WHALES

Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) migrate to the coastal waters off our shores between June and November each year to calve, nurse their young and mate. Our coastline offers excellent viewing from the shore or licensed boats. Once hunted extensively for their oil and blubber, their numbers are now increasing due to conservation and an international ban on whaling.

Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) may be seen as they migrate along the coast between May and November en route to their feeding and breeding grounds off Mozambique and Angola.

Bryde’s Whales (Balaenoptera brydei) are found further offshore all year round and the Orca (“Killer Whale”) (Orcinus orca) is also occasionally seen.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Of the 81 species found worldwide the Southern Rights have to be the number one performers although they are also probably the most docile. The area surrounding Hermanus to Koppie Alleen in the De Hoop Nature Reserve extending up the coast to Plettenberg Bay are the most prolifically visited spots along our coastline.

DOLPHINS

Heaviside (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) (which are endemic to our western coast side of the Peninsula) and Dusky Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscures) are found in the colder waters on the western side of the Peninsula

Bottlenose (Tursiops truncates), Common (Delphinus delphis) and Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) are found on the eastern side of the Peninsula all year round.

SEALS
Cape Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) can be viewed
throughout the year. The remains of seals are common
archaeological diggings, indicating that they were a
ready source of food. Robben Island was named after
the Cape Fur Seal. Specific colonies of seals exist on
islands along our coastline and are best seen from boats.

PENGUINS

The African (Jackass) Penguin (Sphensicus demersus) is one of the most threatened bird species in the region. Some fifty years ago, numbers were estimated at 3 million. Today less than 3% of these remain. They are found in colonies at specific places along our coastline and can be viewed all year round.

SHARKS

The Great White (Carcharodon carharias) is a notorious predator but is today regarded as threatened due to inappropriate negative publicity and indiscriminate killing. The viewing of sharks from a boat or cage diving has become a major attraction at specific locations along our coast. The best known area is at Kleinbaai some 52kms from Hermanus.