Humpback Whales return to Algoa Bay with new life
By Jake Keeton

1. News

We are fortunate to see Humpback Whales in Algoa bay for 7 months of the year. The majority of these migratory whales arrive on our shores during the month of June. They then make their way up towards their breeding grounds near the equator. This means that during the months of August and September when the bulk of the population are off the coast of Mozambique and Kenya we have more sporadic sightings of humpback whales. We often observe sub-adults or groups of males in Algoa Bay over this time. These whales hang around in the bay waiting for the others to return. With the humpback sightings being unpredictable in August and September our focus tends to shift towards the Southern Right Whales which are plentiful during these two months. Any humpback sightings then is treated as a welcome bonus.

Once the humpbacks have given birth in the warm waters near the equator they then start moving back South. During this return trip they move a lot slower and use the shelter of Algoa Bay to give their newly born calves a chance to rest. This is always a treat for us as we find larger numbers of whales in areas close to shore and close to St Croix island which is often a focal point of our half day cruises.

Observing the interactions between mothers and calves can be mesmerizing. There is a unique level of excitement amongst our guests on board when they meet the next generation of whales that  will undertake this migration for years to come. It is however important to understand that sightings with humpback cow calf pairs need to be managed carefully to ensure a pleasant experience for the whales and the people fortunate enough to find them. Great care is applied to planning an approach to whales that may have calves with them. Speed, noise and positioning are all equally important. If you get this right, you will often be rewarded with whales that are not only comfortable with your presence, but curious and playful. Some of the best experiences that we have had with humpback whales is when they have decided to approach and inspect our boat.

We are excited for the next three months as more and more humpbacks will be returning from their breeding grounds and passing through Algoa Bay as they make their way back to the South seas.

From a photographic point of view, October  November and December is our favorite time of the year to photograph humpback whales in Algoa Bay. During this period the number of whales that are relatively close to shore gives you more opportunity to capture a variety of behavior. We observe more breaching behavior during this period as calves tend to copy the adults. We believe this behavior strengthens the calves muscles for the long swim back to the South seas.

These images show the first humpback whales that we have seen heading back South through Algoa Bay, with a couple nice breaches from sub-adults.

Humpback Whale breaching in front of Port Elizabeth as it makes its way South towards Cape Recife Lighthouse.

Humpback Whale tail slapping near Cape Recife Lighthouse on the South Western side of Algoa Bay.

Sub-adult Humpback Whale breaching onto its back in Algoa Bay.

Humpback Whale breaching out of a large swell in Algoa Bay.

Our trustworthy 10.1 metre Butt-Cat. This boat was designed specifically for Marine-Eco cruises in Algoa Bay with comfort and stability in mind. The boat's comfortable seating arrangements allow for optimal viewing with unobstructed views for photographic opportunities for everyone on board.