boat based whale watching Archives - Southern Right Charters

Say Hello to MIRA – the southern right whale

Posted on November 2, 2020February 27, 2023 by Robin Appleby

‘MIRA’ is a 16 year old female southern right whale with a large distinctive white marking on her dorsal.

In addition to keeping sighting logs of each whale & dolphin sighting during our boat tours, Southern Right Charters photographs, record and catalogues any whales seen with distinctive markings, as part of our Whale Sighting Programme in the hopes that we can determine re-sightings of specific whales in the future which could offer immediate knowledge on the whales age, movements and birthing cycle.

On the 31st July 2020, our crew spotted MIRA in Walker Bay, Hermanus. This is our first successful and official re-sighting as she was last spotted from our boat in September 2017. What is amazing is that in 2017 and now in 2020, both encounters have seen MIRA with a new calf. This indicates a healthy birthing/calving period of three years, with MIRA, doing great, having calved in both 2017 & 2020.

On further investigation by the Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, they confirmed that MIRA is in their database, but not as an adult but as a calf!

MIRA was born in 2004 to female R98/113A, showing that she is turning 16 years old this year. In a social media post on the 4th August 2020, the Whale Unit mentioned that “Considering the average age of first calving is about 8 years old, Southern Right Charters likely captured her 2nd (2017) and 3rd (2020) calf.”

This good news story rippled across the local news in Hermanus, with many locals posting sightings of MIRA and her calf during the 2020 whale season, over a +/- 3 month period ranging from end July well into October MIRA and her calf ‘set up camp’ in Hermanus and was often seen from shore and boat.

Hermanus Whale Season 2019

Posted on November 29, 2019July 27, 2020 by Robin Appleby

Skippers’ Log: Hermanus Whale Season 2019

Since kicking off our whale season back in June, we have had one of the most spectacular and varied seasons on record. (Let’s not dwell on the abundance of long cold fronts and ‘no sea’ days)

Our Hermanus whale season begins in June, annually and this year the Humpback whales were ever present from the start, we probably had the most Humpback whale sightings during the months of June and July than any other year of operation.

The Southern right whales made a slower than usual arrival and we had our first sighting on the 14th June 2019. Since then we have been humbled daily, watching these gentle giants of the ocean. Although most articles of 2019 have spoken about low southern right whale numbers, what’s overlooked is the marine expo on offer right here on Hermanus’ doorstep – Brydes whales have been a staple for both the beginning and end parts of the season, going against the grain several times becoming curious and interacting with the vessel as guests onboard get an awesome experience and photographic opportunity.

The semi-resident Bottlenose dolphin pod has been witnessed regularly, a couple of sightings of humpback dolphins as well as some spectacular mega-pods of common dolphins in the bay, setting into motion a ‘boiling water’ effect around the boat.

In August, while watching one such mega-pods, we were then distracted by the arrival of a pod of Orca, setting crew and guests alike into a frenzy with excitement, no one onboard wanting the magnificent spectacle to end, guests of that trip became immediate “SRC” family, sharing with us one of the highlight sightings of the decade.

Great white sharks, Cape fur seals, birds and the African penguins were among other sightings of the 2019 season as well as Mola-mola sunfish. One sunfish, in particular we saw so regularly and could be easily distinguished by its noticeable scar tissue, the crew even named him Donald!

It is amazing how much nostalgia each season brings, how many memories and people from across the globe we meet but this year has been particularly special as we celebrate our 20 Year Anniversary! That said all good things must come to an end, yesterday’s 9h00 departure marked the end of our 2019 peak whale watching season. As after much thought, a week of mixed viewings in the bay and some strong westerly winds forecasted over the coming days, it was decided it’s time to call it a wrap!

During yesterdays trip, guests onboard chatted with crew about the season and, after a 2-hour search were lucky when we encountered a large Brydes whale and 10 minutes later, most fitting to see the season out – one of the last Southern Right Whales in the area. Perfect way to end the season.

We look forward to sun filled summer season offering our Marine Safari tours and wish all a Happy Festive Season!

https://www.facebook.com/HermanusWhaleWatching/videos/2409412379368992/

Hermanus Whale Watching Season is Here

Posted on July 5, 2018October 13, 2022 by Robin Appleby

Every year the ‘SRC Crew’ await and anticipate the upcoming whale watching season, each with our own predictions on what the season will hold and so far June has exceeded expectations. Continue reading “Hermanus Whale Watching Season is Here”

Its a #GO for Greater Oceans

Posted on June 9, 2017October 13, 2022 by Robin Appleby

Southern Right Charters is super excited to launch The Great Oceans Initiative (#GO) to make a daily difference by reducing the amount of litter that ends up polluting our oceans.

