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Whale watching
At the southern tip of Africa, where two of the world's greatest oceans
converge, a total experience of land, sea and the rainbow culture of the
Western Cape offer you the most exciting land based whale watching
venues in the world!
Each year Southern Right whales migrate into the coastal waters of the
Western Cape to calve and nurse their young. The animals, often mere
metres from the shore, provide unsurpassed whale watching opportunities
between June and November. Humpbacks migrate through the region
between May and December each year, while Bryde's whales are found
slightly further offshore all year round.
At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off
South Africa. However, the Route is most famous for encounters with
southern right whales, humpback whales, and several coastal dolphin
species. You can also see African penguins, Cape fur seals, black
oystercatcher birds and a variety of other marine life.
The Cape Whale Route stretches for 900 km from Doringbaai on the West
Coast to Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Places from which to observe these gentle giants include Hermanus, where
the Whale Cryer informs on whale sightings and where whales come into
the old harbour to calve, then all along the coast to Gansbaai, further down
to Cape Agulhas, Struisbaai and Arniston, where whales come into the
protected waters.
Behaviours
Whales tend to show of in the following manner:
Blowing: A sound made when expelling air through the blowhole. This is
accompanied by a spout of condensed water vapour. This however is the
normal breathing pattern of the animal.
Breaching: Leaping out of water in an arching back flip and falling back on
their sides or back with a resounding slap. This is believed to be a way of
communication, exercise or possibly to scratch the parasites off that live on
whales. They can braech form 3 to 8 times in succesion.
South Africa retains its position as the fifth fastest growing whale- watching
destination in the world.Only 16 permits have been issued countrywide to
ensure regulation of the industry and minimum intrusion on the whales who
come to the warmer waters of the south to mate.
What you might see there: Humpbacks, southern rights, Bryde's whales,
orcas
When to go: July to November
Viewing options: Shoreline, boat
From July to December whales can be seen at the shores of South Africa.
Holiday makers who have been in the Kruger National Park and are visiting
the Western Cape, will be able to see all the 'BIG SIX'.
That means besides the big 5 mammals lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard and
elephant the whale as well. Most common in south african waters are the
Southern Right Whales. The name originated when these creatures have
been hunted extensively. They have been the 'right' whales for hunting
because they have been slow and did not drown after killing. That made it
easy for the whale hunters.
Today the estimated number of Southern Right Whales is about 7000,
approximately 2000 of them are on the shores of South Africa. The birth
rate is 7 %, that means every 10 years the population doubles (for
comparison: the world population grows by 3%).
From mid July the whales are coming back from the Antarctic. They are
staying here until beginning of December to calve, breed and mate in the
save and warm waters.
The right whales are baleen whales with bow-shaped lower jaw and a
head that is up to one-quarter of the body length. The head is hairier than
most whales; up to 300 hairs are found on the tip of the lower jaw and 100
are on the upper jaw. There are also callosities (a series of horny growths)
behind the blowhole, on the chin, above the eyes, on the lower lip, and on
the rostrum (the beak-like upper jaw). Right whales are similar to bowhead
whales, but smaller. Right whales are rich in blubber and have 2 blowholes.
The eyes are very small and lips are large. They were named by whalers
who considered them the "right" whales to hunt, since they were rich in
blubber, they were easy to catch (they are relatively slow swimmers) and
they floated after being killed.
SIZE
Northern right whales females grow to be about 50 feet (15.5 m) long,
males are about 49 feet (15 m) long. They weigh approximately 120,000
pounds (54,000 kg). Southern right whale females are about 54 feet
(16.5 m) long, males are about 50 feet (15.2 m) long. The females are
slightly larger than males, as with all baleen whales.
SKIN, SHAPE, AND FINS
The right whale's skin is usually black with white and/or brown patches.
Calves are blue to gray colored. Right whales have no
dorsal fin and no throat grooves. They have large flippers.
BREATHING
Right whales breathe air at the surface of the water
through 2 blowholes located near the top
of the head.
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