What to Expect of the South African Humpback Whale
While the Humpback Whale’s migration period is between May to December the prime time to spot these majestic creatures is anywhere between August and October. It’s during these times, you have a strong possibility of observing them engaging in various behaviours, such as breaching, tail flapping, and pectoral fin slapping.
In the beautiful coastal waters of South Africa, particularly around Hermanus, the Garden Route and in the bays of the Eastern Cape, Humpback Whales can be seen engaging in critical activities such as mating and calving. Our perfectly sheltered bays offer a protected area for female humpbacks to give birth. The calves are born with a thick layer of blubber that helps insulate them against the cooler waters. The warmer seas off South Africa are the ideal environment for the calves early development.
Mating rituals also take place in these waters, with males often seen competing for the attention of females. Their mating behaviour includes displays of strength and agility to attract the females and physical confrontations against other males to tell them to back off can be seen off the shores of south Africa. The coastal regions provide a relatively safe and conducive environment for these important reproductive activities.
Visitors on whale-watching tours can witness many interesting behaviours shown by Humpback Whales. Breaching is where the whale will leap out of the water and crash back down with a spectacular splash. Tail flapping, also known as lobtailing, is when the whale lifts its tail flukes above the surface and slaps it down onto the water, creating a loud sound and splash. Watchers might also see pectoral fin slapping as well as spyhopping, which is where the whale vertically pokes its head out of the water to get a better view of its surroundings.
The Humpback Whale, also known as Megaptera novaeangliae, is one of the six primary species of whales that can be spotted off the coast of South Africa.
It got its common name from the distinctive hump that can be seen on its back. Its scientific name has a little more too it: Megaptera means ‘big-winged’ and novaeangliae means ‘New England,’ referencing where European whalers first spotted this creature.
Its natural lifespan is believed to be 45 to 50 years with some individuals living even longer. The oldest Humpback Whale found off the coast of South Africa was estimated to be around 48 years old.
The Humpback Whale is known as one of the larger whale species. An adult Humpback Whales can grow up to 16 meters in length—that’s an entire school bus! If that wasn’t mind blowing enough, the adult Humpback Whale’s weight can get up to a whopping 36, 000 kilograms.
Distribution and Migration
South Africans can spot these beautiful creatures along the eastern coasts, primarily between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. This 800-kilometer stretch is their migration path and is the best spot to see them between the months of May and December. During these months, they travel from their feeding grounds in the cold Antarctic waters to the warmer waters near the equator to breed.
Their migration is a non-stop journey that can be further broken up into three phases.
Northward migration lasts between May to June, and this is where they start moving toward warmer waters for breeding. During the months of June to October, upon reaching warmer waters, they remain in these spots for a significant period for breeding season. Lastly, from November to December, they move along to the southward migration, making their way back to the colder waters in the Antarctic.
Breeding and Gestation
The breeding habits of the Humpback Whale is fascinating to observe because it involves courtship. The males spend hours singing complex songs, which are believed to attract the females and assert dominance. These melodies are not only a crucial part of their breeding behaviour but are also unique to the different populations of Humpback Whales.
The gestation period for the Humpback Whale lasts approximately 11 to 12 months, with the females only giving birth to one calf every two to three years. Each newborn is around 4 to 5 meters in length and weighs around 900 kilograms. These whales primarily give birth along the Eastern Province because these warm waters are the perfect environment to nurture their young.
Feeding Habits
Humpback Whales are well known to use a distinctive feeding technique called bubble net feeding. The hungry whale creates a ring of bubbles that will herd small fish or krill in a way that they are forced to form a tight ball. The whale then swims upwards with its mouth wide open to consume this large quantity of prey. The Humpback Whales’ primary diet consists of krill, plankton, and small fish such as herring and mackerel.
Common Traits
Along with their feeding and breeding habits, Humpback Whales are famous for their diverse and intriguing behaviours.
These whales an often be spotted breaching from the water’s surface. They leap to heights that can reach 12 meters before coming back down, creating a spectacular display. Experts believe this behaviour is a form of communication, play, or a way to remove parasites. They can also be spotted engaging in flipper slapping and lobtailing. This is where they slap the surface of the water with their flippers or tails, respectively.
Humpback Whales’ songs, particularly sung by males, are another notable behaviour of these creatures. These crafted melodies can be heard underwater for a distance measuring up to 31.18 kilometres. These sometimes spooky but mostly melodic songs play an important role in communication during breeding season.
Conservation Status
During the mid-20th century, the Humpback Whale was on the brink of extinction due to whaling. However, over time, thanks to international whaling bans, their population has grown. Because of this, the species is currently classified as ‘Least Concern’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
What to Expect of the South African Humpback Whale
While the Humpback Whale’s migration period is between May to December the prime time to spot these majestic creatures is anywhere between August and October. It’s during these times, you have a strong possibility of observing them engaging in various behaviours, such as breaching, tail flapping, and pectoral fin slapping.
In the beautiful coastal waters of South Africa, particularly around Hermanus and the Garden Route, Humpback Whales can be seen engaging in critical activities such as mating and calving. Our perfectly sheltered bays offer a protected area for female humpbacks to give birth. The calves are born with a thick layer of blubber that helps insulate them against the cooler waters. The warmer seas off South Africa are the ideal environment for the calves early development.
Mating rituals also take place in these waters, with males often seen competing for the attention of females. Their mating behaviour includes displays of strength and agility to attract the females and physical confrontations against other males to tell them to back off can be seen off the shores of south Africa. The coastal regions provide a relatively safe and conducive environment for these important reproductive activities.
Visitors on whale-watching tours can witness many interesting behaviours shown by Humpback Whales. Breaching is where the whale will leap out of the water and crash back down with a spectacular splash. Tail flapping, also known as lobtailing, is when the whale lifts its tail flukes above the surface and slaps it down onto the water, creating a loud sound and splash. Watchers might also see pectoral fin slapping as well as spyhopping, which is where the whale vertically pokes its head out of the water to get a better view of its surroundings.
