Welcome Whales Celebration
Sun Jun 6, 00:00 - Tue Jun 8, 00:00
Various, check ticket details
ABOUT
Come and join in the festivities at the first Welcome Whales Celebration taking place this June in Hermanus.
The event is hosted by a collaboration of whale-fanatics, scientists and locals that have teamed up to showcase the areas diverse marine life, honour the whales and celebrate the Ocean.
The three-day event will be held at the Hermanus New Harbour from 6 – 8 June and each day will be dedicated to one of the three whale species that visit Hermanus annually – the Southern Right, the Brydes and the Humpback whale.
Coinciding with World Ocean Day 2021, the worldwide movement for a sustainable society and a healthy blue planet. This year’s theme of ‘One Ocean, One Climate, One Future – Together’ will be at the core of the celebration.
**COVID protocols in place - No mask no entry & All events (paid & free) require a valid ticket for admission
EVENT PROGRAMME
| DAY 1 | SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE DAY | 6 JUNE 2021 9h00 - 11h30 | ACTIVITY | Whale watching Boat tour Explore the Hermanus coastline and possibly spot the first Southern Right Whales of the season! Hosted by Southern Right Charters 12h00 - 14h00 | ACTIVITY | Meet & Greet ‘Appointment ceremony' of the new Hermanus Whale Crier, Interactive displays, Kids Art activity, Craft & Exhibit, Food & Drinks Hosted by Various, Lower Quay, New Harbour 14h00 - 15h00 | TALK | A Photographic Journey with Southern Right Whales - Inspirational presentation showcasing over a decade of whale photography. Presented by Dave De Beer, Hermanus Whales 15h30- 16h30 | TALK | South Africa's southern right whales - Fascinating facts based on over 40 years of research and annual studies of the whales in Walker Bay and beyond Presented by Dr Els Vermeulen, Mammal Research Institute - Whale Unit DAY 2 | BRYDES WHALE DAY | 7 JUNE 2021 9h00 - 11h00 | ACTIVITY | Sea Kayaking - Paddle across Walker Bay and come face-to-face with the diverse marine life of Hermanus. Hosted by Walkerbay Adventures 11h00 - 13h00 | ACTIVITY | Abalone Tour & Tasting - Boot-up & explore a working Abalone farm, informative guided tour and tasting experience. Hosted by Heart of Abalone 15h30 - 16h30 | TALK | The secret whale of Hermanus - A Skippers Log: Interesting visual presentation and introduction to the lesser known, often seen & practically resident whale of Hermanus. Presented by Ashley Appleby, Southern Right Charters 17h00 - 18h00 | TALK | Brydes Whale Conservation Programme - An in-depth presentation on the inshore population of Bryde's whales in South Africa Presented by Dr Els Vermeulen, Mammal Research Institute - Whale Unit DAY 3| HUMPBACK WHALE DAY | 8 JUNE 2021 9h00 - 11h30 | ACTIVITY | Whale watching Boat tour - Experience boat-based whale watching from Hermanus, South Africa’s Whale Capital. Hosted by Southern Right Charters 11h00 - 13h00 | ACTIVITY | Abalone Tour & Tasting - Boot-up & explore a working Abalone farm, informative guided tour and tasting experience. Hosted by Heart of Abalone 14h30 - 15h30| TALK | Whale Disentanglement - A first-hand account. Hosted by National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Station 17 16h00 -16h30| ACTIVITY | WELCOME WHALES WAVE, a fun cliff-top event - Welcoming the Whales with a big Wave ('human chain') on the Hermanus Cliff Path between the Amphitheatre and Gearing’s Point Hosted by Hermanus Tourism 16h00 - 17h00 | TALK | The Humpback ‘Supergroups’ - which visit the coastal area of Cape each year. Presented by Dr Elisa Seyboth, Cape Peninsula University of Technology 17h30 - 18h30 | TALK | The Southern Hemisphere Humpback Migration – the remarkable recovery of this species. Presented by Lloyd Edwards, Baywatch Research Project & World Cetacean Alliance | ||
| **COVID protocols in place - No mask no entry & All events (paid & free) require a valid ticket for admission | ||