One of the most memorable sightings of my recent tour of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was of a small pod of Humpback Whales playing just offshore of the St. Lucia estuary one overcast morning.
Megaptera novaeangliae
Humpback Whales occur throughout the world’s oceans at different times of the year. Locally they migrate past our shores from about June to overwinter in the tropical waters off both Africa’s Atlantic and Indian Ocean coastlines, returning to their Antarctic feeding grounds from about November at the start of the austral summer and covering as much as 16,000km on these journeys. Humpback Whales feed mainly on krill, other plankton and schools of fish, gulped down in enormous quantities after being encircled by “curtains” of bubbles released from the blowholes of the circling whales. These whales are well known for their spectacular breaches out of the water as well as their playful tail-slamming and fin-slapping behaviour (as captured in the above video). They may dive up to 150m deep and stay underwater for up to 15 minutes. While usually seen in small groups and even as single cows with their latest calf, Humpback Whales may at times congregate in pods up to 200 strong in good feeding grounds.
While in the more tropical climes the females give birth to single calves after an almost year-long gestation. The calves will suckle for up to a year, though they start eating at about 6 months of age. Females calf every two years and mating also takes place in the tropical latitudes during winter. At birth the calves weigh about a metric ton and measure more than 4 metres in length; fully grown they will weigh approximately 40,000kg and reach up to 18m in length! It is estimated that Humpback Whales live to at least 50 years of age.
Citing an increasing population estimated at approximately 84,000 mature animals (of a total of 135,000) worldwide, the IUCN lists the Humpback Whale as being of least concern. When whaling was banned in 1966 there was probably only 5,000 Humpback Whales left.
Over the years we’ve been fortunate to see these enigmatic creatures a number of times while visiting some of South Africa’s wild places, most notably the Garden Route National Park and, of course, iSimangaliso. DeWetsWild will assist you with reservations and guided tours of these places and even arrange whale watching excursions with experienced skippers if you are interested in seeing Humpback Whales up close.
DeWetsWild 
Went whale watching once, loved it. Would love to do it again. Such magnificent animals
I can imagine that it was an amazing experience, Damien!
It was a very amazing experience, it was in the Boston harbor beautiful area! Also visited Salem and all the attractions there as well as the New England aquarium. My time in Massachusetts was great! Can’t wait to return!
Dit lyk kompleet of hulle in die water speel, ne? Dis interessant om te lees hoe oud hulle kan word … en wat ‘n voorreg om hulle te kan sien.
Julle sal hulle dalk nou daar langs julle deel van die kus gewaar, Corna
Daar is ‘n lekker uitkykpunt naby die monding van die Nahoon rivier waar mens ver oor die see kan sien. Dankie, ons sal gaan kyk!
Ons het gedurende September en Oktober ure lank op die stand na hulle gesit en kyk. Hulle kom ongelukkig nie baie naby nie, maar nes op jou fotos kon ons hulle manewales heerlik dophou.
Dis beslis nog n voordeel van die pragtige plek waar julle nou woon, Una! Mens sou dit nie in Hartbeespoortdam kon sien nie!
Whales are always exciting to see!
Oh absolutely, Anne, and it’s great that their numbers are rebounding so strongly that we can now see them more often!
Wow, you went from one exciting thing to another!!
iSimangaliso’s an exciting place!
Nog nie gesien nie maar hier kom hul ook Wellington hawe/baai in om te speel en te stert-klap.
Dit moet n fantastiese skouspel wees, Ineke!
Hul wys gereeld oor die nuus as daar besoekers is of was.