While Africa is the continent for travellers yearning to see animals in their natural habitat, if timed right, South Africa and Tanzania are often called on because of the possibility of seeing the Big Five of the bush and the Marine Big Five in one adventure. Penguins, seals, sharks and dolphins can be seen all year round along the pristine coast of the Western Cape but the Southern Right and Humpback Whales migrate to South Africa’s warmer waters from June to October. These spectacular sea-creatures can be spotted breaching the water from the shore or you can have the humbling experience of sharing the ocean with a mammal that’s quite possibly twice the size of the shell you’re floating on.

The Coastal region of Hermanus and Gansbaai are the major hotspots for Whale Watching in South Africa with quite extraordinary sightings all along the coast or from several accommodation options that are in prime position to view them from your room, the garden and whilst having your meals or Sunset drinks. The Islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba of East Africa, adjacent to the Taznanian coastline affords opportunities to see them too along with excellent populations of Whale Sharks.