| sed Whale watching is a must and simply impossible to | | | | half of its body out of the water for a length of time. |
| miss in De Kelders. During Whale watching season | | | | This is called sailing as it looks like the Whales tails are |
| (July - January) the bay is heavily populated with | | | | catching the wind like a sail. It is thought that they are |
| Southern Right Whales and Hump Back Whales. This | | | | doing this to regulate their temperature. |
| beautiful coastline is so blessed with the shear | | | | Spy Hopping |
| numbers of Whales that come to the area that it has | | | | This is when a Whale lays vertically in the water and |
| been renamed the Whale Coast. | | | | pops its head out of the water. The Whales do this |
| Hermanus has been established as a large tourist | | | | several times in a row and as they can see clearly |
| attraction to overseas and home tourists for its | | | | above water it is believed that they are just curiously |
| Whales but is not however the only place or the best | | | | looking out of the water to see what is going on. |
| to view the Whales. Hermanus sits in Walker bay, a | | | | Breaching |
| haven for these large Mammals as it is a safe shelter | | | | This is the most recognisable of a Whale's habits. It is |
| from the open seas and comfortable water | | | | a breathtaking site seeing a majestic 40 Tonne Whale |
| temperature to breed. In Season there are over 200 | | | | launch completely out of the water and come crashing |
| Whales in the bay and for most of the time a majority | | | | down onto it's back. The best time to view this is |
| of the Whales are on Gansbaai's side of the bay. | | | | during October - November when the Mothers are |
| On the other side of Walker Bay from Hermanus | | | | teaching the calves to breach and you see them |
| stands Gansbaai and De Kelders. De Kelders is a | | | | breaching simultaneously. If you see a Whale breach |
| hidden gem, not well known to the hoards of tourists | | | | don't panic and drop your camera trying to catch the |
| that visit the area yearly. From people's experience | | | | airborne whale. When they breach they breach from |
| here we are to believe that De Kelders is one of the | | | | 5-8 times with an approximate interval of 20-30 |
| best land based Whale watching spots in the world. | | | | seconds per breach. |
| Visitors can enjoy a relaxing break away from the | | | | Sun Bathing |
| crowds and the commercial side of tourism and spend | | | | This is seen very often and it is when a Whale lies on |
| personal one on one time with a Whale in De Kelders. | | | | its back with its pectoral fins in the air waving them |
| There are many kilometres of hiking trails along the | | | | around. These fins are huge and it is a spectacular site. |
| coastline allowing visitors to take long walks whilst | | | | Lob Tailing |
| watching the Whales play only yards away. | | | | This is very spectacular to watch and it is when a |
| It is not uncommon to be able to sit on a rock by the | | | | Whale fully raises its tail out of the water and slaps it |
| water's edge only 5-10 meters from a Mother and calf | | | | hard against the water making a loud bang. The |
| Whale. To be so close to these majestic mammals is | | | | Whales do this many times in a row. |
| extremely unique and this is definitely the place to visit | | | | Mating |
| to fulfill your dreams of being up close and personal | | | | The Whales are not shy and it is not uncommon to |
| with a Whale. | | | | see a group of Whales mating right against the rocks. |
| The beauty of De Kelders is that you can get close to | | | | During mating approximately 5 males try to Mate with |
| the Whales without getting on a boat to see them. | | | | the female and it is a fascinating site watching them |
| This is great for people nervous of boats or who get | | | | rolling over each other whilst in the act. |
| sea sick. The experience is still totally natural and just | | | | Albino Whale Calves |
| as special as going out on a boat to see the Whales. | | | | 3 percent of Southern Right Whales are born white |
| The Whales are not just lying there in the water or | | | | and nearly every year we have an Albino Whale in |
| moving along like many would think but they are | | | | the bay. This is a very beautiful and unique site. |
| playing all of the time. In season it is rare to not go | | | | Abundance of Whales |
| through a day without seeing several Whales | | | | In peak season there are over 200 Whales in the bay |
| breaching out of the water. Below is a description of | | | | and during October, November and December the |
| the type of things you will see the Whales doing in De | | | | winds are offshore SE which means they come from |
| Kelders. | | | | the land. This make De Kelders extremely calm and |
| Sailing | | | | flat and the Whales tend to move across to our side |
| Sailing is when a Whale will raise it whole tail out of the | | | | of the bay. It is not uncommon to count 30-50 Whales |
| water. It is unbelievable seeing this and difficult to | | | | in a day in De Kelders. |
| believe how such a huge mammal can gracefully raise | | | | |