A winter wonderland in Algoa Bay
By Jake Keeton
Friday, 23rd August 2024June to December each year is a special time for us in Algoa Bay. During these winter months we have an overlap of natural phenomenon’s resulting in a hive of activity. The following pictures have been taken during our last two weeks of cruises and showcase the variety of species and behaviour that can be seen this time of year.
Our winter season kicks off with the arrival of the migratory humpback whales in late May/early June. Humpbacks are then seen right through to early December. Southern Right Whales arrive a bit later than the humpbacks and can be seen from July through to the end of September. Southern Rights prefer to mate and have their calves in a sheltered area close to St Croix Island. We have seen amazing numbers of Southern Rights with newly born calves over the last few weeks.
Together with the whales the winter months bring thousands of pelagic birds closer to our shores. Shy and Indian yellow nosed albatross are on the scene of most humpback sightings near Cape Recife Lighthouse. Other species that we keep an eye out for are giant petrels, white chinned petrels, sooty shearwaters and cory shearwaters.
Even the Bottlenose Dolphins that are in our waters all year have a great time during the winter months. Dolphins love to surf the shore break in Algoa bay. Winter conditions bring good size swells for the playful cetaceans to surf. It becomes hard to leave when a large pod of dolphins is surfing the shore break and launching themselves out of the waves below the backdrop of the Alexandria Dune Field.
Between now and the end of September we are presented with the rare opportunity to see Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Cape Fur Seals and a variety of bird species all in a single cruise.
We look forward to sharing the presence of these species with our guests over the remainder of this winter. It is always a privilege for us to give people the opportunity to observe whales and dolphins doing what they do best in their natural environment.
Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins Surfing at the Alexandria Dune Fields
Southern Right Whale and Calf inshore of St Croix Island
Breaching Southern Right calf, playful in the safety of Algoa Bay
Breaching Humpback Whale off St George's strand
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
