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| cape birding
route > birding spots > overberg & south coast >
watching the whales |
Watching
the Whales:
A bonus for springtime birders at the De
Mond and De Hoop nature reserves is the remarkable number of
whales visible close inshore. The southwestern coast of Africa
is the favoured calving ground of Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena
australis) seeking more temperate waters during the harsh Antarctic
winter. During the winter and springtime months (July—November,
but especially August—September), they can be observed
close inshore all along the Western Cape coast. The MTN Whale
Hotline (toll-free 0800 22 82 22) will keep you up to date with
the latest sightings. Good sites for whale-watching are along
the Atlantic coast from Postberg (p.50), the western side of
False Bay (Boyes’ Drive, above Muizenberg, is an excellent
vantage point) and, most famously, Hermanus on the south coast.
Indeed, the marine reserve of Walker Bay, which Hermanus overlooks,
has been recognized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as one
of the world’s top twelve whale-watching sites.
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This website is maintained by
Claire Spottiswoode, Callan Cohen, Peter Ryan and Eve Holloway
of Birding Africa and the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African
Ornithology.
Please do not use any text, images or content from this site without
permission
© Birding Africa 1997-2003 info@capebirdingroute.org
21 Newlands Road, Claremont, 7708, Cape Town, South Africa
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SA
Birdfinder to be launched here soon...
This page is due to be launched in conjunction
with BirdLife South Africa at the BirdLife International World
Congress in March 2004 and will include information and trip
planning for the whole
of Southern Africa and Madagascar
and a lot more functionality!! |
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