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The Overberg
provides several whale
watching spots
along its diverse coastline.
Interpretive signboards provide
visitors with essential information
on the whales
occurring along the coast.
Where will we see the
whales?
The coastal road from Gordons
Bay to Rooiels,
Pringle
Bay, Betty's
Bay and Kleinmond,
named Clarence
Drive, is a spectacular
route with steep cliffs and
coves. The coastal road has
turn-off places, where you
can stop and take some pictures
or enjoy a sundowner while
watching a spectacular sunset.
The route offers amazing views
over False Bay, right up to
Table Mountain and Cape Point.
At the safe and pleasant
Rooiels and Pringle Bay beaches
numerous whales have been
sighted. Stony Point at Betty's
bay is renowned for its pleasant
whale watching experiences
and a definite tourist hotspot.
The remains of the Old Whaling
station, which was in operation
from 1912 to 1930, can still
be seen. At Kleinmond the
whales can be seen from the
harbour, Palmiet Beach, along
Beach Road, from the hotel
and Sandown Bay.
Hermanus is renowned as the
heart of the Cape Whale Coast.
Acknowledged by the World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
as one of the twelve best
whale watching sites in the
world, whales can be seen
is some places from as close
as five metres from its rocky
cliffs. The southern right
whales start arriving in Walker
Bay from June and have usually
left again by December. The
peak whale season, when sightings
are virtually guaranteed every
day, is during September and
October. The whale population
peaks in Walker Bay during
October. Hermanus even has
'the world's only whale crier',
Wilson Salukazana, who blows
a horn made of sea bamboo
to tell people that whales
are in view. He will answer
the questions of every eager
tourist. The whales seem to
appreciate an audience and
provide spectacular entertainment.
For ten days each September
and October, Hermanus is transformed
as thousands of visitors from
all over the country arrive
to enjoy the arts and environ-experience
of the Whale Festival. The
Whale Festival has become
on of the major events on
the South African cultural
calendar.
San Sebastian Bay and De
Hoop Nature Reserve is situated
on the southernmost region
of Africa and is often referred
to as "the" whale
nursery of South Africa. It
has the highest count of southern
rights along the coast during
the height of the breeding
months (August to end October).
St Sebastian Bay has the largest
concentration of Southern
Rights on the South African
Coast. The official helicopter
count done in October 2000
revealed 34 cow-calf pairs
in the Bay, and 74 off de
Hoop. On a good day you can
see up to 50. The areas designated
for boat-based whale watching
has been carefully selected
so as to not interfere with
those observing from the land.
Witsand is the only village
on the Bay that has the infrastructure
to accommodate visitors.
At De Hoop Nature Reserve
and Marine Protected Area
hikers can enjoy the 54 kilometres,
five-day Whale Trail. The
trail meanders through pristine
fynbos, coastal cliffs and
aqua blue rock pools. Overnight
accommodation is available
for up to 12 people in spectacular
cottages with built-in fireplaces.
The MTN
Cape Whale Route
has established a whale hotline,
where people can phone from
anywhere in the world to find
out where the whales are.
The hotline can be reached
by phoning (+27) 083 910 1028.
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