A dwarf sperm whale, the smallest of all whale species, paid a visit to Cape Town’s number one tourist hotspot.

Earlier this week, a different kind of whale watching took place, as a dwarf sperm whale found its way into the Waterfront’s harbour. This was a very special and exciting moment as these animals are very rare and hardly seen in the wild.

Due to that, it is even more surprising that the whale left its natural habitat, which is the deep sea off the continental shelf, and opted for Cape Town’s buzzing holiday location. With an average size of 8.5 feet, the dwarf sperm whale is smaller than a dolphin and just a little bigger than a human. It feeds on squid and crabs, has a wide mouth with curved, sharp teeth and is usually solitary.

The whale was seen in different areas of the harbour  floating on the surface and occasionally diving down.  It was an extraordinary sighting, which gave many people the opportunity to get a great look at this rare animal, leaving tourists and locals alike in awe.

South Africa’s Western Cape is known as a fantastic location for whale watching during the winter months of July until November. The most popular spots to sight whales such as the Southern Right Whale, Humpback and Bryde’s Whale are Hermanus and Gansbaai, which are just a two hour drive outside of Cape Town. However, spotting a whale in Cape Town’s harbour remains a unique experience and a special memory for all those who were lucky enough to encounter the dwarf sperm whale.

Source: read the full story on National Geographic, Paul Steyn

Photos by Paul Steyn & Whale watching SA

Interested in meeting the whales and exploring Africa’s wilderness with all your senses?

[imic_form form_email=““ form_title=“Please contact us for further information.“]