Wildlife: Whales and Sharks

Every year from May through September — South Africa’s winter — Walker Bay hosts hundreds of southern right whales that come to calve in the relatively warm water of the Indian Ocean. Whale-watching boats depart from towns such as Hermanus, but the creatures are easily viewed with binoculars from the shore. Nearby, Dyer and Geyser islands are home to vast colonies of seals and penguins — favorite foods of great white sharks, which are also present in large numbers year-round. You can see these impressive animals from boats that leave from Gansbaai, 45 minutes from Hermanus and the self-styled “Great White Shark Capital of the World.” Intrepid travelers can also view the sharks from submerged steel cages.