Experience Whale Watching and The Sardine Run South Africa

1. Experience Whale Watching & The Sardine Run South Africa It is that time of year when we witness our splendid marine life. South Africa is a heaven for people who appreciate marine life and also the majestic creatures of the sea. WHALE WATCHING CAPE TOWN Whales are often seen along the South Africa Coast from the South of Cape Town right up to St Lucia in Northern Natal. In fact, Hermanus, the coastal town simply over an hour drive from Cape Town, is known to be the best spot in the world for Whale Watching Cape Town. Southern Right Whales are the main species of whale visiting the shores of Hermanus though Bryde’s whales are found in Walker Bay all year and Humpback Whales migrate offshore of the bay throughout June, July and typically as late as August. When aerial surveys of Walker Bay begin in July each year there are about 50 whales in the bay. This enhances to 200 at peak whale watching season in September and October. The 2011 total population of whales in our waters is estimated at about 3500 Studies specify that the Southern right whale population was reduced to no more than 10 – 40 adult females when commercial whaling was stopped off our shores in 1935. At the time, the previous whaling station in Durban, the ruins of which can still be visited on the Durban Bluff, was the biggest land-based whaling operation in the world. “THE GREATEST SHOAL ON EARTH” Every June/July, the annual sardine run begins. The shoals build their way up the eastern coastline and everyone waits in anticipation for what's called “The Greatest Shoal on Earth”.

2. This event is a spectacle of numerous sardines, followed by over 100000 cape gannets, 23000 dolphins and thousands of sharks. Every year throughout may through July, a cold northerly current causes numerous sardines to gather in shoals and move north. Visible by satellite, the shoals, measuring more than 7km long, 1.5km wide and 30m deep, run up the coast from the Agulhas Bank towards Mozambique, a distance of more than 1000 km. Inexplicably leaving the nutrient-rich feeding grounds of the Cape for emptier sub-tropical climes, the silvery, swirling swarm becomes fodder for those higher up the food chain. Pursued unrelentingly by thousands upon thousands of sharks, dolphins, whales, seals, and gannets it's these creatures feeding frenzy that spawns the greatest faunal event on earth. As many as 23000 bottlenose and common dolphins expertly herd the sardines towards shallow waters where the little fish form massive, heaving bait balls measuring up to 20m in diameter. Super-pods of whales, sharks, and dolphins sweep through the balls, gorging on large mouthfuls of fish whereas voracious seabirds plummet from the skies above like fighter planes, scooping out their victims with ease. Almost as soon as it is begun, it is everywhere and the sea becomes calm and seemingly lifeless once again. Related Tags: Shark Sightings South Africa Scuba Diving South Africa Snorkeling Adventure