OUR 2025 SOUTHERN HUMPBACK MIGRATION IS IN FULL SWING
By Jake Keeton

Thursday, 18th September 2025

Algoa Bay has been a hive of activity during our recent cruises. From Bryde’s whales feeding to the ever-present Bottlenose Dolphins. It has been a case of which direction does one look. Despite all this action with the resident species, the stars of the show right now are the migratory Humpback Whales that are passing through Algoa Bay. Having finished mating or giving birth in the warm waters near the equator, these magnificent marine mammals seem to be in no rush as they pass our coastline. They are now making their way back down to their feeding grounds in the South Seas. We are seeing pods of adults and cow calf pairs in the shallow areas of our bay displaying playfully and social behaviour.

The best part about searching for Humpback Whales during this time of the year is that they come closer to shore, right into the sheltered corners of Algoa Bay. This makes it easier to find them on days with strong winds compared to the beginning of the season when the whales are focused on heading North and passing far from shore.

Whale sightings have been so frequent and successful lately that we've extended some of our cruises on the water when guests' schedules have allowed. Making the most of the experience and allowing us to fully appreciate the abundance and variety of marine life currently in Algoa Bay.

Having so many whales around is very exciting for us. However we also feel a level of concern. Having higher numbers of whales around also means that there is a higher probability of whale entanglements in fishing gear. If you would like to help us ensure the safety of these whales as they migrate past our coastline, follow the below link to a petition on our website and sign in support of ropeless fishing being introduced in our crayfish fishery. https://chng.it/czPYB2pLJj

We look forward to spending more time with the Humpback Whales over the next few months and getting to share it with those of you that join us on board!

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded TripAdvisor Traveller’s choice award for being the number 1 out of 94 outdoor activities in Port Elizabeth. We would like to thank all of you that took the time to leave us a TripAdvisor review.

Pic 1: Large female Humpback whale breaching in rough sea conditions, with her calf close by.

Pic 2: The second of many breaches from this adult Humpback, close to Cape Recife lighthouse.

Pic 3: Two Humpback Whales that showed a lot of interest in our boat on a rainy day.

This adult Humpback Whale decided to spy hop close to our boat, giving us a great view of its Tubercles (Bumps of tissue that house a single hair follicle connected to a set of nerves. These Tubercles assist the whale with environmental awareness and prey detection).