| Whale watching in Tonga is one of the kingdoms most | | | | altogether as they only stay until they feel their calves |
| popular tourist activities and each year thousands of | | | | can make the journey home. The long established |
| holiday makers flock to Tonga to see one of the | | | | whale watching operators can often read the |
| largest collections of humpback whales in the world. | | | | behaviour of the whales and know instinctively when |
| These whales travel from Antarctica each year to | | | | they are about to leave. |
| give birth to their young and mate again before | | | | During their stay in Tongan waters, the whales remain |
| travelling south again, back down to the Antarctic | | | | quite close to the shoreline of Vavau and so the boat |
| Circle. | | | | journey out to see them is very short. The boats are |
| The whales of Tonga | | | | neither big nor imposing and so the whales will often |
| Each year during the months of June and July, over | | | | lounge on the surface before diving and resurfacing. |
| 100 humpback whales enter the waters surrounding | | | | Whale watching in Tonga can produce excellent |
| Tonga. They come to Tonga for one reason - to give | | | | photographs, even when taken by amateur |
| birth to their offspring. The ocean around Tonga, and in | | | | photographers and the experience of actually seeing |
| particular the Vavau region in the north, is warm | | | | such a creature up close is probably a once in a |
| enough for young calves to survive while they are | | | | lifetime experience. Some of the operators take their |
| developing their insulating fat. The female whales tend | | | | own professional photographs that can be bought |
| to give birth within the first few days of arriving and | | | | after the trip while others make DVDs of the entire |
| the entire herd stay for the following 3-4 months | | | | trip. |
| before leaving sometime in November. | | | | Swimming with the whales |
| Once the calves have grown the Whales begin their | | | | As mentioned above, a couple of the larger whale |
| return journey back to the south, where there is | | | | watching operators allow you to actually swim with the |
| abundant food for the winter. Before leaving however | | | | whales while out on the excursion. This is not always |
| the males and females mate and as the pregnancy | | | | possible though. An experienced whale watcher who |
| duration of a whale is 12 months, it means they return | | | | knows the behaviour of the Tongan whales will judge |
| to Tonga at the same time each year just to give birth. | | | | how tolerant they are of human interaction before |
| Whales in general like to stay close to the shoreline | | | | giving the okay to swim with them on a particular day. |
| and have an unusual interest in humans, which is why | | | | Other factors such as the weather conditions and time |
| some Tongan operators allow visitors to actually swim | | | | of the season will also affect the decision. Being able |
| with the whales. Humpback whales are baleen whales | | | | to swim with the whales is quite a common |
| and have no teeth - so providing you do not annoy | | | | occurrence although it does cost more than simple |
| them they are relatively safe to swim with. | | | | whale watching in Tonga. |
| Watching Whales in Tonga | | | | Conclusion |
| The main area for whale watching in Tonga is just off | | | | The yearly arrival of the humpback whales is a time to |
| the island of Vavau in the northern district. Whale | | | | celebrate in Tonga and many of the locals go out to |
| watching is big business here and at present there are | | | | the breeding ground to welcome them. There are very |
| at least ten operators that run trips out to see the | | | | few places in the Pacific where this phenomenon |
| whales. Obviously whale watching in Tonga is | | | | occurs and so whale watching in Tonga has become |
| seasonal and lasts from when they arrive in June to | | | | highly popular with tourists over the years. The Tongan |
| when they leave in either October or November. | | | | whales are far from shy and it is easy to get fantastic |
| If you go in the early season when the calves are still | | | | views and photographs from a half day trip - although |
| young, it can be quite difficult to get close to the | | | | you will probably want a second look before leaving |
| whales as they are highly protective of their young. | | | | the islands. |
| Going too late though might mean that you miss them | | | | |