crier' to walk through the town announcing where whales have been seen.
What makes Hermanus incomparable is that you can observe whales from virtually anywhere – a restaurant table, the harbour wall, the coastal rocks, the car, the bedroom window, the beach or parking lot! And with a little bit of ingenuity and a lot of scrambling, you can seek out your very own, secluded whale-watching spot. Here, whales enchant you with spectacular breaching (leaping out of the water and crashing to surface on side or back) and tail-slapping displays, or by coming so close to shore that you, chilled South African wine in hand, can admire mother and calf wallowing 5m away. The tranquillity is only interrupted by the call of seagulls, the peaceful lapping of waves or the explosive ‘blowhole’ breath of the whales.
These gentle Cetaceans have a circumpolar distribution between 30 degrees and 55 degrees South and can be distinguished from other whales by the callosities on the head, the mostly black and stocky body and by the v-shape ‘blow’ upon exhalation. They can reach 18 meters in length and weigh between 40 and 80 tons. They are called the "Right" whales as they were once considered the ‘right’ whale to hunt, as they are slow-moving, and rich in oil and baleen. They were nearly hunted to extinction (the Northern Right whale is virtually extinct), however Southern Right whale numbers are now increasing slowly at 7% a year.
Boat trips are a great way to appreciate the coastline and the whales but please ensure that your operator has a legitimate boat-based whale-watching permit. Other marine animals that you may encounter out at sea are Bryde’s whales and Humpbacks (May-Dec), dolphins, seals, penguins and, closer to shore, the endangered Black Oystercatcher bird.
While you're there, be sure to visit Bientang’s Cave Restaurant, The Rock Restaurant & Gecko Bar for fabulous views of Walker Bay and the whales.
We recommend:
ecoTrip: 3 day Overberg Overture - explore the area with a naturalist guide
ecoDestination: Grootbos Lodge - excellent whale/seal/bird viewing, guided nature walks & horse-rides
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