Introduction
South Africa has a coastline of over 2,500 kilometers and its waters lie in the Indian Ocean in the east and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. This diverse marine habitat hosts a rich and large variety of sea creatures, making it a perfect place for wildlife lovers and marine biosphere enthusiasts. Here is how to find some of the most commonly sighted marine animals in South Africa and the areas where they can be found.
1. Great White Sharks
Where to see: Gansbaai, False Bay, Mossel Bay
The best place to view great white sharks is arguably in the waters of South Africa. Its size, strength, and the manner in which it attacks seals by breaching occasionally makes it among the apex predators.
– Gansbaai: known as the “Great White Shark Capital of the World,” has sharks cage diving any time of the year.
– The great whites in False Bay, just south of Cape Town, are known for their phenomenon of ‘flying’ because the sharks leap out of the water to feed.
– Other ideal place to find sharks is Mossel Bay which is also located along the Garden Route.
2. Southern Right Whales
Where to see: Hermanus, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Plettenberg Bay
These massive mammals come to SA coastal waters between June and December, during which time they cue and suckle their young.
- Hermanus: is the cape’s whale watching hub; visitors can view the whales both on the shore and on boat.
- De Hoop Nature Reserve: One of the best places for shore-based whale watching.
- Plettenberg Bay is an excellent place to watch the whales as many of them come to this area during the season, besides the boat tours are also available.
3. African Penguins
Where to see: Boulders Beach, Stony Point, Robben Island
The endangered African penguin, also known as the jackass penguin due to its donkey-like braying call, can be seen year-round at several colonies.
– Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is home to a famous colony where visitors can get up close to these charismatic birds.
– Stony Point in Betty’s Bay hosts a growing colony in a more natural setting.
– Robben Island, near Cape Town, is not only historically significant but also home to a penguin colony.
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4. Cape Fur Seals
Where to see: Hout Bay, Kalk Bay, Plettenberg Bay
– These playful mammals are mostly seen in big colonies in the coastal regions of South Africa.
– Thousands of seals can be found on Duiker Island in Hout Bay also referred to as Seal Island.
– One can observe seals at Kalk Bay harbor as these animals are frequently seen lying on the pier.
– There are several colonies of seals in the waters of Plettenberg Bay and boat tours are provided to visitors to get up close with the animals.
5. Dolphins
Where to see: Durban, Port Elizabeth, Plettenberg Bay
Different types of dolphins are found in the seas surrounding South Africa such as the bottlenose, the common, and the humpback dolphins.
The beach front of Durban better known as the Golden Mile is a great place to look for dolphins from the beach.
– Port Elizabeth is famous for Dolphin watching boat cruises all through the year.
– Plettenberg Bay is one of the few places where groups of bottlenose dolphins are common.
6. Sardine Run
Where to see: Wild Coast (Eastern Cape), South Coast (KwaZulu-Natal)
The annual migration or run of sardines takes place between May and July, and is referred to as “The Greatest Shoal on Earth.” All sorts of predators such as dolphins, sharks, and seabirds come for the event.
- The Examples of the great places to find whales are the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape.
- In the South Coast of the province of KwaZulu there is the possibility to watch this show either from the coastline or booking a boat.
Conclusion
South Africa boasts several marine species, giving visitors a chance to experience the best of water creatures. From swimming with sharks to witnessing whales off the coast, or observing penguins crossing the sandy beaches, it is possible to find thrilling meetings with the sea creatures in the country. It is also very important to respect the animals and nature and abide by certain rules to have these wonderful experiences in the future.
In another related article, 5 Unforgettable Marine Wildlife Experiences in South Africa