Every year will welcome a new theme and this year it is all about marine debris and curbing it.

Did you know that according to the CSIRO study, roughly 80% of marine debris originates from land? By making small changes in our daily lives, we land mammals can do something about those stats!

Satellite socio and environmental campaigns that speak to this goal are ongoing and will dovetail with this initiative. Some of these are: Our #GOTalk where the SRC crew visited Hermanus Waldorf School, Living Hope Child Support and Just Care children to educate them on how to re-use, reduce and recycle to ensure that Splashy the Seal and Dizzy the Dolphin have a cleaner environment. Of course our enthusiasm for whales spilled over into an introductory talk on the wonders of whales in Hermanus and we ended with a drawing competition to win a boat based whale watching family voucher.

#GOWalk was initiated last year and this clean-up campaign is ready to go AWOL! Be it by boat, pool-net or bundu-bashing, the SRC crew will be on it with regular clean-ups of all the hard-to-get-to corners of the New Harbour in Hermanus.

Our #GOGetInvovled campaign is getting out there, finding like-minded ‘good stuff’ happening in our local community in which we can get involved. In this spirit we have appointed our ‘Butt Ambassador’ here at Southern Right Charters. She has been busily collecting ‘stompies’ around the harbour for the past couple of months to aid the Whale Coast Conservation ‘BinyourButt’ campaign. At the recent launch of the campaign in Hermanus, our ambassador took involvement to a whole new level and created awareness by becoming a giant cigarette! We eagerly await the installation of the SRC Sponsored ‘Butt Bin’ in the Hermanus New Harbour this July,

The Southern Right Charters’ Crew are excited to see where this Greater Oceans Initiative will ‘GO’ next!

Whale Watching Sighting Update | July 2016

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Robin Appleby

Whale Season 2016 , Sighting update for July, Hermanus Whale Watching

During the month of July our whale watching tours had a 99% success rate for whale sightings.

SIGHTING SUMMARY

Brydes whales were frequently seen due to the large shoals of fish in Walker Bay
Humpback whales were encountered on five of July’s trips
Southern Right whale’s were encountered on 99% of our trips, with numbers in excess of +20 whales on one trip
Southern Right whales mating was observed 19 times this past month
Humpback dolphins were seen twice during July. Our fist encounter was rare in term of the size of the pod, +50 dolphins were seen around the boat.
Common and Bottlenose dolphins were seen on 5 of our trips during July
Above average, pelagic bird activity in the bay this July.
A Great white shark was briefly spotted near the boat, and shortly after a whale in the distance started displaying very protective behaviour of her calf

SOUTHERN RIGHT CHARTERS IS CARBON NEUTRAL

Southern Right Charters have given back to the environment by offsetting our carbon footprint.
In an ongoing initiative certified and overseen by the Climate Neutral Group we now manage an effective emission reduction project, where we have reduced our CO2 output and engaged in sustainable way of giving back to the environment.
“We put back what we take out”

Winter Whale Watching | July Sightings 2016

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Robin Appleby

So early into the month and already so much activity, winter whale watching in Hermanus is getting the thumbs up!

With the number of southern right whales on the rise, more than 20 whales were encountered during one trip earlier this week. Wonderful bucket list moments and varied marine life sightings of Southern right & Humpback whales, Cape fur seals and African penguins. Typical to South Africa’s winter, recent sightings of the Sub Antarctic Skua and Shy Albatross is a highlight for any bird-watcher.

Thanks Dave De Beer for capturing the moments.

WHALE WATCHING | 7 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Robin Appleby

1. Is there a better time of day to see the whales, or when they are more active?

No two trips are alike and every day we have a trip that is the best but there is no way to know which one it will be before the time, it is all up to nature. We offer daily trips, weather permitting, which depart at 9h00; 12h00 and 15h00. No time of the day is better or worse for the whale sightings; it’s best to choose the trip time based on weather and what suits your travel plans best. If you are staying in Hermanus overnight then it is best to join on the 9h00 departure as then it leaves the rest of the day for other activities or traveling and the sea can often be calmer in the mornings.

2. Would we need to book a whale watching boat trip in advance or can we turn up on the day?

It is always better to book in advance as that secures your trip, payment is only required upon departure, as all of our trips are weather permitting. You can confirm your booking by completing our whale watching enquiry form or call us +27 823530550.

3. Are we guaranteed to see the whales?

We never like to use the word ‘guarantee’ as it is nature but with that said it is very rare that we do not encounter whales. Hermanus is lucky, as the bay is much loved by the Southern Right whales and in peak season there is easily 100+ whales in the area. If by some chance you do not see whales on your trip we do offer a 50% refund on your ticket price paid or the opportunity to join us on the next available trip for free.

