Trying to get the most out of any holiday is a given in anyone’s book, and discovering unexpected outdoor attractions is a bonus. This journey, winding our way down the Southern Cape’s whale (and wine) route while towing a splendid four-berth Fendt behind a very able Mercedes-Benz Vito, was an onslaught of pleasure on all the senses.
Tasting wine (responsibly) and visiting whale hot spots all the way from Mossel Bay down to the Cape Peninsula was the best time I’ve ever had ‘at the office’.
The Cape’s South Coast is dotted with whale-watching vantage points where these gracious sea mammals frolic close to shore, entertaining onlookers from all corners of the globe. There are also heaps of other attractions to make your trip through the area even more pleasure-packed.
On terra firma a host of wine estates offering good food and top-shelf cultivars and vintages add another dimension to the whale-watching experience. The overpowering lure of the vineyards en route to the next whale-watching spot and other outdoor attractions turned what was initially to be a two-day excursion into five.
Our journey started in Mossel Bay, where the southern right whales arrive every year – generally in spring, but often as early as May – to mate, calve and play. These gentle giants of the deep turn the surf into their stage, attracting thousands of people to the elevated lookout points and whale-watching boat tours. Here in South Africa we have the best whale-watching route right on our front stoep: the Cape South Coast is the whale-watching capital of the world.
IN THE BAY'S BACKYARD
We knew that we’d just missed the whales – they had all left by mid- October – but we still kept our eyes peeled and our zoom lenses trained on the sea at Diaz Beach, hoping to catch the odd breaching whale on an extended holiday. Be assured, your first sighting will be an unforgettable experience: the spectacle of whales breaching is like a choreographed display of synchronised swimming...
To read the full article, order a copy of the February 2011 issue of Caravan & Outdoor Life.
