Great white shark cage diving in seal island, false bay. Plettenberg bay in the western cape offers boat trips from its beach out into the calmer waters of its bay to. Whale watching blog, south africa dyer island cruises. Best hermanus whale watching, 5yrs running certificate of excellence unrivaled hermanus whale watching experience, 2019 hermanus whale season open. It is less well known for the occasional orca pod entering the bay to hunt dolphin, seals and game fish. The north side of the bay is the lowlying cape flats. False bay, bay on the south side of cape peninsula, south africa, mi 21 km southeast of cape town.
Pdf the major causes of large whale entanglement in south africa are static fishing. False bay afrikaans valsbaai is a body of water in the atlantic ocean between the mountainous cape peninsula and the hottentots holland mountains in the extreme south west of south africa. Hi, my wife and i are visiting cape town for the first time at the end of september. The water is about six degrees warmer than those of table bay but they are still generally quite icy. The killer whale pods that i have seen in the bay over the years appear specialist hunters of marine mammals.
Aug 26, 20 theres no better place than south africa to witness the seas most awesome. Whale watching tours south africa best whale watching in sa. South africa is without a doubt one of the worlds best as far as whale watching is concerned. Best place to watch cape town whales area simonstown and false bay youll see many whales from the side but also closeup from licensed boats. Implicit in the diversity is the promise of myriad picnic spots and lookout spots, particularly during the whale season when whales enter the bay to. Baleen whales mysticetes are distinctive for having two blowholes and whalebone baleen plates hanging from the roof of the mouth to filter food. Abstracthumpback whales megaptera novaeangliae are highly vocal, producing a. Africas top ten whale and dolphinwatching destinations.
Best time for whale watching in south africa rhino africa. There was a big swell on the day, as can be seen from the movement of the boat. Yes the big 5, table mountain, and a spectacular flower season, but this month we celebrate the whale season in south africa and the gentle giants of the sea as they grace our coastlines with their presence. Diving and coastal cool in false bay, south africa travel. Whale views gordons bay cape town nestling at the foot of the beautiful hottentot holland mountains where they tumble into the sea at gordons bay, whaleviews offers two self catering apartments dolphins leap and dolphins rest. Where to whale watch in south africa fodors travel guide. The route traverses several famous protected areas, including the garden route, tsitsikamma national park, and the transkei. Contact us ivanhoe sea safaris, south africas oldest boat based whale watching and eco marine tour operator since 1996. Whale watching on the false bay coast in simons town, cape town.
Today they do not attract quite the level of whale activity as towns further east, but come they still do. South africa is one of the top 10 locations worldwide for whale watching, with exceptional land and boatbased whale viewing from cape town and the garden route to the wild coast, richards bay and st lucia make your way to south africas 2000km long whale coast for a privileged encounter with the largest mammals on earth. Simons town boat company is the sole permit holder for boat based whale watching for the western half of false bay stretching from strandfontein all the way to cape point. Whales and dolphins of south africa oceans africa diving. Aug 08, 2012 no holiday to the cape of south africa would be complete without some whale watching. Its name refers to the fact that early sailors confused the bay with table bay to the north. If you want to experience south africa s incredible marine wildlife for yourself, dont hesitate to get in touch. In south africa he finally got to see the creature that.
Whale watching south africa humpbacks, southern rights. There is a very well developed beach culture in south africa accommodation options range from camping and backpackers to nice guest houses. The three types of whales that are most often spotted in south africa are the southern right whale, the humpback whale and the bryde whale. Just a 2 hour drive from cape town to the whale capital of the world hermanus, launching from gansbaai. Coast and the false bay area, b positions of southern right whale entanglements. The waters around south africa are internationally recognised as being hotbeds of marine activity, with places like false bay and gansbaai renowned for great white shark activity, while hermanus enjoys a fantastic whale watching season. The best time for whale watching in south africa is from june until october, though whale watching season starts as early as may and lasts until november. Information is provided without prejudice, and is not guaranteed accurate or.
The mouth of the bay faces south and is demarcated by cape point to the west and cape hangklip to the east. No holiday to the cape of south africa would be complete without some whalewatching. South africa is wellknown as one of the best destinations worldwide for watching whales. The centre of south african whale watching is hermanus at the walker bay, 100 kilometers east of cape town. He said orcas could be influencing the low number of white shark sightings in false bay and ganbaai this. Humpback whale assisted in disentanglement operation false bay. South africas false bay is known as the serengeti of the seas, such is the diversity of its marine life, providing incredible scenes for divers. Ivanhoe sea safaris pioneered boatbased whale watching in south africa, we worked with respected scientists to set the.
