Photography Tours
- FULL DAY TOURS
- Cape Winelands
- Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope
- Ultimate Ocean Drive
- FULL DAY SEASONAL TOURS
- Whales Hermanus
- Flowers West Coast Nat Park
- Autumn Colours in the Hex Valley
- HALF DAY TOURS
- Cape Town City
- Table Mountain
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- Classic Table Mountain Photo
- Constantia Winelands
- Township
- African Penguins
- Cape Seal & Hout Bay
- Best Beaches of Cape Town
- Cape Point
- HIKES
- Lions Head
- Table Mountain
- Camps Bay (Kasteelpoort)
- Newlands Forest
- Skeleton Gorge
- Secret Path
- SPECIALITY TOURS
- Robben Island
- Shark Safari
- Baboon Walk
- Cape Town from the Air
- Cape Town Safari
Quick Enquiry
photography tour SEASONAL HERMANUS WHALES
Whales, Penguins & Beautiful Seascapes
WHAT YOU WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHING
Although whales (mainly the southern right) can be seen all along the Cape Coast in season it is the famous Walker Bay in Hermanus that is regarded as one of the best land based whale watching places on earth. The 12km cliff top path offers views as good as from a boat.
But we consider the route to the Hermanus as photogenic as the whale watching itself because this particular ocean drive is extremely beautiful with spectacular vistas and landscapes. You will see the picturesque Koeël or cannon ball bay, Betty’s bay and its penguins, Pringle bay and its hanging rock and Rooiels with its red water river.
In Hermanus you will have time to walk around and photograph the whales from the cliff top path, shop at the local markets and have lunch at one of the ocean side restaurants.
WHALE SEASON: JULY – NOVEMBER (Peak Months Sep-Oct)
Note on Whales: When the seas are heavy the whales tend to move away from the close shores regardless of season.
Highlights
- BEST SHORE BASED WHALES IN WORLD (WINTER AND SPRING)
- OPTIONAL BOAT TRIP (OWN ACCOUNT)
- HERMANUS
- GORDONS BAY
- KOEËL OR CANNONBALL BAY SPECTACULAR BEACH
- ROOIELS WITH ITS RED WATER RIVER
- PRINGLE BAY WITH ITS HANGING ROCK
- BETTY BAY STONY POINT WITH AFRICAN PENGUINS
- KLIENMOND WITH PICTURESQUE RIVER MOUTH
- ELGIN HEART OF THE APPLE GROWING REGION
- SIR LOWRYS PASS SPECTACULAR VIEWPOINT
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Hotel collection, vehicle, water, specialist photography guide, penguins entrance |
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Meals & anything else not specified |
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AM only (Full Day) |
WHALE WATCHING WORDS
Breaching:
Leaping out of the water
Lob tailing:
Hitting the tail on the surface of the water
Spy hopping:
Lifting the head out the water vertically
Blowing:
Breathing thru the nostrils or blowholes on the top of the head
TIPS FOR WHALE PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE SHORE
- It is recommended to have a long lens (at least 300mm)
- A support (monopod, tripod or bean bag)
- Check your exposure (dark ocean and dark whale can make for tricky exposure, read off a neutral area such as a green tree and set it to this using manual exposure.
- Set camera on continuous shoot mode.
- Predict the moment and fire away, take many photos as you can always delete later.
Out of whale season it is recommended to do our Ultimate Ocean Drive Photography Tour