THE LOVELY TOWN OF HERMANUS, ON THE SOUTH EASTERN SIDE OF FALSE BAY, IS THE VENUE MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES.
DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, THEY START THEIR MIGRATION FROM THE ICY WATERS OF THE ANTARCTIC, TO GRACE OUR SHORES FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS.
AFTER HAVING GORGED THEMSELVES ON KRILL AND PLANKTON IN THEIR "HOMEGROUND", IF ONE CAN CALL IT THIS WAY, THEY SEEK THE WARMER WATERS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN THAT SURROUND PART OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COASTLINE.
I MUST JUST ADD THAT WHAT THE WHALES CONSIDER "WARM", TO US IS FREEZING, AT 13DEG. CELCIUS DURING OUR WINTER SEASON.
BE IT AS IT MAY, THEIR MAIN PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE IS TWOFOLD: BIRTHING THEIR YOUNG AND MATE.
I FIND IT EXTRAORDINARY THAT, AS IT IS SAID, ONE FEMALE SEEKING THE PERFECT MALE WILL MATE WITH AS MANY AS SEVEN! AT LAST A FAIR NOTION FOR US OF THE GENTLER GENDER!
THE RETURN OF THE WHALES TO US IS A TRUELY SPECIAL TIME IN OUR CALENDAR. THEY DELIGHT US, AS WELL AS, THE BIG CROWDS OF VISITORS, WHO EAGERLY STAND ON THE NEWLY LANDSCAPED VIEWPOINT AND TWELVE KILOMETER CLIFF EDGE. ALL ALONG THE PROMENADE, PEOPLE AWAIT THE SIGHT OF A V-SHAPED BLOW INTO THE AIR, A TAIL, A LEAP OUT OF THE WATER, ANYTHING THAT ONE CAN ADMIRE, REJOICE AT, PHOTOGRAPH OR FILM, TO BRING BACK HOME AS A VERY SPECIAL MEMORY.
HERMANUS IS SO PRIVILEGED TO ATTRACT THE WHALES IN BIG NUMBERS, THAT IT IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD TO EMPLOY ITS OWN WHALE CRIER.
EACH YEAR, FROM JUNE TO THE END OF NOVEMBER, HE PATROLS THE STREETS OF THE CHARMING TOWN, BLOWING HIS HORN MADE OF KELP, IN ORDER TO ALERT THE VISITORS OF THE LATEST SIGHTING AND WHEREABOUTS OF THE GENTLE GIANTS.
THE WHALES FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR IN MID-SEPTEMBER, WHEN THEIR NUMBERS ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST, AND LOCAL PEOPLE, AS WELL AS, FOREIGNERS COME TO HERMANUS TO ENJOY THE "SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES", THE HOLIDAY ATMOSPHERE AND STOP AT ALL THE STALLS SELLING INTERESTING FARE.
