It’s a gorgeous Cape Town day, the sea in False Bay is glassy and it was with great excitement that we saw our first whale from our office in Glencairn! So although some other whales have been spotted, this is our first sighting and it means that whale season has officially started.
Most of the whales that we spot are Southern Right Whales, though it is not uncommon to find humpback whales or occasionally Brydes whales. The Cape Point Route has some of the best land based whale watching in South Africa but it is a treat to take a boat into the bay to get up close and personal.
Whales are the giants of the sea and approximately the same size as 12 elephants! If you are lucky you may even experience some cool whale behaviour.
•Breaching – whale clears the surface with two-thirds or more of its body, often with a twisting motion! Amazing!
•Blowing – normal exhalation and inhalation pattern at the surface. Look for the spray!
•Spy hopping – whale rises vertically to a point where the eyes are above the water, then spins round to look at the area.
•Pectoral slap – whale rolls onto the side and slaps its pectoral (side) fins against the water.
•Lobtailing or tail slap - whale lifts its flukes (whale tail) out of the water and brings them down onto the water hard and fast. The sound can be heard for miles!
Whale watching boat trips leave Simon’s Town harbour daily at 09h00, 12h00 and 14h30 and the trip lasts for 2 hours. It is advisable to book in advance, but please be aware that all trips are subject to weather conditions. Trip costs R800 per adult and R550 for children under the age of 12.
You can book you whale watching trip with Cape Point Route.
Read about the "permanent" whale tail in Glencairn here or our 2007 boat trip to Cape Point where we saw a huge pod of humpback whales.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment