Hermanus - 2026-09-23

The Afternoon Display

Right on cue, the right whales made their presence known, rolling and breaking the surface just offshore.

• The Callous Crescendo: Distinctive white patches of cyprid-encrusted callosities caught the light as massive heads lifted from the swell.

• Surface Action: Individuals moved leisurely, showing broad backs, occasional open-mouth or jaw-line articulations against the chop, and subtle tail-back contours rolling under the grey-blue water.

• Proximity: Viewing from the rocks gave an intimate sense of scale—no boat engine hum, just the heavy blow of mist catching the sea breeze and the deep, organic rhythm of giants resting in the sheltered bay.

Hermanus - 2026-09-23

Fog, Thunder, and Giants: Whale Watching at Gearing’s Point

What started as a dramatic morning of rolling thunder, lightning, and heavy rain over Walker Bay eventually softened into a quiet, moody calm wrapped in coastal fog.

If you thought bad weather would send the locals packing, think again. The southern right whales of Hermanus remained completely unfazed, gliding just offshore with that familiar, majestic poise.

Viewing from Gearing’s Point never disappoints. Even through the mist, watching these massive marine mammals surface calmly against the gray-blue backdrop offers a reminder of why this headland remains one of the best land-based whale-watching spots on earth.

Hermanus - 2026-09-21

Gentle Giants of Walker Bay

From the early morning light, the gentle giants of Walker Bay began to reveal themselves. A brindle calf surfaced alongside its mother, while another white-draped mother kept her young one close as the calf playfully slapped its tail against the water.

Not far away, the calm morning was suddenly broken by the spectacular sight of a whale breaching clear of the sea — a brief burst of power and energy against the peaceful backdrop of Walker Bay.

For those watching from the shore, it was a morning of quiet encounters, playful moments and breathtaking displays from the southern right whales that return to these waters each year.