When is Whale Season in Plett?
Plettenberg Bay is part of the migratory whale route for several species during the months of May through to October.
Southern right whales leave their Antarctic feeding ground to frolic in the warm waters of the Cape coast. Here they mate, calve and generally hang out, occasionally flopping a tail up, or sticking their heads out of the water to check out the humans. They are so easy to watch.
Humpback whales arrive with their calves and give birth in the protective waters of the bay. They can often be seen feeding directly behind the waves and are often spotted around Robberg Nature Reserve.
Bryde’s whales are permanent residents of the bay and are often seen in social groups, and the predator orca whale also makes a few guests appearances.
Other marine life to be experienced this time of year include pods of bottlenose and the shy indo-pacific humpback dolphins. A breeding colony of cape fur seals along the Robberg Nature Reserve keep our visiting hammerhead and great white sharks entertained.
And don’t forget the penguins that regularly visit our bay – there are even a few that have made Plett their home.
Good shore and cliff-based marine life viewing sites include, Robberg Peninsula in the Robberg Nature Reserve, No 1 Beachy Head Drive, Beacon Island Rocks, Van Plettenberg Monument, Lookout Rocks, The Lookout View site and last, but not least, spectacular viewing along Keurboomstrand beaches and look out points.
Find out more about whale watching in Plett
The World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) is delighted to announce that Plettenberg Bay has been awarded Whale Heritage Site status. Plettenberg Bay joins The Bluff and Algoa Bay as the third Whale Heritage Site in South Africa, and one of only seven fully accredited Whale Heritage Sites worldwide.
The Whale Heritage Site programme is an initiative created by the WCA and supported by World Animal Protection, which recognises destinations around the world where coastal communities work together to protect, respect and celebrate cetaceans and their habitats.