4. What is the duration of the boat trip and whale watching tour?

We do not cap our trip time as it all depends on the traveling time to the whales. The trip itself can be 1hr 30m – 3 hours maximum. The trip time averages at about 2hours.

5. What happens if the trip is cancelled due to weather?

We only cancel on the day if the weather is poor, as the forecast can often be wrong. We would call you to let you know and then based on availability will re-book you for when suits you best. We always have a watchful eye on the forecast so feel free to call us a day or two prior to your trip for an update and possible re-shuffle of your booking. For direct bookings you only pay on arrival so that eases the hassle of refunds in case your trip is cancelled due to weather. Any tickets booked directly and paid for prior will be refunded in full if we cancel the tour.

Due to the whale season in Hermanus occurring during South Africa’s winter months, cancellation can often occur so we would always recommend booking your trip for your first available day so that if it is cancelled, then you have the next day as an option during your holiday.

6. What time must I arrive for my whale watching trip?

Arrival time is 30 minutes prior to departure time, as we have an on-land briefing prior the trip.

Confirmed bookings will be released and can be sold on if you have not arrived 15 minutes prior to departure, so please call to let us know if you are running late. (Cancellation terms apply)

7. Are there any age limits for children?

There is no age restriction but adult supervision is a must and it is regulation for all children under 12 years old to wear a life jacket at all times. If you child is an infant, chat to us prior to your trip about what is best to bring a long and life jacket sizing.

Also see: What to bring along for your whale watching trip

Meet our whale watching crew

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Robin Appleby

Hermanus Whale Season: When, why & what are southern right whales up to?

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Robin Appleby

Hermanus on the south coast of South Africa is one of the best whale-watching destinations in the world. From June to December every year, southern right whales congregate here to deliver one of nature’s most remarkable spectacles. Hermanus’ shallow, sandy coves and warmer, calmer waters provide whales with the ideal environment to start and eventually complete their up to three-year-long reproductive cycles.

The majestic southern right whales have travelled a long way to get here – thousands of kilometers – on a journey that starts in June. Then by early Decemberll head in the opposite direction again, back down south to fill their mighty bellies until the following year, when they do it all again. But why do southern right whales undertake these grueling distance migrations?

southern right whales

Southern right whales are seasonal feeders, and during the Southern Hemisphere summer months they spend their time feeding in the far Southern Ocean, a cold and seemingly inhospitable place that is nonetheless rich in microscopic marine animal life, known as zooplankton, such as krill – the main element of the southern right whale’s diet. This makes the Antarctic region ideal for fattening up before embarking on the incredible journey north, towards Hermanus and other places along South Africa’s south coast.

It’s not exactly known how far these marine mammals travel. Distances can vary according to where they feed in the summer, and that in turn can vary according to the distribution of their prey (the krill and other zooplankton we mentioned earlier). While the location of feeding grounds is uncertain and changeable, scientists have positively identified the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and areas south of the 50-degree latitude.

That’s a long way to go, but considering that southern right whales grow to be up to 17m long and can weigh more than 50 tons, these colossal beasts are well equipped for the long- distance challenge.

Once in our relatively warm and calm waters, the whales then undertake the important task of mating and calving (giving birth). They don’t eat while they are here; instead surviving on the ample blubber (fat) they’ve built up during their time in the south.

Places like Walker Bay offer the perfect conditions for breeding in peace. For us land dwellers, it also offers the perfect location from where to view this spectacle of nature. Of course, you needn’t stay on land. With Southern Right Charters, you can get as close as 50m to the visiting whales, and because they are naturally curious, they are likely to swim up to our boat to say hello. Our on-board specialist whale guide will shed light on all the marine life encountered (which certainly doesn’t end with whales) and also explain the southern rights whales’ peculiar behavior: find out what breaching, spyhopping, lobtailling and fluking means, then see it happen first-hand.

Did you know?

More than 100 southern right whales spend their “winter holidays” in the Hermanus area every year.

Boat Based Whale Watching Beats Land Based Whale Watching

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Robin Appleby

There are many added advantages to boat based whale watching in Hermanus:

Rather than observing whales from a beach or from the top of a cliff, a boat offers a multi-dimensional experience of whale watching as you cruise along the ocean’s surface, tangibly feeling the sea spray shot up by breaching whales and hearing the subtle sounds of marine life up close.

Continue reading “Boat Based Whale Watching Beats Land Based Whale Watching”

Tag: boat based whale watching