Oct 30, 2017 the best time for whale watching in south africa is from june until october, though whale watching season starts as early as may and lasts until november. Whale watching in false bay capetourism 3d maps of south. The best whalewatching destinations in south africa. False bay is located on the eastern side of the cape peninsula of south africa. Ivanhoe sea safaris pioneered boatbased whale watching in south africa, we worked with respected scientists to set the regulations and rules of approach to ensure the animals flourish with minimal impact. Accommodation gordons bay, cape town whale views luxury bed. Pdf trends and interventions in large whale entanglement along. False bay, in cape town, south africa is well known for its great white sharks, southern right whales and large seal colonies. Whale watching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay, south of cape town, up as far as st lucia in kwazulunatal on the east coast.
Whale watching from plettenberg bay, south africa youtube. Nov 08, 20 south africa s false bay is known as the serengeti of the seas, such is the diversity of its marine life, providing incredible scenes for divers. At 10h55, monday, 15th august, the sa whale disentanglement network sawdn volunteers were activated following eyewitness reports of. You can download the full version of the infographic as a pdf document for your personal use right here this is a larger, clear version. Jeffreys bay is one of the mandatory stops on the world surfing circuit. Searching false bay in south africa, to observe the rare hunting habits of killer whales in the area subscribe to discovery uk for more great clips. False bay, cape town south africa accommodation, hotels. Make your way to south africas 2000km long whale coast for a privileged encounter with the largest mammals on earth. Contact us whale watching in south africa hermanus. Youll journey along 170 kilometers of african landscapes, past the false bay, bettys bay and houston. False bay is world renowned as one of the best places to watch southern right whales, great white sharks, dolphins and the cape fur seal. Airjaws shark breaching trip false bay, cape town south. Accommodation gordons bay, cape town whale views luxury. There are two species of common dolphin found in false bay, the longbeaked and shortbeaked common dolphin.
This regional dive guide is intended to provide the already qualified scuba diver with information which will help to plan dives in the waters of the cape peninsula and false bay, whether as a local resident or a visitor. Whale watching near cape town false bay cape town central. Whale watching in south africa is so popular that whales have joined the. Aug 27, 20 these southern right whales were filmed on a whale watching trip with simons town boat company in false bay.
I was advised that false bay is the best place to go for whale watching, please could you advise where in false bay am i likely to get the best whale watching experience which at the same time is not too far from cape town, also can this all be done in a day trip from cape town, as i am considering hiring a car. A south african beach popular with christmas holidaymakers has been closed until the carcass of a beached whale is removed amid concerns its blood may attract sharks, the city of. The water in the bay is much warmer than the atlantic seaboard, being fed by the tropical benguela current, making it popular for swimming. Along the shores of false bay, the climate is mediterranean with enjoyable warm weather during summer. Dead whale closes popular south african beach amid shark. Whale watching tours south africa best whale watching in. You can download the full, legible version of the infographic as a pdf document for your personal use right here, with our compliments this is a. Killer whale action in false bay africa geographic. Diving the cape peninsula and false bay wikitravel. We also boast one of the limited whale watching permits allocated country wide. They are widely distributed in the offshore waters along the entire coast of south africa and love hunting fish in the marine rich false bay. Simons town boat company is the sole permit holder for boat based whale watching for the western half of false bay. The great white shark is one of the oceans most powerful predators, yet it is sometimes prey for orcas that killed several of the formidable creatures off south africas coast this month.
Africa is home to some of the best whale and dolphinwatching destinations on earth, from the tip of south africa s cape coast to the straits that wash moroccos northern shores. South africa is one of the top 10 locations worldwide for whale watching, with exceptional land and boatbased whale viewing from cape town and the garden route to the wild coast, richards bay and st lucia. In cape town itself, you can see them from the road along the false bay coast, and theyre distinctly visible on the western seaboard if you get high enough on the scenic coastal victoria road. False bay orca pod on the hunt for dolphins killer. Sep 18, 2017 whale, whale, whale, what have we here.
Dec 25, 2016 in cape town itself, you can see them from the road along the false bay coast, and theyre distinctly visible on the western seaboard if you get high enough on the scenic coastal victoria road. Capetourism has a collection of photos of the whales and great white sharks in false bay, cape town, south africa. An infographic for whale watching in south africa get all. False bay map cape peninsula, south africa mapcarta. Dec 24, 2015 a south african beach popular with christmas holidaymakers has been closed until the carcass of a beached whale is removed amid concerns its blood may attract sharks, the city of cape town said. Whale watching in south africa it was perhaps inevitable that jessamy calkins son would grow up with a fascination inspired by his name. On 26 march we managed to successfully get four from different animals. The main species that we see on our trips is the longbeaked common dolphin. Brush up on your lingo, and watch several different types of whales showing off their breaching, fluking, lobtailing, logging, spouting and spyhopping. The false bay coast is a continuous collection of seaside villages and hamlets, their narrow avenues lined with quirky and quaint shops, hotels, restaurants and pubs. Dolphins in false bay, south africa ultimate animals. Dave hurwitz, from the simons town boat company, has had several sightings in the last two months, a rather unusual occurrence as they dont not often spend so much time in false bay. Jun 26, 2017 killer whales suspects in cape shark killings.
