The South African “Whale Coast” or “Whale Route” stretches from the West Coast of the country all the way to the Cape South Coast. Here you will find not only Southern Right Whales, but Humpbacks as well. Increasingly, Orcas are being spotted along the south coast.

The West Coast

More rugged than the south coast, the West Coast is populated by subsistence fishing folk, and their thatched, whitewashed houses are typical of the area. There has been a great deal of interest in the West Coast over the past few years, and it has become a popular holiday destination with more and more holiday homes being built in the area. The area is also famous for its spring flowers. Whale watching spots are:

• Lambertsbaai: the seafood hotspot of the West Coast! Known as the crayfish mecca of South Africa. Snoek is also available during a snoek run which takes place a couple of times during the year.

• Elandsbaai: a small town, popular with surfers and bird watchers. Known for its seafood cuisine.

• Paternoster: a beautiful little town, very popular with sea kayakers. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com

• Saldanha Bay: Saldanha is the largest natural bay in South Africa.

• Yzerfontein: known for its natural beauty, vast stretches of beach and tranquillity,.

• Langebaan: one of the top windsurfing and kite surfing spots in the. The lagoon is perfect for kayaking. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com

Cape Town

The country’s Mother City. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com

• False Bay, Simonstown, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, The Strand, Gordons Bay: plenty of whale watching opportunities all along this coast. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com

South Western Cape

• Pringle Bay: large penguin breeding colony.
• Betty’s Bay: great whale watching spot – penguins too. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com
• Kleinmond: popular holiday town, close to Arabella golf estate. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com
• Hermanus: considered the best land based whale watching spot in the world!
• Gansbaai: The ‘big two’ town of Gansbaai offers both Great White Shark and Southern Right Whale viewing. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com
• De Kelders: just before Gansbaai, the settlement offers a hiking trail along its cliffs which allows fantastic views.
• Kleinbaai: just outside Gansbaai, it’s the place from which the shark cage diving boats depart
• Pearly Beach: has a protective, shallow bay offering the whales a sanctuary in which to mate and calve.

• Cape Agulhas: the bay attracts a number of pairs of mother and calf at a time. It’s also where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.
• Struisbaai: The longest uninterrupted white beach in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Arniston: a charming 200 year old fishing village, unspoilt sand dunes and nature reserves.
• De Hoop Nature Reserve: not all that easy to get to, but worth the trek!

• Witsand: the most important whale nursery on the African Coast and one of the greatest concentrations of Southern Right Whales comes here to calve every year.

Whale, Dolphin and Seal watching tours: Plettenberg Bay Legally permitted boat based Whale, dolphin and seal watching tours. Various private charters and group tours available. Sightings include Southern Right, Humpback, Brydes whales and Bottlenose, common and humpback dolphins as well as other surprisesStarting at 400 Rand Per Person

Garden Route

• Stillbaai: vast open spaces, a tranquil river and pure white sandy beaches
• Gouritzmond: small village at the mouth of the Gouritz River.
• Dana Bay: west of Mossel Bay. For more accommodation options: Booking.Com
• Mossel Bay: a bustling resort town in summer; with temperate winter weather. More accommodation in Mossel Bay can be found here or at Booking.com.
• Hartenbos: adjacent to Mossel Bay – bursts at the seams over December!
• Great Brak River: a pretty hamlet on the river, between Mossel Bay and George.
• Herold’s Bay: tiny resort – worth the visit.
• Wilderness: a famous resort, very beautiful surroundings. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com
• Sedgefield: popular retirement spot.
• Knysna: one of South Africa’s most popular destinations. Very beautiful – a town with a great buzz! More accommodation in Knysna can be found here or at Booking.com.
• Plettenberg Bay: just as good as Hermanus for whale watching – but plenty of humpbacks as well. A pretty town popular with the jet set. For more accommodation choices visit: Booking.Com

No related posts.