WHALE WATCHING trips have been very few this last week as the weather conditions haven’t been all that kind , the ADVANTAGE boat is out this morning and we’re waiting to hear what they’ve seen ….

The last 4 trips that could go out was Monday the 22nd of October , and on those trips the skippers saw between 5 and 6 HUMPBACK Whales on each trip . Bottlenose Dolphins are also plentiful and with the onset of summer and warmer water temperatures we seem to have more Whale Sharks around …..

Saturday morning’s 05h30 trip was able to get out , but the 07h00 trip had to be cancelled due to low tide and sandbanks , the surf is also enormous , and Danie is a very safety conscious skipper and won’t operate through bad surf ….yes, it is very depressing for all of us if the tours can’t get out , but from experience this is what happens every year around October /November when we have these strong winds .

We are hoping an praying that the decision to launch again from the Umfolozi River Mouth is taken very soon , as that was still the safest spot for the boats to launch , at the moment all the boat operators are forced to launch in a 1km area in front of the old St Lucia Estuary Mouth , the shore dumpers and sandbanks in this area is just so dangerous , forcing us to rather cancel trips than take chances with people’s lives . We are awaiting an urgent answer from the Wetland Authority and the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism …..

We’ll just take the bookings day by day , and obviously Danie will not cancel a trip unnecessarily , so if your pax are booked,they arrive on the beach with the truck and conditions are favourable the boat will definitely launch ….

There is still many whales out there , they’re busy though making their ways down south towards the feedings grounds in the Antarctic ….between June – about mid October they move Northwards to go and breed and calf ….

I won’t send any photos via e-mail as this does take up a lot of ‘gig’ space if you forward it so many addresses , but if ever you want ( or you want your clients to ) view excellent photos or video footage , just send them to the WHALE OFFICE .

A Blessed Sunday to you all !