Whalewatching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay, south of cape town, up as far as st lucia in kwazulunatal on the east coast. Jeffreys bay best whale watching towns in south africa. Great white shark cage diving, seal island, false bay in south africa with dive discovery. Experience the thrill and the wonder of whale watching along south africa s scenic coast during this whale and wine tasting tour to hermanus. We share news and blog articles from across our various wildlife tours and marine big 5 adventures. False bay has a remarkably similar shape to table bay and sailors arriving from the east easily mistook it for table bay. Sharks are being attacked by killer whales off cape towns coast. Whale views guesthouse is a guest house offering a refrigerator and a seating area in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests. South africa whale watching tour and african safari zicasso.
Start by hunkering down at a cafe anywhere on the false bay side of the. Experience the thrill and the wonder of whale watching along south africas scenic coast during this whale and wine tasting tour to hermanus. South africa the best tips for whale watching in south. False bay south africa accommodation, hotels and travel. Orcas prey on great white sharks in south african waters. Whales and dolphins of south africa join a whale and dolphin watching tour with oceans africa whales and dolphins cetacea can be divided into two major groups or suborders. If you want to experience south africas incredible marine wildlife for yourself, dont hesitate to get in touch. Get upcloseandpersonal to marine mammals in their natural environment experience the thrill of watching humpback whales lobtailing, southern right whales breaching, dolphins jumping and seals playing, and be awed by greatwhite sharks. Plettenberg bay in the western cape offers boat trips from its beach out into the calmer waters of. Simons town boat company are the only whale watching permit holders in false bay. Orca spotting in south africa may be a tough endeavour to undertake, however numerous ngos have dedicated their time to increasing the information on hand around these animals and growing the research available.
The water in the bay is much warmer than the atlantic seaboard, being fed by the. You can do this either from the shoreline, or better still take a boat tour out into the beautiful bay. A whale of a time villa, fish hoek, south africa tripadvisor. In cape town itself, you can see them from the road along the false bay coast, and. Best place to watch cape town whales false bay simonstown. Implicit in the diversity is the promise of myriad picnic spots and lookout spots, particularly during the whale season when whales enter the bay to calve. Several weeks later, a group of 1820 orcas were spotted in false bay, cape town. At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off south africa. It is a combination trip of flying great white sharks and shark cage diving in false bay, cape town in south africa with dive discovery. False bay false bay is located on the eastern side of the cape peninsula of south africa. Wellknown for its proximity to great restaurants, whale views guesthouse makes it easy to enjoy the best of gordons bay.
The whale route starts along the south of cape town and extends to durban, 1,200 plus miles of whale watching coastline. He said orcas could be influencing the low number of white shark sightings in false bay and ganbaai this season. Whales can also be seen all around the cape peninsula. Though, its best known for its phenomenal national parks and game reserves for wildlife viewing, south africa is also among the top ten best places in the world for whale watching. Theres no better place than south africa to witness the seas most awesome. Mar 30, 2015 10 hours of spectacular killer whale action were enjoyed on 26 march 2015 in false bay. Jeffreys bay is about an hours drive from port elizabeth. According to the city of cape town officials, the humpback whale was. The killer whale orcinus orca, also referred to as the orca whale or orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic. Since 1991, we have arranged trips to exotic locations utilizing the best dive and land adventure specialists. Aug 04, 2012 best place to watch cape town whales area simonstown and false bay youll see many whales from the side but also closeup from licensed boats. Further south, the town of hermanus in walker bay on the cape south coast offers possibly the best landbased whalewatching in the world.
The main species that we see on our trips is the longbeaked common. The best time for whale watching in south af rica is from june until october, though whale watching season starts as early as may and lasts until november. Whale watching south africa humpbacks, southern rights, bryde. For the past week i have been working offshore with two scientists in order to try and get a dna sample from a southern african killer whale. Relish the rich natural beauty and diversity that south africa has to offer, and enjoy the finest marine viewing experiences. Whale watching on the false bay coast in simons town, cape.
Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa. Set on the edge of the wine route, they are the perfect exclusive getaways from where you can explore cape town and the western cape. The water in the bay is much warmer than the atlantic seaboard, partly being fed by the subtropical agulhas current, making it popular for swimming. Cape hangklip east and cape point west are about 20 mi apart.
Both species feed on seals, dolphins, other sharks and fish. Hermanus whale watching in south africa, cape town near. Whales and dolphins are some of the most spectacular species on the planet, and encountering them in the wild is an enriching and often emotional experience. Hermanus whale watching best close encounters, purpose. False bay, cape towns peninsula during the late 1800s and 1900s false bay and table bay had thriving whaling stations, there were so many whales in the bays. Contact us ivanhoe sea safaris, south africa s oldest boat based whale watching and eco marine tour operator since 1996. Diving and coastal cool in false bay, south africa.
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