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The 12 km-long cliff path stretching from one end of Hermanus to the other provides the best terrestrial whale-watching vantage points in the world. Whales can be viewed frolicking as close as five metres from shore.
The world's only whale crier, Wilson Salukazana, is found in Hermanus, where he patrols the streets of the town blowing his kelp horn and alerting everyone to the whereabouts of the whales. Different horn 'codes' refer to different points along the coastline where whales have been spotted.
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE (Eubalaena Australis):
- Walker Bay population estimated at 40-70
- Adults 14-18 metres long
- Weight 40-80 tons
- Calves are 5-6 metres long at birth - weighing 1 ton
- Calf growth rate, 2,8 cm/day
- Best calving month: August
- Pregnancy: Every 3-7 years
- Gestation period - 12 months
- Lactation: 4-8 months
- Longevity 90-100 years
- Swimming speed: 5-8 km/h
