Hermanus celebrates increase in southern right whale sightings this season

Southern right whales have reached the warmer waters of Walker Bay off South Africa’s Western Cape, marking their annual migration from Antarctica. This area provides a safe environment for the whales to give birth and raise their young, free from many natural predators.

The town of Hermanus, perched above Walker Bay, benefits significantly from this natural spectacle. Each year, local authorities organize a whale festival to attract visitors eager to see these marine giants close to shore. This year, sightings have notably increased, with whale spotter Sileze Kuku reporting up to 25 whales in a single day.

Visitors from nearby Cape Town and beyond enjoy the opportunity to observe whales breaching from the cliffs or from boats, sometimes spotting newborn calves. The southern right whale population, once severely depleted by commercial whaling, has been protected for decades, allowing for this encouraging recovery.

Between June and November, the whales’ presence has become a defining feature of Hermanus’s annual calendar, significantly contributing to local tourism and community identity.