Dehoop Nature Reserve is the largest reserve managed by Cape Nature. We were invited by Dehoop Collections to talk to their marine guides and guests. Dehoop is renowned for their land-based whale watching and we spent an afternoon watching 17 Southern Right whale mother and calves including two albinos and one humpback literally in the breakers. Unfortunately, later that day when a large cold front had arrived a neo-natal Southern Right washed ashore. The mothers and calves are so close inshore as they are hiding from predators like killer whales and great whites so if a calf cant swim out of the waves in time they can end up on the shore. Dehoop is a very important breeding area for the Southern Rights. Dehoop is a magical place to stay and for me this is one of the top highlights of the trip of which there were many. The whales arrived on the first of June this year and viewpoints from Koppie Alleen and Vaalkrans are highly recommended. We even managed a little birding and saw three lifers and the rock pools and shore life are equally amazing.
Attendance: 20