You've got to love tourists. Their enthusiasm and feeling of sheer exhilaration when they first spot a whale from the shore is enviable.

I've been asked by tourists if, as a resident of Hermanus, I ever get bored of seeing the whales, and the answer is always an emphatic "No!" Each year as winter approaches, the race is on to see who will be the first to spot a whale, arriving from its long journey from the Antarctic waters. The shallow, sandy-bottomed and sheltered bays of our coastline are perfect for mating, calving, nursing their young and resting.

Meet the whales of Walker Bay.

We are so honoured that each year these majestic creatures decide to have their annual vacation in the waters off our lovely town. Southern Right Whales swim 2500km from the Antarctic to calve off the Southern Cape shores each year. They arrive early June and leave towards the end of November, and increase in numbers with each visit.

They are at their most active in September and October, a perfect time to stroll along the famous cliff paths of Hermanus, where you could see a whale breaching only meters away! Both tourists and locals alike gather at viewing spots along the coast in wonder of these majestic animals.

As soon as one is spotted, the crowds gather. With fingers pointing, and cameras clicking, these intelligent creatures seem to perform for the crowd, their curiosity drawing them closer to shore. For this reason, the town has officially been named as ‘the best land-based whale watching location in the world'. The coastal towns of the Overberg are now collectively known as the ‘Cape Whale Coast'. As many as 150 whales have been spotted in the bay during peak whale season, and on some days the sea is a hive of activity, with young bulls breaching and showing off. The official Whale Crier blows his kelp horn, using a Morse code system to indicate where the whales have been spotted.

A good way to be sure to spot a whale from the shore, would be to start in the centre of town, at the old harbour where you have a good chance of seeing a few whales. From here, walk along the cliff path in the direction of Grotto beach. There are several good lookouts along the way, including ‘Die Gang', and ‘Siewers Punt'. At Voelklip beach you will often see a whale just beyond the breakers, behind the surfers.

Another great viewing location is the New Harbour. On a chilly winter's day when it is too cold to walk the cliff paths, sip a sherry in the Gecko Bar, and watch the whales just beyond the harbour wall. Sometimes they even venture into the harbour!

If you fancy seeing the Southern Rights at their level, I can highly recommend a trip on a whale-watching boat with Hermanus Whale Cruises. This 2-hour eco experience departs five times a day from the new harbour, weather permitting, and they guarantee that you will see whales. The boat is expertly skippered by Franklin, and Christopher provides an entertaining as well as informative tour.

Although the skipper keeps a respectable distance of 50 metres from the whales, their curiosity draws them to the craft. They often surface right next to the vessel, and this is when you truly appreciate their vastness. When they roll over and focus on you with an intelligent eye, it is an unforgettable and emotional experience. You will hear the resonant hollow sound of their grunts and blows, often close enough to get wet from the spray!

Groups of whales can be seen sometimes lulling about lazily, and sometimes, in the case of mating groups, quite active, with thrashing, flipper slapping and breaching.

On my recent trip with Hermanus Whale Cruises, although early in the whale season, we still managed to see about eight whales, close to the shore across the bay. We were also lucky to be escorted part of the way by a school of playful dolphins, enjoying the boat's wake. Other wildlife spotted on the trip included seals, floating and lazing in the sun, low-flying cormorants, gannets and even a lone jackass penguin.

Hermanus thanks the whales for returning each year, bringing the tourists with them, by hosting festivals in their honour. The Whale Festival will take place this year from 24-27 September, and has much to offer the visitor. This enviro-arts festival will focus on the region's magnificent environment, with a strong emphasis on marine life and its protection. Revel in music, comedy and cabaret, and admire the classic cars at the Wheels and Whales vintage car show.

For the more energetic, there is the Whale half marathon, whale festival golf classic, boulle, paintball and soccer. The little ones have also been taken care of with many events for the kids.

The Kalfiefees takes place from 6-10 August, and incorporates the Hermanus Food and Wine Fair. This festival has a predominantly Afrikaans take, with local music, comedy and stage productions. The Wine Festival takes place at the Wine Village, and offers a large selection of cellars to sample from, as well as scrumptious local fare.
 

Source: News24.com - www.news24.com

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