KNYSNA NEWS - In spite of all that's currently happening right around the world, nature proves it is the one thing anyone can count on! Last weekend, local whale watching tour operator Ocean Odyssey spotted a number of whales prancing about and enjoying the waters off the Brenton shoreline.
Ocean Odyssey had kicked off their 2023 whale watching season with their first sighting of a migratory humpback whale three weeks ago already, on 24 May.
"Some may be surprised that this is early, but they are right on time!" This according to Ocean Odyssey's Teresa da Mata.
"In spite of the erratic weather and sea conditions over the past two weeks we have continued to sight whales on our Close Encounter Whale Watching Tours." This proved no more true than last Sunday, 11 June, when on their 9:30 tour the ocean was teeming with Humpback whales and numerous Brydes whales.
"Our eagle-eyed whale spotter Eric Everts confirmed our first sighting of a very large Southern right whale just behind the breakers on the Brenton shoreline. Our vessel was at the time in the vicinity of Wildside [near Buffalo Bay] admiring a pod of Humpback whales (adults & calves) and then on its way back encountered the Southern right whale just off Walkers point," Da Mata explained.
Skipper of the vessel Johannes Pikaan observed what he suspects to be a heavily pregnant female Southern right whale. "Based on her size we expect she could give birth soon, hopefully in the vicinity of Goukamma if she hasn't traveled further."
Overall that tour alone encountered no less than 10 individual animals not including the many more that were in the vicinity at the same time.
Knysna has a long history of whale sightings dating back to the 1800s due to its elevated view points which is perfect for spotting whales.
"For the next few months our coastline turns into a whale highway as they make their way to the tropics and return south towards the end of the year.
"It is apparent that Knysna is one of their favorite stop overs along the way!" Da Mata concluded.
The whales had a blast in the waters off the Brenton shoreline.
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