It's that time of year - time for the gentle giants we've come to know and love to grace the shores of the Western Cape.

Its whale watching season and South Africa happens to be one of the best places in the world to witness the congregation of these majestic creatures.

The Cape Whale Coast celebrates the coming of the whales every year between June and November. It may sound like something you could do without seeing, but the grace and undeniably individuality of these mammals will melt your heart.

The whales that you can expect to see include the Southern Right and Humpback Whale.

It's interesting to note that the Southern Right Whale is called such because it was literally the "right" whale to hunt for a variety of reasons. Talk about a lack of creativity...

What exactly is the Cape Whale Coast?

The Cape Whale Coast is the Western Cape's southern coastline. If you are interested in seeing these gentle giants in action, you need to know where the best whale watching spots are. This coastline offers generous sightings of the whales. Stony Point near Betty's Bay is a great place to start.

There are also other options that include Kleinmond, Onrus, Walker Bay, the De Hoop Nature Reserve, Plettenberg Bay and Witsand.

Undeniably the best place in the world to witness a visit from the whales is Hermanus. It is fondly known as a whale sanctuary.

Planning a day trip with the family to see the whales is always a good idea.

All you need is a picnic basket and you can enjoy yourselves on the magnificent pier that overlooks the ocean or catch a tan on the rocks (in the warmer season) while you wait for the whales to make their grand entrance.

Hermanus also boasts the worlds only "whale crier".

Pieter Claasen's horn was first heard in 1992 and was a much appreciated gesture for tourists. In the months of June through November, it is his mission to alert hundreds of shore-based whale watchers to the whereabouts of whales.

Visitors flocked to Hermanus to see him - he was as popular as the whales. Pieter retired in 1998 and his position as whale crier as been taken over by Wilson Salakusana, Godleck Baleni and now Pasika Noboba.

Preserving these great creatures

If you haven't watched an episode of the shocking but true television series "Whale wars", you may not be aware about how drastic the issue is concerning the slaughter of whales. These creatures are used for oil amongst other things and are easy targets because most species of whale are relatively slow moving.

Groups all around the world fight for the rights and protection of the whale but over the last few years the Southern Right Whale population has been in very grave danger.

During the peak whaling year, an estimated number of over 20 000 of these animals are slaughtered.

South Africa has been involved in actively protecting the whales in its waters since 1935 and the population of Southern Right Whales is restoring itself. (Thank goodness.)

Witsand is considered to be a very important environment for the whales, as a large amount of whales arrives to calve every year.

It helps that boat access to this area is restricted and if you happen to view a whale from a boat, remember that boats aren't allowed any closer than 300 metres from a whale without a permit and 50 metres with a permit.

Although you should be warned that the whale might come closer to give you a once over and welcome you to its watery home.

Did you know that South Africa is the only country in the world that has established an environmental court where those who threaten marine life are tried and punished for their crimes?

Whales are magnificent creatures and should be treated as such. Give them the respect that they deserve.

Source: News24.com - www.news24.com

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