Whale Watching with Connect-123 Volunteers
On Saturday a group of about 15 Connect-123 volunteers drove to Hermanus for a day of whale watching. Some of us went sea kayaking to get closer to the whales. We left Cape Town early to avoid the high wind forecast for Walker Bay. During my last trip to Hermanus (see July 24th blog) it was windy and overcast and I didn’t see any whales. This time I was hoping Walker Bay would be full of the creatures and wasn’t disappointed!
The kayaks were sit-on-top, self-bailing, and easy to paddle. They enabled us to get closer to the Southern Right Whales. We we were in the Bay for about two hours. Other animals that frequent the area include resident Bryde’s Whales, Cape Fur Seals, African Penguins, many species of sea birds, Cape Otters, and an occasional pod of Dolphins. It was a sunny day and the sea cliffs and Overberg Mountains in the background added extra beauty to the experience.
Whale Behavior
Our guides did not recommend bringing cameras on the kayaks but they took photos during the outing and made a DVD available. A weekly air survey indicated about 40 whales (including calves) in the Bay. There are few killer whales spotted in Walker Bay, so it’s a popular and safe place for the migrating Right Whales to have their babies. Some whale behavior included:
- Breaching – leaping out of the water, sometimes twirling around (some think a breach removes parasites as they slap against the water on the way back down – others that the whales are having fun)
- Lobtailing – sticking a fluke out of the water, swinging it around, and slapping it on the water
- Spouting – blowing water out of blowholes on the top of a whale’s head
- Spyhopping – poking a head out of the water to take a look around
- Sailing – raising flukes vertically out of the water to use as sails
Much to our delight we saw many breaching and lobtailing whales! When a whale breaches it builds up energy and momentum and often does it several times in a row. We weren’t allowed to get closer than about 800 feet but enjoyed some spectacular sightings from our kayaks! Our bums and feet were soaking wet and the Bay was choppy and cold with sea swells, but it was worth it to see the whales close up. We also saw fur seals, penguins, cormorants, and gannets. The cormorants are amazing and dive as deep as 30 feet into the sea chasing their prey.
Bientangs Cave Restaurant
After kayaking we changed into dry clothes and went to nearby Bientangs Cave Restaurant overlooking Walker Bay where we continued to spot whales while eating lunch. Carved into a century-old cave the restaurant extends over the rocks to the edge of the water.
Gordon’s Bay
We drove to Hermanus over Sir Lowry’s Pass and returned to Cape Town via the long winding coastal route through Gordon’s Bay. The coast was glowing in sunshine and spectacular. A perfect ending to a satisfying day full of unique and beautiful memories!
