Whale Watching (July to December) Southern Right whales (Eubalaena australis) spend the summer months feeding around Antarctica and then migrate thousands of kilometres to the sheltered bays of South Africa to mate and calve. They can be seen along the coast between June/July and December. The whales were giving the name ‘Right whale’ because they were considered to be the 'right' whale to hunt. They are slow moving, occur close to shore, yield large amounts of valuable blubber and baleen and float when dead. Until recently they were close to extinction, but are now protected and their numbers are increasing at 7% per year. The southern African population is estimated to be around 3000 individuals. The body, which has no dorsal fin, is large and black usually with white patches on the belly. Callosities, which are outgrowths of tough skin, are often used in identifying individual whales, as they are unique to each animal, similar to fingerprints in humans. The largest of these excrescences (callosities) is located on the anterior-most portion of the head and is referred to as the "bonnet." Other excrescences are on the upper edge of the lower jaw, behind the blowhole, and above the eye. Flippers are broad and paddle-shaped. Another distinguishing physical feature of Southern Right whales is the blowhole. The exterior of the blow hole is well-partitioned, resulting in a V-shaped exhaust of condensation and water vapour. Statistics Adult length: up to 17m, average 14m Adult weight: 30-60 tonnes, average 40 tonnes Mating: Several males and one female in active mating group Length of pregnancy: 1 year Length of nursing: 6-12 months Weight at birth: 900kg Length at birth: average 6m growing by up to 3cms per day. Lifespan: Believed to be 40-50 years Food: Copepods and krill, filtered through baleen plates on upper jaw, eating between 600 and 1600 kg per day. The cliffs at De Kelders are a fantastic vantage point to see the whales come within a few metres from shore. From the comfort of Khumbula you will be able to enjoy the spectacle and sheer magnificence of these giants.     Some of the behaviours that you will see include: Spyhoping: Raising the head out of the water to look around. Lobtailing: Striking water with tail-flukes (at night the sounds can be heard across the bay) Sailing: Raising tail flukes out of the water for several minutes. Breaching: Jumping out of the water, often clearing the water completely before landing. This is thought to be a form of communication and a way of getting rid of loose skin and parasites. Singing: You can often hear the eerie and plaintive songs of the whales, especially at night. Whilst you will literally be able to sit on the rocks in front of Khumbula and almost touch the whales there are many tour operators that offer eco-friendly trips which can bring you even closer to them. Whilst restrictions exist to prevent boats approaching too close to the whales no such restrictions exist for the whales to approach the boats! You can expect to get very close to these magnificent animals from such tours.