A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale watching globally in 2008. Whale watching st lucia south africa posts facebook. Captain mikes sports fishing and whale watching tours. St lucias beaches are beautiful and clean, but many of them have sand that is colored a mix of orange and black due to volcanic action. Whale watching is one of the most popular tourist activities on offer in isimangaliso. Hermanus is our whale watching capital but cape vidal beach and camp site next to st lucia town is pretty special in particular if you camp there. Formal boat tours and whale watching expeditions are a must for firsttime visitors. St lucia offers an amazing smorgasbord of outings and adventures while in the area, one being whale watching. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. Whale sightings st lucia 2019 st lucia south africa. The most popular whale watching activity is boat based and thousands of visitors flock to st. Advantage tours is a very sought after hippocrocwhale boat cruise operator in st lucia, south africa. Whale watching with st lucia charters in st lucia, kwazulu. Best whale watching islands and resorts in the caribbean.
One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 1216 metres. Whale watching from st lucia offers you an opportunity to witness humpback whales, flying fish, whale sharks, and dolphins. Spring into early summer is the best time to visit saint lucia missing peak season as well as the annual rains. Whale watching st lucia indian ocean whale watching. Whale watching st lucia is a magical 2 hour st lucia tour taking you as close as 50 meters from the giants of the deep. St lucia is a mecca for ocean adventures, offering incredible boatbased whale watching. Humpback whale sightings are virtually guaranteed in st lucia from junenovember. Tourists are also very likely to spot a wide variety of other wildlife, including plenty of curious dolphins. We are staying at the coco palm on the north side but are willing to go wherever to see the dolphins if possible thank you for any inputadvice. Whale and dolphin watching with captain mikes st lucia. Whalewatching tours leave from castries and some of the other towns on the west coast and sail north to south to spot the whales, breaching and spouting. Humpback whale sightings offer the most incredible cure for seasickness. We are super excited and hope for an amazing season for all clients visiting the area.
There is something enchanting and exciting about coming face to face with sea creatures which are 60 feet long. Its low season is from midapril to early december and is typically less expensive as cruise and vacation packages are discounted due to the lack of travelers. Another awesome caribbean vacation spot that you will find amazing beaches and have the opportunity to go whale watching in st. Lucia marine guide 199899, there is not even a single mention of a dolphin or whale, much less of whale watching. Travel 2 miles out to the 3,000 feet deep ledge and follow this route down the west coast to soufriere where the most spectacular sightings have occurred, a onceinalifetime experience.
About ocean experience whale watching ocean experience based in st lucia offers you an opportunity to witness the surrounding coastline. I learned that you should never start off a whale watching trip by saying i never get seasick. I wonder if anyone can tell me if one is likely to have a worthwhile trip at end september taking this trip that seems available with advantage tours. Between june and october, sightings of whales are all but guaranteed. As a result, whale watching tour groups in isimangaliso. The boats knowledgeable captain will be sure to head to the animals favorite. If you are planning to see some whales and dolphins, but at the same time want to avoid hurricane season, the best time to visit saint lucia would be in the months of december, january or february. Lucian waters are various dolphins, especially spinner and pantropical spotted, sighted from inshore to 23 miles offshore 35 km and shortfinned pilot whales some 320 miles 532 km from shore.
From the 1 st of june to the 30 th of november there are daily tours if the weather allows which. A legally permitted holder ocean experience will undoubtedly ensure a value for money experiance. Lucia is a volcanic island, the underwater dropoff area, where the fish congregate, lies only two miles off the coast line. St lucia offers you an opportunity to witness the mighty humpback whale as they migrate past st lucia from june to end november, this magnificent 2 hour boat based whale watching excursions allows one to get closer to nature. So i did the unthinkable for a travel bloggeri put the camera away. Humpback whales may be witnessed from the st lucia town as well as cape vidal. Then come along with the experienced crew for some whale and dolphin watching off the coast of st. One tradition that st lucia has in common with many caribbean neighbors is its friday night street parties known to. Calving season varies from july to august, although whales can be seen through september and october. Rates and accommodation whalesong st lucia guest house. Whale watching st lucia, south africa humpback whales may be witnessed from the st lucia town as well as cape vidal. This species tends to be more spectacular and lively with its breaching than southern right whales, which are also commonly sighted off our shores. Enjoy magnificent views of the west coast of st lucia and sip on complimentary rum punch or nonalcoholic beverages on a 3.
You will get the opportunity to view whales such as the popular humpback and sperm. South hemisphere humpback whales make up the majority of whale sightings in kwazulunatal. Lucia are warm and nutrientrich, making it an ideal maternity. Whale watching st lucia st lucia tours charters safaris. Whale watching in st lucia in st lucia, kwazulu natal. There is no listing for whale watching in the 98page a4 colour glossy visions st. Lucia premium dolphin and whale watching excursion. The magnificent landscape of isimangaliso wetland park by boat is spectacular. The sport fishing business was started even further back by big bill hackshaw and then continued. From december to april it is high season in saint lucia and this is the best time to visit the island. It is a popular yearround, caribbean cruise destination for its. Having worked in the local tourism industry for many years, abigail mncwango successfully applied for and received a permit to open her business whale safaris in.
