November 4th

Today we awoke and out by 0730. Today we went to look for whales at a whale watching hotspot. There is an area here, a city, where in June to December, whales come. It is Hermanus. We drove about an hour to get there (on a great road!); up, around mountains, and through at least one mountain pass. Then back toward the coast, past a nice-looking winery, into Hermanus.

It is Saturday, but early, parking is busy but spots still available. but first we found a place on the edge of the water, along a hiking path, on the rocky outcrop, on a bench. We just sat peacefully mostly alone (occasional jogger or walker on the path). Jeff went back to our car and spotted a Gray Cape Mongoose! We had a picnic breakfast of yogurt, bananas, nut/fruit mix, and coffee/water, enjoying the waves crashing on the rocks below. We kept eyes peeled for an elusive whale, but only thing we could make out was maybe a feeding frenzy? We watched a couple of boats come out into this bay – the second was a whale-watching boat. It was close enough we could make out the tourists on top. It went out further from us but closer to another part of town. If anyone knows where whales are it would be this boat. We decided to go over there, downtown area.

We found the built viewpoint area. Taking one of the last parking spots, we got out, amongst the others, watching/hoping for whales. We found the whale watching boat, closer but still quite a ways out, and we saw it….  the little black breach of a whale near the boat. Then another. Awesome! It is so great to see whales. We could just make them out, the people on the boat were getting the show. We just counted ourselves blessed.

We loaded back up and went to an area that is only one of two mainland South Africa penguin colonies. On the way, there flagmen were waving flags, slowing drivers. Crossing the road were wild baboons! They were right here going through a housing development. Wow! Ohmy! But this is Africa!! Crazy!

We found the Penguins. They were in a big group right on the shore. People (including us) were lined up watching them, taking pictures. They were standing around, couple playing/bathing in a tidal pool, but mostly just “siestaing”, and looking at us. Most of the people were “birders”, people from around the world who come to see and capture on film different birds. It was great to hear them naming the other birds around. But the penguins were the star attraction here.

WOW!! What a day! We set out to see whales and that we did… plus penguins… and then the baboons! God is so amazingly, vastly different in His creativity of Creation. 

We did stop on our way back at Benguela Cove Winery. I had a tasting – Jeff was driving!  Arrived back at our place and had a late lunch of some rotisserie chicken and later snack of cheese, crackers, hummus, and biltong (a South African jerky, essentially).

It was glorious day!!