07/09/2026
Today we went whale watching in Hermanus, checking out one of the experiences we recommend to guests at Villa Chad.
And 2026 is turning into quite a whale season. In the first official count between Hermanus and Witsand, 601 southern right whales were recorded, including 296 mothers with calves. Here in the Hermanus area alone, they counted 46.
But today we saw something particularly special: this beautiful brindle southern right whale calf.
Only around 3% of southern right whale calves are born brindle, and about 94% of them are male. This little one was incredibly pale and very strongly brindled, so he really stood out beside his mother.
Southern rights come to our coast each year to give birth and raise their calves, and seeing one like this from the water was pretty extraordinary.
πΈ: Jean Tresfon (Marine Conservation Photographer)
π½οΈ : yours truly