The humpback whale megaptera novaeangliae is a species of baleen whale. Where 1 mckenzie street, st lucia, kwazulunatal, south africa the very first office on the right after you have crossed the bridge into st lucia. Ocean experience whale watching st lucia aktuelle 2020. Cruise the coastal waters of st lucia while searching for whales and dolphins during this 3hour excursion. Here, you can head out on the water aboard a charter for an upclose view of these gentle giants and their calves, sometimes you are even able to swim alongside them. The most common cetaceans seen by boat yearround in st. The town is primarily known for its resident hippos that roam freely.
Here are the best islands to spot humpacks and gray whales. Eco info, whale watching, whale watching richards bay, whale watching st lucia humpback reproduction humpback whale breeding occurs mostly in the winter to early spring while near the surface and in warm, tropical waters. Learn about the marine mammals that live in st lucias waters from your expert captain and experienced crew. A full speed start from the beach to cross the breaking waves. Unforgettable whale watching boat tour from saint lucia south africa. You may also see a variety of pelagic bird life, dolphin frolicking alongside the bow of the boat, sea turtles in season, shark, marlin,whale shark and other interesting marine mammals and cetacean. When 1 june to 30 november is humpback whale watching season.
Lucias high tourism season, from middecember to early april, is the most expensive and busiest. Lucia from october to february, sperm whales, humpback whales, and pilot whales make their way from the cold atlantic to the warm waters of st. There is something enchanting and exciting about coming face to face with sea creatures which are 20 metres long, weigh approximately 44 tonnes and make noises that can be heard up to five miles away. Premium st lucia whale and dolphin watching cruise 2020. Lucia got the best whale watching in south africa, and the whales come within just 3 kilometres of the st. Some reckon this is the best camp site of its kind in the country.
Islands may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Enjoy a half day trip aboard your own 28ft ocean going catamaran. Lucia in midjune and were hoping to experience the dolphins. Experience the onceinalifetime sight of wild whales and dolphins in their natural environment. October to february is the best time for whale watching in saint lucia. If youre visiting during this time, the songs of the giant whales and the upclose encounters will add a magical touch to your next beach vacation.
It was one of the best whale watching trips ive ever been on. The company they used for our trip is captain mikes. Whale watching tour south africa saint lucia youtube. Lucia, we are lucky to have several different species of whale and dolphin in our waters, either resident in.
Situated in a world heritage site makes it a uniquely desirable destination especially during the whalewatching season where we can see a number of whale species visiting the south african shores, including the humpback whale and the southern right whale. The latest recipient of a permit to conduct whale watching tours in isimangaliso is also the first black woman to achieve this. During my caribbean cruise on viking sea, we visited st lucia. Midjanuary to midmarch is considered peak season for whale watching in the caribbean, with frequent sightings of. Spend the day out on the water off the coast of st lucia on this whale and dolphin watching cruise. Lucia whale watching excursion, visitors will head out to sea on a boat to view whales and dolphins. I booked a whale and dolphin watching trip offered by viking cruises. The humpback whale is usually spotted between may and december, while moving up along the coast of hermanus to st. Humpback whale sightings are virtually guaranteed in st lucia from june november. St lucia and the chance of seeing humpback whales however, these waters are also loved by the many whales that frequent this part of the ocean, just a stones. Its official, the whale watching season has started off the coast of st lucia. Whale watching in st lucia, south africa monkeys and mountains.
Humpback whales love the warm indian ocean and are found in great numbers here because it is a. Lucia is one of the british windward islands, bordered by the caribbean sea to the left and atlantic ocean on the right. St lucia is located in the coastal province of kwazulu natal along the elephant coast. Whale watching archives st lucia tours charters safaris. When you think of whale song, you think of the sound that the humpback whale makes. Midjanuary to midmarch is considered peak season for whale watching in the caribbean, with frequent sightings of humpback whales and dolphins. Have your camera at the ready while the boat skirts the islands northern. Ocean experience whale watching st lucia 2020 all you. With 85% chance of sightings, it is a great way to spend a relaxing.
Humpback whales are the most commonly spotted, but minkys, right and sperm whales are also seen. Go on an adventure with renowned skipper danie bennett, who together with his qualified crew has a treasurehouse full of knowledge about the whales. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. St lucia tours charters safaris, saint lucia estuary, kwazulunatal, south africa. Whale watching season starts june to end of november. This is also when leatherback turtles haul themselves ashore to lay their eggs, thought youll need to head here earlier if you want to see migrating humpback whales. Lucia guide to whales and dolphins in the caribbean. The best time to go whale watching in st lucia is mid may to mid december in the indian ocean. Lucia, we are lucky to have several different species of whale and dolphin in our waters, either resident in the area or passing through. St lucia on the elephant coast has boatbased whale watching trips to see these enigmatic giants who migrate annually from summer feeding grounds close to the poles, to the equator where it is warmer for winter breeding did you know. The duration of the whale watching from st lucia is approximately 2 hours long out at sea. Experience the magical splendor of our unique dolphin and whale watching experience.