Top 5 Whale Watching Locations

Whales are the largest animals in existence and are often overlooked as just another marine creature despite their unique presence. It is believed that at one stage there were in excess of 250 000 Blue Whales in existence, after whaling began this number began to decrease rapidly. By the mid 1930s the number of Blue Whales was down to 35 000 and by the 1960s the number was dwindling at a mere 1000, thankfully due to whaling being outlawed later that decade the numbers have been slowly rising and are now above 5000. Everyone who is interested in aquatic life should go whale watching at least once in their life time, and experience these large majestic creatures. We will take you through the best locations for whale watching all over the world.

Hermanus - South Africa

Hermanus is a coastal tourist town located around 100 kilometers from large city of Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa. Located at the Southern tip of Africa the coastal areas of the Western Cape has an amazing amount of marine life, especially large fish life such as Sharks, Tuna and Whales. Hermanus is located just 25 kilometers from the infamous Gansbaai, the best shark diving location in the world.

The whale watching in Hermanus is amazing and all done from the comfort of the shore, making the activity easy, cheap and suitable for every member of the family. The Southern Right Whale's here come so close to the shores that they can often be seen while driving on the sea side roads or even out of hotel rooms. Whale watching is generally done in the spring months, from late August to December, when the presence of whales is at their peak. People come from all over the world to experience the wonders of standing just a few meters from these large creatures.

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Kaikoura - New Zealand

A small coastal town located on the east coast of South Island, New Zealand about 180 kilometers from Christchurch. Of late this town has become a popular tourist destination for whale watching with hosts one of the best chances in the world to see Sperm Whales.

When whale watching in Kaikoura, a short boat ride off shore is usually necessary but as with Hermanus the whales in Kaikoura remain close to shore and offer some great whale watching possibilities. The Sperm Whales near Kaikoura can be spotted all year round, with the greatest whale presence in August. One of the reasons for the abundance in large Sperm Whales in this area is due to the geographical typography of the sea floor which descends down to extreme depths in excess of 1000 meters, providing a perfect area for large whales.

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Vancouver Island - Canada

Vancouver Island is a large 460 kilometer by 80 kilometer island which is located within British Columbia, a province of Canada. The island is separated from the mainland by a series of straits, namely the Strait of Georgia, Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait.

Another great place for whale watching when done during the right time of the year. During the months July through September. Another area where the whale watching activities can be kept fairly close to shore, one is able to either take a boat out or make use of a kayak to get close to these beasts. The whales that are predominantly present in this area is the beautiful Killer Whale which often hunt in pods comprised of dozens of these wonderful animals.

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Cape Cod - United States of America

Located in Massachusetts state, Cape Cod is a small town which has become quite a popular tourist destination due to the beaches and is often used as a get away by near-by large city residents such as those residing in New York.

Whale season in Cape Cod, United States takes place between June through to September and offers one a great chance of seeing the worlds second largest whale, the Finback Whale. While Cape Cod may not hold the appeal of Hermanus or Kaikoura in regards to the ability of easily getting close, with a short boat ride a good watching can still be achieved.

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Azores - Portugal

The Azores is an area of islands located within the Atlantic Ocean. There are a total of eight small Formigas (small Azorean islets) as well as nine major Azorean islands. Due to the span between these islands and islets the culture varies greatly between each island.

Whale watching here is a different experience due to the amazing landscapes and topography which are present on these islands. The typography can be fascinating with volcanic rocks, clear waters and numerous other interesting features. The whales which can be spotted here include Sperm Whales and Short Finned Pilot Whales. While travelling to the Azores purely for the sake of whale watching doesn't make much sense it's definitely a great addition if one is on a holiday in this great Portuguese archipelago.

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